There are very few businesses that can survive without a website these days…and if they can, then they could probably do a lot better with some online exposure. The phrase, “earning while you sleep†wasn’t coined for nothing. And yes, it applies to websites that don’t directly sell products, but offer a service, too. Quite often people will do research for services in the night – don’t you? So why wouldn’t your customers?
Once you have decided that you want to have a website for your business, most people will often start looking for a web designer.
So, how do you find a good web designer, who won’t rip you off, or leave you with a website that breaks down all the time, or one that you can’t update without going back to him all the time, and paying out even more money?
Here are some tips to get you started:
Decide what type of website you need
Are you looking for an information site, an ecommerce website, an online community or social network, for example? If you are unsure, then you are not ready to commission a web designer – you need to do more research, speak to friends and family and make a decision first.
Don’t just choose the first web designer you find – look around
Look at the web designs on your competitor websites that you like and see if there is a link to the company or the person who did the work. Speak to friends and family – even if they don’t have a website themselves, they may know someone who does and be able to refer s good web designer to you.
Look through their online portfolio
When you find a few potential designers, look at their portfolios and see which seem to have a style that you are looking for. Check the navigation and functionality of the websites as well – if you find broken links or error pages, question these before you commission them to start on your website. Better still, get in touch with the website owners and ask them about their experience of working with the web designer.
Do they have enough knowledge of hosting and software?
Your web designer should be able to advise you on the needs for your website. They should also be able to direct you on whether your intended design would work in the way you want it to. If your web designer shows no interest in the final desired outcome of your site, are they really interested in what you are trying to achieve – or do they just want your money? However, you should never be required to purchase your hosting or software directly from the designer – if they try to sell hosting to you as part of the work, then that may be a warning sign!
Ask about the web designer’s design process
Your web designer should be able to clarify what will happen in each step of the design process and when you will be able to give your feedback before you sign off the project.
Is he fluent in a programming language such as PHP or ASP?
This comes into play if you are creating a website with dynamic content such as a content management system (e.g. WordPress, Drupal, Joomla or Movable Type), a shopping cart, etc. The web designer you work with should have this fluency or work with a web developer who does.
Basic search engine opimisation skills
This skill isn’t always easy to find, but a definite plus so that it can be incorporated into the website framework. Always ask the web designer how they approach search engine optimisation in their designs – and do some basic research so that you can’t be fobbed off.
Understanding of how people use websites
A good web designer should have a good understanding of how visitors browse web pages and navigate through websites (or web usability). They should also be aware of accessibility issues for people with disabilities or those visiting your site through a variety of mediums, such as smart phones, iPads and other browsers.
What is the project turnaround time?
Find out how long it should take to complete your project and find out how they handle unexpected delays (i.e. do they have a staff or colleagues who can help, etc.). In my experience with web designers, while your project may be a priority for them to complete, they may also have other projects they are working on at the same time. So, if they say it will take a week to complete, double or triple the timeframe to avoid disappointment.
How much will it cost?
Get an estimate and don’t be afraid to shop around. Just remember, cheaper isn’t always best. The first web designer that I used for www.motherswhowork.co.uk quoted me £250 and left me with a website that couldn’t use pound signs, questions marks and other forms of punctuation because he used the wrong character set. When relations broke down, I had to start from scratch – but this was post-launch, which was embarrassing to say the least…but at least the website looked better!
On the other hand, expensive isn’t always best either. Make sure you are satisfied with the pricing and they meet the other criteria you require.
Who owns the website?
Be weary of any designer that does not allow you to make changes or add to your website when you want to. You should also have complete access and ownership of any web hosting accounts and full rights to all the graphics used in the project. Once the work is complete, make sure you change the password to the hosting account and the website’s administration panel (the backend) for security.
Will they train you to use the website?
For full control of your website, you want to be able to make changes and add to your site as required. Not only is it cost-effective, but it gives you complete control of your business, marketing tests and ensures changes are made in a timely manner. If you aren’t familiar with web design software or using a content management system, find out if the web designer will help you learn to how to use it. If they can’t personally help you, will they point you to helpful resources?
