Questions to ask when choosing a Web Design Agency

Web design is still an area of mystery for many of us which can make selecting a Web Designer a daunting and difficult task. It’s a massive decision and one that requires a great deal of trust on your behalf. We’ve all heard stories about disreputable Web Design Agencies or Freelancers taking advantage of people/companies whose lack of knowledge around the subject means they can easily be duped into paying more than they should.

However, there are literally thousands of excellent reputable Web Designers and Web Design Agencies out there who will do their utmost to give you a fantastic website, a great price and sound advice to help you make an informed decision.

The big question is ‘How can you make sure you make the right choice?’. Asking the following questions is a good place to start:  

• What do you know about my company and the industry we operate in?

If you can find an agency who are already familiar with the industry you work in then this can be a big advantage as they will also have an idea of your target audience. Some web design agencies do a lot of work in specific industries such as property or travel, or specialise in certain types of websites such as ecommerce, brochure or Content Managed websites. A good agency should ask you lots of questions about your business so they can gain an understanding of the best strategic direction, and to ascertain whether or not they can meet your requirements and budget.

• Who will maintain the website?

Most web design companies will work with a content management system (CMS), whether it’s their own or a third-part solution. A CMS allows you (the website owner) to change text and images, and to add new pages/sections in order to keep your website fresh. If you don’t have the time or inclination to manage the site yourself these agencies will almost certainly maintain the website for you on request, but they will usually charge for this service. The problem with this arrangement is that if you want to make a quick text change you could be waiting for your web designer to be free to make the change for you. If you do decide to go down t down the CMS route then check to see if this is included in the price of the design.

• Can you show me some previous work?

Ask to see examples of previous projects they’ve completed – the majority of Web Designers and Web Agencies provide links to websites they have completed, on their own website. See how varied and original the company’s designs are and if you like their style. Some designers will be more creative than others so decide which style is right for your website. A decent portfolio of previous work can also indicate the trustworthiness of a website company.

• What can you do for my budget?

When you’ve managed to narrow your choice down to three or four agencies, tell them the size of your budget and ask them what you can get for your money. If you have a small budget then you’ll most likely have to compromise on design features and functionality. Once you have agreed on a price and a design theme then make sure you stick to it and don’t be tempted to agree to extra features which could increase the total price of the website.

• How easy will our relationship be?

Obviously this isn’t a question you should ask the agencies but it is something you should consider when you meet each one. See how well they communicate in emails, phone calls and in person. Also note how readily they are available to speak to and how quickly they return your messages. There’s no point choosing a company who you don’t feel comfortable with as you’ll be unlikely to get the end result you desire.

• Do you do Online Marketing?

If you intend to market your website for increased search engine prominence you might want to choose an agency that offers these services in addition to website design. Increasingly Web Designers offer additional services such as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) which is an online marketing discipline designed to improve the number of visitors your website attracts. SEO is concerned with achieving higher rankings in the natural search section of Google for keywords relating to your business area eg. ‘web design Harrogate’ or 'website design Harrogate'.