Ninety-four percent of
visitors judge a website based on its design. And this impression is formed in the first few seconds. Over 38 percent of
users go as far as abandoning a site they find unattractive. So, one thing is for sure- you need to work on your web design if you wish to retain visitors and convert them into valuable customers.
A great way to do so is by hiring a website designing company. Such companies have a competitive edge in developing visually pleasing and optimized websites. However, not all website designing companies are worth the investment.
When looking for one, there are things you must
consider.
1. Portfolio:
The first thing about a web design company that you must consider is their portfolio. Before assigning the task of developing your website to a given company, look at their portfolio to see if you like what they have to offer. Different companies have varying styles. What you envision your website to be might not coincide with the type of output the given company delivers. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the design company is sub-par. It just means that it is not a good fit for your business.
Also, any company that is reluctant to show their past work to you, or doesn’t have enough to form a lasting impression on you should not be considered. After all, your website is your only chance at building a robust online presence and impression. You can’t mess it up by choosing the wrong web designer.
2. Expertise:
Just because it is a website designing company doesn’t mean it has the required experience to create your website. Why? Well, there are quite a few industries out there. Now, almost all companies within these industries are opting to have an online presence. However, the ideal website of one type of business may differ from the kind of site required by another sector.
Therefore, you don’t just need a web designer who has experience; you need one who has the right type of experience. Select a company that has previously designed websites for companies that come under the same industry as yours. This will ensure that you don’t have a hard time relaying your requirements to them.
3. Approach on usability:
A great way to distinguish between experienced web designing companies and beginners is by asking them about their approach to
usability. One of the most crucial factors of a website is making it user-friendly. In the world of sites, visitors are the king. By quizzing the company about how they plan on delivering excellent usability, you can gauge their approach.
An experienced company that is aware of the importance of usability is likely to tell you exactly how they will ensure a user-friendly interface.
4. Tentative timeline:
As a business, you can’t wait forever for your website to be made. You must launch it as soon as possible to take advantage of the online audience best and reach. When selecting for a website design company, make sure you ask about the tentative time of completion. Communicate your requirements to them and ask them how long it will take them to deliver the complete website. Always have room for last-minute delays.
Asking for the possible timeline isn’t just to keep things ready at your end. Instead, it also relays to the company that you expect adherence to the timeline, and they are less likely to stall you.
5. Expenses:
Whenever you employ a service, you must consider the
costs of it all as well. This is especially crucial if you are running a small business. If this is the case, the chances are that the cost of the project will be a strong determinant of whether you would employ the services of a given web design company.
While it is vital to consider cost, make sure you strike a balance between quality and need for cost-effectiveness. Don’t set a budget which is too low, or else you might end up with a poor design. And that will end up costing you more in terms of lost sales and poor conversion rate.
6. Customer service:
Always consider customer service to be a significant factor when choosing a
web design company. Companies which offer 24/7 customer support and promptly address queries should be sought. This will ensure that in case you find issues with the web design, you can quickly get the issue resolved. Also, quality customer support guarantees that you get swift updates regarding the progress of the work.
7. Location of the company:
Communication is critical when it comes to outsourcing a project. This is also true for web designing. You wouldn’t want delays in replies and updates because the company you are working with is based in a different time zone. You might be tempted to select companies that operate overseas. After all, they are considerably more affordable than local companies. However, the money you save is not worth the hassle of delayed approvals and time lags you will experience.
Therefore, consider choosing a company that is based in your home country and has the same time zone as you. This will allow you to schedule meetings with the designer team easily.
8. The process:
Finally, you must consider the method used by the website design company. This will help you in getting an idea of how the company functions and whether it aligns with how you operate. For instance, are the designers capable of delivering on time? Is the process thorough enough? Is it agile sufficient to save time and achieve standardized results?
Conclusion
Make sure you spend time in selecting the best web design company for your website. Whether or not your site will achieve a high conversion rate and impressions is dependent on how effective your website design is.
Consider these factors when hiring your website designer. If you do so, you are likely to make the right decision. Once you have an impactful and useful website, you are ready to attract the masses.
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