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How to choose a Web Designer? Experience Strength Communication Decide on a budget Previous Clients
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How to choose a Web Designer?
Who will do it?
Now that you have decided that it is time to create a web site for your business there are many questions you must answer. One of the most important questions is, "Who should create my web site?" We like to use the analogy of playing music; in as little as a few hours, some people can strum a few chords on the guitar and play a song. But to really play the instrument and make it sing requires experience and understanding.
Experience
Is the designer experienced in web site design? How long has the designer been creating web sites? What is their background? How long have they been using the Internet?
Three years is a long time in Internet terms. More than four or five years is a seasoned veteran. Ideally, your site designer has a variety of experience.
Strength
What are the designers strengths and weaknesses?
The range of skills required for creating any type of website is more diverse than you can imagine. If a designer tells you they have done or can do any project, we'd suggest you take that statement with a grain of salt.
Decide what your marketing goals are and create a game plan for your Web site to reach those goals. Create a site map or a blueprint that shows the connections between pages.
Discuss your ideas with the designers. Do they get the concept? Do they listen to you? Or, are they out to win design awards?
Do you get along? Can you see yourself working with this person?
Communication
Is the designer easy to work with and talk to?
Is she/he able to communicate technical information so that you can understand it?
The process of creating a web site can often be an overwhelming process for some people. Consider hiring a designer with whom you have a good rapport and find communicating with easy.
Can they deliver on time? What is their time frame? What is on their calendar that could slow up the delivery process? Set target dates for deliverables. Tie payment into those dates.
Decide on a budget
What is your budget and what is the typical cost for the designer's projects?
As a generalization, the larger the company, the more they charge for their services (and often the more elaborate the sites they create.) Companies which create sites from a prepackaged template often cost less but don't provide you with custom solutions which may more closely meet your needs.
Will they make modest changes to the design as part of the agreed upon fee? Will that be an extra charge? Have them spell out what is included and what is not. For example, if you decide it would be cool to create a star burst saying "buy one, get one free," that really is a new work agreement. Don't be surprised if the designer wants more money. But if you decide you want to bump up the size of the headline type, that shouldn't be a problem – if you agree in advance.
Previous Clients
Look at some of their previous clients sites.
How well are the sites found by the search engines?
Do they all look the same? Do they load quickly?
Are they easy to navigate through?
Do you like their previous work?
Do they accurately reflect their clients' business?
Does the designer custom create each site or would they have you select from a list of prepackaged sites?
Conclusion
Your decision should be based on many of these important questions. Also use any other questions you find useful when hiring any other service business for a project.
Comparing web site designers is sometimes like comparing bananas to bicycles instead of apples to apples. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You might consider writing pros and cons for each designer on a sheet of paper to develop a more objective point of view.
The selection of your web site designer is an important step in the creation of a successful web site. With time and patience, you too can join the thousands of businesses with successful web sites.
These questions will help you begin your journey to a site that says, "I am an individual. Not a cookie cutter."
If you want to stand out from the crowd,
you need to hire a professional designer.
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