What to avoid when hiring a web design company
We live in a world where just about anybody can design and build their own websites, thanks to the numerous DIY platforms that have sprouted up online in the last few years.
These are great, however for a website to be professional in form and function, it’s important to hire a reputable and reliable web design (and branding) company when your creating your important business asset.
The problem is, there are companies and individuals out there offering web design services that are neither reputable nor reliable, and don’t have a solid understanding of branding.
With our 25+ years experience in branding, design and digital, we’ve learned a few things over the journey to help tell you which types of companies to avoid.
“CHEAP AS CHIPS” COMPANIES
Unfortunately, cheap rates are the kryptonite of many people who want websites but have little to no knowledge of how things work in the world of web design and development. The moment businesses see that a “web design” company is offering very low rates compared to the competition, they jump at the chance. But why would companies want to short change such an important part of their business communications.
The problem with cheap web design rates is that you get what you pay for. If you want specific functionality, features or customised design to suit your brand and business needs, no doubt you’ll be shelling out even more for your site. We get so many people come to us after going down the “cheap” route, and in fact the route chosen ends up being pretty expensive to fix. This isn’t including the damage it does to your reputation, brand and business having a poor performing and looking website.
100% PAYMENT UPFRONT
Why would you? What happens if it goes wrong? What if you’re not happy through the process?
Reputable web design and branding companies ask for a deposit for their professional fees before starting. A good company will set clearly set out their fees and payment schedule along side the deiivery schedule of the project.
The client and the company then agree on the fees and project scope and after deposit paid, work commences. It’s fair for all.
Steer clear of any web design company that demands full payment in advance.
TOO MUCH TECH SPEAK
We know that many of our clients don’t know a lot about designing effective websites (and why should they), which is why they’re looking for a professional web designer to start with.
We don’t know why then, some web design companies, tend to use a lot of jargon when presenting their plans for the project to the client. More often than not, clients end up agreeing to things they barely understand, but they have to pay for them anyway because the web designer said so.
Tech-speak is normally used to bamboozle a client to spend money on services and gimmicks they don’t really need. If you encounter a company who can’t explain things to you in plain english, keep looking.
WEB DESIGN ONLY COMPANIES
Back in the day when you got a new website developed, you spoke to a web design specialist, then you may have to speak to a web developer to make it happen. These days not only to web design companies need to know how to develop a website, but they need to know how to design it. More importantly, companies need to also know about branding and how the brand impacts on the design and user experience. There is also added bonuses for companies that intrinsically understand things like SEO and Social Media etc.
Having a company that can also look after your brand, is an important factor to look for. Having a cohesive message across your companies communications is crucial for consistency and maintaining your message and look and feel.
NO CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
These days, any website that you pay a web design company to build should have some sort of built-in content management system (CMS).
If the website you got from a web designer doesn’t have one, or if it does and you don’t have a clue how to use it, you’ve been had.
If editing your websites content is a headache because you either don’t know how, or each time you do you have to reach out to your web design company and get them to edit it for a fee, it’s time to rethink your website.
Steer clear of web design companies that do not incorporate a CMS platform into their solution for you. Be sure to make sure they are also there to train you on how to use it properly, as it’s just as useless to you than not having one at all if you don’t know how to use it.
NON MOBILE/TABLET FRIENDLY DESIGN
The world is a very mobile place, with smartphone and tablet users far outnumbering desktop users. You want your website to seamlessly display across all screens (“Responsive Design”), so don’t leave your web design in the hands of a company that doesn’t do or understand responsive web design for mobile and tablet.
“Up to 70% of web traffic happens on a mobile device”
Along with other factors like past work, process, services and about the companies background and history, If you see any or all of the above signs in a prospective web design company, run the other way, and find ones that offer the exact opposite like we do.
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