subject: When You Go Through A Website Designing Company-i [print this page] Individuals, business owners, NGOs, government, all understand the need of a website. If you do not have one yet and have decided that this is the time to take the plunge, or if you need to redesign your existing site, deciding who would be doing it is a crucial decision.
Most small and even mid size business owners do not have the knowledge and expertise to design and develop a website on their own. If you are one such soul, the point below can make life easier for you by thinking on some points that you need to mull over before you decide whom to hire. Remember that a poorly designed website can not only ruin your brand but can also drive customers away from you. Follow the steps mentioned below and your odds of finding a technology savvy, creative, responsive and cost efficient design firm will go up significantly.
See their past work
Definitely, proof of the pudding lies in its taste but it is you who will have to pay for the cooking and the cook, both. Why not just see what the design company is capable of producing by seeing some of their past work? Also, ensure that the work has been done by themselves and not by some third party or even worse, they have not taken someone elses work and show to you as theirs. Ask them for phone numbers, emails and real client names whom you can contact to confirm their work standards and delivery norms.
Work Examples in Different Industries
An extension of the point above, but this one makes a big difference. Does their layout, structure, navigation, typography, all look similar across websites? If yes, what is the reason? Are they using some cheap template and modifying it or are the genuinely non creative? Go ahead with them if the answer to the above question is a resounding No.
Responsiveness
If the business development managers are not responding in the initial talks, it is a good sign that the organization structure is either messed up or they care little. Also, look for their choice of response tool. Do they love emailing or do they ever call? How do they do project management? How would the mockups be approved or the feedback given? The web design industry is one of the most advanced industries online and in the era of base camp, active collab and proof HQ, if they are still going for email based approvals then you got to go in opposite direction from them.
