In an industry where anyone, anywhere can pop up and offer anything, how do you make sure you are dealing with a legitimate business who is properly qualified to deliver your business the perfect website? Knowing how to choose a web designer can be a very important step in your journey.
Making sure your business is dealing with a qualified professional is one of the biggest issues facing the web design industry.
6 Quick Tips on How to Choose a Web Designer
- Testimonials
- Check their references
- Look for Accreditations
- Review examples of their work
- Meet them in person
- Ask about their time in business
Most business owners can probably attest to feeling like running their business is one big continuous job interview. Every prospective client wants to carefully evaluate you and your business to see if they can work with you. Whilst it can be painful, it is a very vital step and one businesses need to take very seriously.
Now, I have to admit, the world of web design can seem like the wild west at times, with people offering websites at almost every price point. There is always someone offering something else cheaper than you. So how do you know who you are dealing with and what exactly are you getting for your dollar?
It is more than important than ever to make sure that the work you are paying for is being done correctly.
The website, you often think you can’t afford… is really a website you can’t afford to get wrong.
You could be dealing with a 16 year old high school student in Russia, building your website from his bedroom using pirated software and copyrighted images.
I can’t tell you the number of times every year I have people coming to me with horror tales to tell.
Unless you are dealing physically with your web partner, who knows where and who is building your website? And even if you meet your web designer, how do you know what qualifications they have?
Let’s compare our industry to other professions like doctors or accountants. To perform their work they need to prove they are properly qualified to carry out their work. Degrees and qualifications line their walls, giving customers a level of comfort during their services.
Whilst, I have to admit our industry is vastly different to those examples, here are a few ways you can look into when researching your next web designer.
6 Quick Tips on How to Choose a Web Designer
1. Testimonials
Have a look through their own website and see if they have any actual client testimonials. Of course they are going to be positive, however make sure they are using proper businesses and their names. This is a great way of seeing if their business has been performing great work for their existing clients.
2. Check their references
An even better way of determining the quality of a potential web designer is if they allow you to contact an existing client as a reference. Existing clients are a very good way of ascertaining the quality of not just the web design, but also the service provided.
3. Look for Accreditations
Whilst this is not an industry standard, if you know that your web designer has a degree or diploma in Graphic Design, Visual Communication or Website Design, this can be a great indicator of their skill level.
4. Review examples of their work
By clicking through and viewing actual websites created by the web designer, you will be able to get a very good idea of the likely outcome of your website. A web designer who has created a range of professional looking websites will likely be able to do the same for your business.
5. Meet them in person
I am a huge believer in clients meeting their web designer. After all, whilst your website is an online presence, it is created by a real person. So make sure you meet your web designer and get a great feel for them as a person. Make sure they understand you and your business. It is crucial for you to have the confidence in them to do your website for your business.
6. Ask about their time in business
With new website businesses starting up and shutting up shop almost every second day, the length of time a web design company has been around for can be a testimonial to their reputation.
If your business can partner up with a reputable business who has been in the game for a good period of time it can greatly reduce the risk of teaming up with a flop.
Further Reading: Web Designer traits you should look out for
Further Information
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