Why is choosing a web design agency so difficult?
Choosing a web design agency is a big decision for any business or organisation and it's one that can be extremely complicated. There are so many web design companies out there that all seem to offer similar things, but how can you be sure you’re making the right choice?
Choosing a good agency isn’t as simple as just doing a quick Google search and picking the first one you come across, and there are so many factors to consider, such as:
- Experience: How many years have they been in business?
- People: What skills and abilities do they have? Are they sub contracted or employed?
- Pricing: How much do they charge for web projects? Does it fit your budget?
- Quality of Work: Do the websites they build stand the test of time? How well do they perform?
- Platforms & hosting: What platform do they use for building websites? What is the hosting platform?
There’s a lot to consider, so it’s not surprising that choosing a web design agency can be so difficult. That’s why it's important you get it right from the start!
Here’s a few more pointers that will assist you in making the right decisions...
Define your website needs and goals
With a clear understanding of what your website’s needs, requirements and goals are, you’ll be in a better position to choose a website design and development agency with the experience to deliver those requirements.
For example, if your website is intended to develop sales leads, your website needs to offer detailed information and routes to converting those leads, alternatively, if you expect to sell your products through an e-commerce platform, can your chosen agency deliver the perfect sales platform?
What experience does the website design and development agency have in your sector?
Your chosen agency should have an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by your industry and the sector you operate in. Does your agency have previous experience in this sector? It helps to consider an agency that has previous experience and solutions at the ready.
Find out about the likely costs and timelines
It’s important to outline costs and timelines very early on to ensure they meet your budget requirements and expectations. The right website design agency will offer a detailed and accurate schedule and be communicative and transparent with realistic expectations when it comes to budgets and timings.
Ask for case studies and examples of similar website builds
Viewing an agency’s portfolio is the best way to evaluate its capability and expertise. This is a great time to request case studies and examples of similar builds and explore these websites yourself through a customer’s eyes. If you're impressed and satisfied with the experience, customers are likely to be too. You may even spot features and ideas that can be included in your own website.
Ensure you think about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
SEO is extremely important in today's competitive online space. It’s no good having a fantastic website that doesn’t rank well with the search engines!
Are your chosen agency able to help you maintain good google rankings? Can they offer a content strategy geared toward SEO? Will they continuously monitor website performance? Without stating the obvious, is the SEO portal easy to update and change?
Support and training
Consider the future function of your website and the maintenance considerations that may come with that. Maintaining your website will be a joint effort between you and the agency. Are your chosen agency able to offer ongoing support and maintenance? Will they always be on hand to offer help and assistance?
With the right support and training you will be empowered to keep your website functioning to the highest possible standards, ensuring customer experience and satisfaction are delivered.
UX (User Experience)
It’s often too easy to overlook the role of UX in website design. An agency that carefully considers UX will ensure your website is optimised for readability, navigation and conversion, as well as being SEO-friendly and secure.
It’s simply not enough to have a fast and good-looking website. A website should offer the most optimal experience and generate business for you by building trust among users.
CMS Management
An easy to use CMS (Content Management System) will ensure a better experience for you and your team as they manage the website in the years to follow.
Is the CMS offered by your agency considered user-friendly? The chosen CMS will be a big player in the continuous management and improvement of your website, so this is a huge consideration in the early stages.
Building or redesigning your website doesn’t have to be a stressful process. With the right agency supporting you along the journey, it should be an enjoyable experience full of exciting new opportunities that enhance your company’s reputation.
The most impactful websites deliver relevant and valuable information to users at the right time. This is heavily dependent on having an engaging and functional web design. We hope the information detailed above helps you on the journey to find the perfect website design and development partner.
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