5 Questions that Can Help You Separate the Web Design Wheat From the Chaff


Calgary web designer

Professional web development is a complex process; that’s why most small businesses hire outside web designers to create or re-design their websites. But if you’re in the situation of trying to hire a designer or web development firm, it can be difficult to weed out experienced web designers who will make your website into a strong marketing tool from those who will slap up a “nice” looking site that’s ultimately ineffective. Here are five questions you can ask that will help you tell the difference:

  1. How Do You Charge for Design?

    When it comes to custom web design services, you often get what you pay for. That doesn’t mean you should throw money at an expensive design company if it hasn’t proven that its work is actually superior, but it does mean that you should be looking at companies with widely varying price points and trying to figure out why. What are you actually being offered as part of a very cheap design process? You might not be too happy with the result.

  2. What Is Your Planning Process Like?

    In order to gauge how your website is likely to perform, you should ask prospective web designers what kind of planning process they go through. If they say they start by choosing graphic elements or sketching things out, that’s a sign that they don’t do enough market research and competitor research to truly know how to differentiate your website and appeal to your target audience.

  3. Will I Get to See a Wireframe?

    A wireframe is like a basic sketch of what a website will look like, along the same lines as a sample or proof. All web designers handle this process a little differently, but you should be clear at what point in the process you’ll be shown the working design and what opportunities you’ll have to give feedback.

  4. What Will the Updating Process Be Like?

    Content management systems of some kind are fairly standard these days, but you should ask for specific demonstrations on how your site will be updated and maintained. Some design companies will continue to work with you after the initial creation of the site, while others will simply hand over the site and leave you on your own. Most businesses thrive with something in the middle of those extremes.

  5. What Are Your Success Metrics?

    It’s easy to make the case that some companies have gone overboard in their efforts to quantify each and every aspect of marketing success. But your web designer should expect to show you in some measurable way that the design doesn’t just look good, it works. Ask about conversion rate testing, in particular — that’s how you’ll be able to tell if your website is actually getting you more business.

What other questions should people ask before hiring a designer or development company? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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