World Trade Index

Choosing a Good Web Design Company

To have a successful company or business these days everyone knows you need a good website.  They are wonderful marketing tools no matter what your business is or may be.  Okay so where do you go to get one?  There are thousands of designers and developers for web sites, but how do you know which one will be right for you, your goals and objectives?    

Well you need to start by deciding what your goals and objectives are.   Who is the target and how will they find your website?  What do they need to do once they find you site?  How will the website be updated?  What kind of timeframe is needed? What do you expect the return to be on your investment and how are you going to track it?  

When you start your search for a good web design company, you will need to look at the work they have done in the past.  Is there are good range on the web designs that they have provided?  Do they specialize in only one area and is that area the industry you are in?  Are their sites easy to use?  Do their pages contain design issues, bugs or broken links?  You will want to know if they have created other sites similar to what you want.  You may have specific needs like content management where you can make updates to your site, add new products.  If they company you are looking at has never implemented something like that for another client, they may not be the company you are looking for. These items should help you narrow your search to two or three companies.    

Once you narrow your search to just a few companies and have received responses back to your questions, do a comparison.    

· Were they quick to respond?

· Were they polite and helpful?

· Did they inquire about your company and needs?

· Did they use terms or language you didn't understand?

· Are guarantees included for their products?

· What kind of customer support do they have? Is it 24/7? By email or Phone?

· What kind of test do they run?

· Who owns the final design, source code and intellectual property?  

You should have a proposal from the final companies you are considering and need to compare the proposals and the product they are offering.  Also now is the time to check their references.  Call existing clients and ask them about the job the company has done and is doing for them.  By doing this upfront you will have done your homework and wind up with a good web design company that fits your needs.