Half of online consumers will tie a website's credibility to its design.
When you are looking to design a new site, you should ensure it’s compatible with most browsing devices as this will help you reach out to a broader audience. That’s where web design firms come in. The best website design company will incorporate all the relevant features to ensure the success of your site.
However, there are many agencies online, and some don't deliver what they claim to sell. For instance, a few weeks ago, Hertz (a car rental giant) filed a lawsuit against Accenture (a management consulting firm) who were hired to redesign its website but did not meet the contract requirements. Hertz is claiming the $32 million they had paid for Accenture’s services.
Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about choosing the best website design company for your site.
Understand Your Website Needs and Goals
You need an appealing and functional website. You need to project what the website should do and the features it must have to help you accomplish your goals.
By understanding and creating a list of all that you need for your website, you will have your website designed and developed according to your particular needs and specifications.
It is also essential that you set your budget. Set up an estimate of the money that you are planning to use on your project. It is an important project, but it is not the only project for your company with a budget; you should set your limits.
Research Various Web Design Companies and Review Them
Search for potential companies. You can start with companies in your local area and then proceed to others. You don’t necessarily have to meet; you can communicate virtually using emails, video chats, Skype, and other apps.
Check out what the different companies have to offer and ensure what they are offering is aligned to your website goals.
Don’t forget to research about the experience of other clients (companies) who had hired them in the past, the services they offer after establishing the site, and their culture and reputation. You can also refer to websites you admire, find out who designed them and include them in your list of potential companies.
Check out the Potential Companies’ Websites
You have a list of companies you think would do a good job designing your site. Now you need to narrow down so that you can choose the one to engage in your project.
The companies’ websites are likely to showcase their design, expertise, and capabilities.
Their website doesn’t have to correspond with your style as the company you choose should build your site according to your guidelines and needs. However, it is important that the website be beautiful to the eye, functional, and up to date.
It is also worth checking out their culture. How do they work with their clients and what is their personality? It is vital that their working culture corresponds with that of your company so that it is easy to work together.
When the culture between the two organizations is too diverse, working together maybe strenuous. You should have a smooth working relationship as it is paramount for the success of the project.
Check out Some of their Previous Work
It is essential to check out the websites they have worked on. Check to see if the sites you find are good enough, are offering a great user experience, and if they look professionally done.
Compare the websites you find to what you have as your goal. You will find that web design companies will have some of the websites they have built on their portfolio to showcase their capabilities and creativity.
Read their Reviews
Reading reviews by previous clients is important; the reviews will give you a sneak peek of how working with a particular B2B web agency will be like.
The clients will share their experience working with the company and the customer service they received. They could even mention some staff members who were exceptional in their work.
When you read customer reviews, you may discover something that was not displayed by the company but was picked up by their customers. You can find these reviews on Facebook, clutch. Co, Yelp, and Google reviews.
Contact the Companies to Discuss Your Project
Now that you have done your research and have shortlisted some companies you wish to try, what’s left is contacting them. You can start with a phone call.
Pay attention to how they handle your phone call and how they respond. Are they interested in learning about your project and listening to what you have to say?
Make sure you feel comfortable with how the first discussion goes.
Once you hire a particular company, you will have to work with them for quite some time, and you don’t need to be uncomfortable the whole time. Friendly people are easy to work with, and you can be able to present your needs, goals, and thoughts without being afraid.
If everything is okay after the first call, you can go ahead and organize a meeting to set up your deal. Request to meet the team you will be working with. Once you meet, be keen to pick on a few things that you couldn’t get on the phone.
Check their reactions and if they show enthusiasm towards your project. Do they listen to your ideas?
You can then decide whether to go ahead with your deal or get another company.
Choose the Best Website Design Company
As aforementioned, choosing the best website design company is not an easy task.
You should take your time to make your decision. Most people will evaluate your company’s website before they decide to transact with you.
For more best website design tips and tricks, please reach out to us.