Feel like your website isn’t doing a good job of engaging your target audience? If you’re certain that you have high-quality content on your site, then you should definitely evaluate your web design. It’s easy to forget about how your site looks and functions right after setting it up, but you wouldn’t want to neglect your site’s design if you care about making more sales. And to get things right the first time, it’s best to hire a specialist. To guide you through the process, keep reading to learn the top five qualities that define a good website design company.
1) Respects deadlines
As a business owner, you’d want to be specific when it comes to deadlines. It can prove frustrating when your website is rendered unusable for several weeks, severely impacting your online exposure. For this reason, you should find a company that doesn’t just set deadlines but meets them as well.
Now, it’s important to understand that most companies prefer giving a rough estimate. Several factors come into play when making changes to a site’s design, and unexpected things need to be accounted for. What’s important is that the company provides an honest answer when you ask them when they’ll be finished with your site.
If possible, ask them for references. This allows you to talk with their past clients and determine whether the company really meets deadlines or simply gives you an answer to lure you in and earn your business.
2) Follows a streamlined process
It’s a given that web designers should be creative, but sometimes, this isn’t enough to produce the results you’re expecting. Aside from creativity, the website design company you choose should have a clear and streamlined process in place. This tells you that they know what they’re doing and doesn’t just fool around with changing the different design elements on your site.
Of course, the first step of the process should be the initial consultation with clients. This is where you sit down with the designer and share your visions about your website. Be sure that you do not only tell how you want your site to look like, but how it should function as well. This plays a significant role in ensuring that your site brings you closer to your business goals.
3) Shares an extensive portfolio
Just like reading reviews of a product before purchasing, you should look at the portfolio of the web designer before hiring. It’s always a plus when the designer showcases variety in his or her portfolio. This is a good sign that the person can work with different kinds of websites, niches, and layouts. If the portfolio includes websites that look similar, you’re usually better off moving on to the next website design company on your list.
It also helps if the company you choose has plenty of experience in your particular industry or niche. They might be able to share tips that will make your website more attractive in the eyes of your target audience. As you can imagine, this can have a direct impact on your sales. Take the time to browse through the portfolio of multiple companies as this is the best way to narrow down your prospects.
4) Knowledgeable in digital marketing techniques
There used to be a time when you’d need to hire a website design company, an SEO agency, and a social media marketing firm to ensure that all your digital marketing needs are covered. These days, though, the different techniques should work in cohesion to produce the kind of results you want. Web design companies should know about the other techniques you’re using to enable them to formulate a strategy that wouldn’t interfere with your other methods. Their expertise in these areas will be evident in their past projects, so don’t forget to take this into consideration.
5) Uses a reliable CMS
If you’re like most business owners, you’d probably want to handle your website once everything is set up. This can help save a ton of money in the long run. This, however, wouldn’t be possible if the designer you choose uses an obscure system that proves too complex for the average person. Some designers also use paid platforms, which means you’d have to shell out money if you decide to stop using the services of the company.
You’ll thank yourself for choosing a company that uses popular, reliable, and user-friendly content management systems such as WordPress. This will give you an easier time managing your website by yourself. The drag-and-drop functionality, the wealth of plug-ins, and the overall simplicity of the CMS will make you feel like a pro. It’s easy to see how this simple tip can prove invaluable over the long-term, especially if you take an interest in learning how to deal with your web design in the coming years.
