A well-designed website is always a traffic magnet. Combine it with the right content and SEO practices, and you can enjoy increased conversion rates and sales. However, there’s more to it than just getting people on your site. 92% of website visitors visiting a website for the first time don’t actually aim to make a purchase. Most are looking for specific business information, doing comparison shopping, or reading through the site’s content. This means, once potential customers are on your website, there’s still some work to do to convert traffic into purchases.
Ideally, creating a positive impression right off the bat is a great way to start making conversions. If you want to optimize your site’s potential, cutting corners is not an option. With the best web design company by your side, you’ll be able to launch a great site that will deliver a positive customer experience that keeps customers buying from you. How do you find a great web design company? It all depends on asking the right questions about web design.
Here is how to choose a web design company by asking the right questions:
What Is Your Research Process?
Your customers, partners, prospects, and values are the life of your business. It only makes sense to create a website that directly represents these aspects. A cookie-cutter website just like all your competitors’ will not fly if you are looking to create a revenue-generating asset. This means that the best web design company is one that commits to research.
The agency should work overtime to understand your brand and customers. They should also commit resources to increasing the success of your marketing campaign through your website. This approach to branding is essential, considering that implementing consistent branding across all your platforms has the potential to increase your revenue by 23%.
What Are Your Pricing Packages?
You can learn a lot about a company’s value through its pricing packages. When it comes to web design, it’s often best to work with a company that offers custom packages. Mass-targeted pricing packages might not cover the nitty-gritty needs of your brand. For instance, if you want to incorporate SEO, you need to choose a company that offers packages with optimal SEO coverage.
The trick is to use typical pricing packages to determine the price range you should expect. The best web design company for you is one that will offer you tailor-made packages that fit your needs — at a good value. When assessing the different price points, be sure to compare value and prices to get the most bang for your buck. Cheap services don’t always translate to great value. Besides, there are multiple ways to save money on web design projects.
How Long Will the Project Take?
One thing to keep in mind as you learn how to choose a web design company is that timing is essential. The typical project timeline should be at the top of your list of questions about web design. If you are working on a tight timeline, the best web design company for you will be one that can deliver promptly.
There are many factors that can affect the project completion timeline, from the complexity of your project to the number of pending projects the company has in queue. When setting a deadline for the project, it is wise to leave room for revisions and setbacks. For instance, if you need the project completed in a month, you should ask them to finish it up within three weeks. The extra week allows for any setbacks that may arise.
How Do You Handle Website Maintenance and Updates?
Web design isn’t a one-time thing. Your site will need ongoing maintenance, and the best web design companies will provide that. If new web design trends or updates come up, you might also need to implement them. That’s why it’s wise to work with a company that will provide continuing services beyond the initial project.
Ask the potential web design partners how they will handle maintenance. Be sure to ask what future maintenance will cost you and all the available options. The more support they offer, the better you can future-proof your online presence.
Do You Work In-house, or Do You Outsource?
Learning whether a web designer works completely in-house or outsources some tasks can help you choose the best web design company. There is no problem with outsourcing specific web design tasks, for as long as it doesn’t interfere with the core parts of the project such as delivery timelines. Most web design companies aren’t a one-stop-shop for all things web design. They have to outsource some tasks, such as content writing and SEO, to offer you a holistic service. However, outsourcing increases the number of people dealing with your project. It can be a breeding ground for miscommunication and delays if not handled well. If you are worried about the project timeline, you could always assess whom the company will be outsourcing to.
Can You Link Me with References/Past Clients?
References will play a significant role when learning how to choose a web design company. They can offer you an informed opinion of the company’s effectiveness. You can also compare the company’s previous projects with your goals to determine if the company has experience with the type of website you want for your business.
Feel free to ask these contacts questions about their web design experience with the designer. You can inquire about any problems in service delivery and what they loved most about the service. The trick to finding the best web design company is to only start your project once you trust a company will deliver to your expectations. Every detail matters, from how they handle communication to their work ethic.
Do You Have a Portfolio?
Most web designers will have a portfolio of their latest and best projects on their website. If you can’t find one, ask them for it directly. A portfolio will give you a clear idea of what you can expect from the best web design company for your business. Even better, it would be ideal to get a portfolio and a case study from a potential partner.
Be sure to assess the intricate details of their web design projects, from mobile site responsiveness to design factors that will affect SEO. Take a look at their typical design style as well. Is it modern or traditional? Does it best represent your brand and style?
What Content Management System Do You Use?
Unless you are getting your website coded from scratch, your web design company will use a content management system (CMS) to create and organize site content. It is essential to learn what kind of CMS your site will run on, especially if you will be updating content regularly and maintaining your site. WordPress is the most popular CMS (powering over 30% of websites), but this doesn’t always make it the best option for your business.
Will the CMS support your eCommerce goals? Does it support all the functionalities your business might want in the future? The best web design company for you will walk you through the pros and cons of each CMS and suggest the one best suited to your needs. It doesn’t make sense to have to completely overhaul your website in the future if its CMS doesn’t support a specific feature.
Provide as Much Information as Possible
The more a web designer understands your final goal, the easier it will be for them to deliver a great website. As you learn how to choose a web design company, be sure that you understand your goals and can articulate them well. You should also list any questions about web design you might have for potential partners that aren’t on this list. Ask the right questions, and it will be easier to find the best web design company for your business.