The Pros and Cons of Using a London Agency

Google “UK web design company” and you'll turn up almost 30,000 hits. It's now possible to find agencies and designers from Truro to the Isle of Skye. The web has made it easier to work with anyone, anywhere. So, does it matter where your agency is based?

The cost of living in London is markedly higher than pretty much anywhere else in Britain. It's likely that at least some of these costs will be passed on to the client. Agencies in less expensive regions of the UK will have far lower overheads, and possibly lower rates.

While many of these companies offer an excellent service, there can be some pitfalls to choosing a non-London agency – particularly if you're a large company or are based in the capital. Here are several key reasons why using a London agency could result in better quality of service, better website design – and better value in the long run...

A rich pool of associates:

A London website design agency is likely to be larger, with more staff and a more comprehensive range of services than many other agencies. Not only that, London companies have the benefit of a plethora of creative freelancers, specialist consultants and niche businesses right on their doorstep. For example, specialists are on tap in areas such as:

- Search engine optimisation

- Intranet development

- Digital animation

- Graphic design

- e-commerce solution

- Online marketing

- Viral campaigns

- Multilingual search and translation

- Content provision

Of course, agencies from across the UK may call on the services of specialist associates, but London agencies often have closer relationships with a broader range of other organisations. This can mean faster turnaround and better package rates.

Better talent?

While it's foolish to suggest that there aren't dozens of exceptionally talented web designers right across Britain, it would be fair to say that many of the brightest sparks are attracted to London. Whether it's for the career opportunities, the lifestyle, the excitement of the city or even the money – an influx of young professionals constantly floods into the capital. That means that by using an established agency you could be working with some of the sharpest designers in the industry.

Website developers London = greater access:

Although the web has opened up the world, and video conferencing makes it easier to connect “face to face”, for large or complex projects you may want to meet with your design team regularly.

London has the advantage of being the world's travel hub. It's easy to fly in from overseas, take the Eurostar from the continent, or take the train from anywhere in the UK. Similarly, representatives from a London agency find it easier and faster to get anywhere in the UK or beyond to meet you on your own premises. And let's face it – if something does go wrong you want your designers to be as accessible as possible.

Quality through competition:

There are good and bad companies in every industry and every location. However, because of the increased local competition, and the need to meet steep operating costs, web site development companies in London tend to offer a very high level of service. This clearly isn't true in all cases – but it's worth bearing in mind that while a designer in Exeter may be up against only a handful of local competitors, London agencies compete against dozens.

Of course, the ultimate test of any web design company is the quality of the work they produce and their level of experience.