Which Web Designer

Choosing a Web Designer

Unlike large companies, individuals and small businesses often have limited staff and budgeting resources for web site development. You could certainly build a website yourself, but the learning curve is steep and technology is changing all the time. Is it not better to spend your time on doing what you know best i.e. running your business?

It also seems like everyone knows someone who is able to build a website and one is often tempted to go for the easy quick fix solution. However creating a [professional site is not as easy as it looks and to be successful it is imperative to use a designer that will be with you through the whole design process as well as in the future when you need changes and upgrades to your site.

So how do you choose a good web designer?

Considering the following pointers when comparing designers may assist in making the right decision.

Credentials: Does the designer or business have a formal qualification in web design? A web design qualification indicates they are serious about their business.

Experience: How long have they been involved in working on the internet? Look at other sites they have designed. Does their work come across as professional? Is the site well designed and easy to navigate? (see article on Web Site Design)

Testimonials: What past clients have to say will give you a good idea of the level of service you can expect. Contact these people to find out more about the services they received.

Vision: Before you approach a web designer, think about what you want from your web site. Look at your competitors to get an idea about what they offer. How can you improve on what they do? What unique selling proposition do you have?

Decide on what type of web site you need. Will it be a basic informational site, informal or formal, will you offer e-commerce etc.? Having an idea of what you want will lead to a better discussion with the designer.

Technology: Carefully consider what technologies you want to have on your site such as Flash, Shockwave etc. Often designers like to incorporate fancy effects on sites to demonstrate their abilities but often these effects are expensive, and may detract from the purpose of the site.

Contact: How easy is it to contact the designer? Also how long do they take to get back to you? Are they courteous, polite, professional and businesslike? These are important attributes to ensure a long term stress free relationship. Remember you want to partner with someone who provides a professional service.

Consultation: Discuss your needs for a website and your ideas with the designer before deciding to partner with them. Most designers offer a free consultation up front before setting up a contract for work to be done.

Contract: Ensure you have a contract before making any payments. The contract should clearly state what is included in the project e.g. pages, links, graphics, edits etc. Does it include marketing and maintenance? What is included and excluded, and how much do extras cost.

Pricing and payment: Surf the internet to try get a ballpark figure to compare prices. However realize that a unique site designed from the ground up will cost more than a site build on pre-designed templates. To a large extent you get what you pay for.

You can expect to pay 50% of the full price up front, with the balance payable when the site is complete and approved.

Testing: Part of the design process should include testing of the site. This testing ensures that the site functions correctly on the most common browsers, that the links work etc.

Ongoing support: What ongoing support does the designer offer? Can you contact them in the future regarding changes and updates?

Marketing: You may have the most brilliantly designed web site but its useless without generating traffic. What ideas does the designer have regarding marketing the site and reaching your target audience.

Usability and accessibility principals: Sites need to be designed for ease of use. Users must be able to navigate the site with ease and find the relevant information quickly. It's also becoming more important to design sites according the the federally accepted accessibility standards that allow people with certain handicaps to use the site.

Keeping these points in mind will help you in choosing a designer that you will be able to form a long term profitable relationship with.