9min
Many companies ignore the importance of the choice of a design agency because they do not believe that the quality of service will affect the outcome of their project. But this is not true, since the agency you choose will affect the quality of the work that will be done and the final result of your project. The choice of a design agency is not easy, since there are so many companies that offer the same service. However, we suggest ask a few questions before you hire an agency.
There is a lot of uncertainty when choosing a website design agency because no matter how much research you do, there may not be enough evidence to make a good decision. Here are some questions to ask before hiring a web design company. Be sure to do the research and use these questions as a starting point.
Let's go over the questions now
1. What are the roles and responsibilities of those involved in project management?
A good way to set proper expectations is to have only a single point of contact for the client. A project manager can be that point of contact. This manager will be the only person who communicates with your company to make sure that both parties are on the same page. The client also benefits from only having to communicate with one person, which helps to keep them organised. It’s just good business practice.
If a project manager is taking care of the entire schedule, it allows for increased oversight and leads to fewer problems down the road. Intra-agency communication is the backbone of the process. If the team on the inside doesn’t get a chance to touch your project and communicate with your team, there are bound to be slip ups. That’s why it’s best to have a project manager that is communicating with your team. This can be your point person, as they can communicate with your team and make sure everything is on track.
2. When will I see the milestones?
It's important to understand certain milestones and deliverables. From the client's side, you don't want to be waiting three months, six months, a year for the product you need. So, how long is it going to take to create the new website? From the web development company’s side, you need to make sure that your schedule isn't overbooked by adding a client to your Project list. The schedule needs to have time for edits and changes. After all, everyone is going to have a different idea of how long it's going to take and how long they need it. That's why setting up clear schedules and guidelines when beginning a project is essential, so that everyone knows what to expect and when.
3. Is the work guaranteed?
A web design agency can be difficult to evaluate. Be sure to review their portfolio. Make sure that the web design agency you work with offers a clear guarantee of its work. . The best web design agency should be able to solve the issues for you and remove all the obstacles.
In order to succeed, it's highly likely that you'll need the assistance of experts. Because they can make your brand stand out with their best work, they can only do that by understanding what you want, and they can only do that by bringing their best to the table. That's why you need to choose the team that you're most comfortable with, and the team that you feel like you can trust. This is just the beginning of your journey. You need to choose the web design agency that will make your brand stand out from the rest out there. So you need to work with a team that you'll get along with and trust.
4. If I'm unsure of what I need, what should I do?
A lot of developers are unfamiliar with the ins and outs of onboarding. Say a client walks into your office and says, "I want a website," and the web developer says, "No problem!". “We’d love to work with you.” But that won't do.
Three things are important to every client and every developer: Scope, cost, and timelines. It's vital these three things are established at the very beginning of the project. You will have miscommunications in your project from the start if you don't comply with this.
Developers must be clear about all of these topics, and if they don't ask upfront, then this should definitely raise red flags. Your developer should take the time to educate you about these aspects and ask you these questions. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to communicate effectively. Even if they know what you require, how will they know how much it will cost to build it?
5. How do I get started without any design files?
If you do not have an existing UI or website design file, the developer will handle it. Going into it, make sure that you have something to show them so that they can say, "This is how I want it to look and function." A wireframe, for example, is going to be very helpful. If you have a rough idea of how you want the site to end up functioning and you know what kind of functionality you want, they can help you organise that and build it out. Then you can come in and add all of the fluff and make it look appealing. This will help you save money and it’s a great way to take control of your own project.
6. What is your approach to learning about my business and researching my competitors?
There's a systematic process that reputable web design companies adhere to when it comes to the research side of things. A reputable company will always ensure they include proper steps for gathering information about their target audience and their needs as well as analysing other key data including competitive analysis, market segmentation, and keyword research.
For instance;
- How well do your competitors perform in the marketplace?
- How would you describe the client's goals?
- Are they in a specific industry?
- What are the keyword and search trends?
The absence of a research plan is certainly a red flag. Or else, how are they going to work for you and for your business? This will ultimately lead to the results you desire.
7. Do they offer any other services?
Your business is more than just a website. That is the most basic step in marketing your brand. However, if you don’t also factor in social media, mobile optimisation, video marketing, and search engine optimisation, you’re not going to be reaching your full potential.
While a web development agency may know how to build websites, there is a level of expertise that you need to have in order to get your website to the next level. This is where a digital inbound marketing agency comes in. By engaging a digital marketing agency, you are engaging a team of professionals that will take your current marketing and advertising campaign to the next level. Without the right expertise, you could be losing out on a lot of potential customers. If you are looking to get your company's website in a better position online, we can help! We have a team of experts that can help your company get in front of the right audience. We know how to incorporate the right marketing techniques to help grow your business.
8. Can I change the design if I don't like it?
Having paid money to a web development agency, you seem to be getting what you want, but then you don't like what they send you?
Planning is key here. The project should have several milestones or checkpoints you can identify if you go into it with a clear vision of exactly what you want. When things aren't going as you planned, or they aren't turning out the way that you expected, you should be able to see it quickly.
A clear communication process should be in place at any time to let them know what you think. Possibly, you don't like the placement or colour scheme. You may not like the overall design. But you still have a choice. In order to rebuild the site once the site's done, it's almost as if you have to tear it apart.
9. How do I add something to the project? Can the scope be changed once it's started?
Consider a site that is nearing completion. Suddenly, you realise that you must start selling subscriptions to all the new content you now have. What would you do? We’d say, “We’ve got three options. Let’s discuss them. Option 1: we can jump in and implement your subscription idea as quickly as possible while staying focused on developing other new ideas that are already in motion. Option 2: we could add countdown timers to each piece of premium content and make people wait to see it unless they subscribe first - which would give us time to implement your idea before going back to complete all original goals for the site. Or option 3: you can take this opportunity to invest even more time into developing your subscribership and let some of our more immediate ideas sit idle for a little longer until we get this going and then go back to working on those other projects."
Now that we’ve built up trust with this particular client, they understand that when they give us this “dream list” of functionality, we’re going to think about it and come up with a plan of how we can execute it. Again, it’s an opportunity to say, “We’ve completed what we promised to do in Phase One, so let’s start talking about Phase Two.”
10. What is the expected timeline for my project?
Smart clients should ask, “When will I get a full draft of the website?””
We are discussing a business here. There's no point in spending thousands of dollars on something that's just for fun. Plan ahead with this information. When a firm says, "You'll get this from me," nothing should change it. Naturally, if the client doesn't respond or if some other issue occurs, I'm not talking about those scenarios.
As a general rule, ask the question and make sure they answer it. Ask, “When will I get a draft” and be clear about what you mean.?
Good opportunities or good relationships can be ruined when both sides are not on the same page.
It takes a lot of time to get things done, which can be frustrating. Many factors may influence the process during development - from technical constraints to those external factors beyond anyone's control like a client not giving feedback when requested etc.
11. Is my website compatible with desktop computers, tablets, and mobile phones?
In a nutshell, "Mobile first." The mobile version of your site must look great. The vast majority of traffic comes from mobile devices. How can we avoid this? Make sure your site is responsive so it can work on any device that visits it.
It's common for 70% to 80% of consumers to come to direct-to-consumer brands via mobile. The algorithm used by Google to rank and position websites are based on mobile usability. In other words, your site will be delisted automatically if it is not mobile responsive.
12. Which information do you need to get started?
Now that we've gone over all this, let's say you're here and ready to get started as a client. X firm seems right for you. The numbers seem to add up, and the resources seem to be there. Next?
When the design assets are not provided, this is where the biggest holdup usually begins. It is your responsibility as a client to provide logos, images of products, or hosting access. The earlier you give them the materials they will need, the better off they will be.
The web design client is always enthusiastic at the beginning of the project. They have just made a payment and they are excited to get the project started. But as time passes, they become busy with other things and the project never truly becomes a priority. Eventually, the client becomes impatient and starts being critical of the process. When a web company is in the early lifecycle of a project, they should be certain to take a step back and organise the project so deadlines are clear, as well as action items. The web design company needs to do this so that they can effectively manage their finances and the client's expectations.
13. Is the website design mine once it has been completed?
Developers only. If you're a web developer, then you might think that your work belongs to you when it's done. That might be the case, but there are rules for this sort of thing! You see, web design and development are services, not products. When you write code that becomes part of the final product, it becomes the property of your client, even if you think it's yours. The reason why it's important to know this is because if your client decides to take their business elsewhere, then they have all rights to your work. While, You have some rights to your works, beyond that, you have to follow the rules of your clients.
You will store all your data with your hosting company. This includes all your information.
As a consequence, it is imperative that you have cPanel access and a backup. Ensure that you have access to your site back up and that it is downloaded frequently. In that case, it can be reset elsewhere if there's a problem.
14. How do you handle ongoing updates and maintenance?
Carefully review how firms handle website maintenance and updates. Look into their client-service reputation and skilled resources to make sure they can keep your site current and secure. Make an assessment including a review of their portfolio, interviewing references, and analysing their services.
It is a good chance to judge whether they are capable of handling maintenance and updates after you have the website built.
Remember to make sure you choose a web design firm that is a good fit for your needs, expectations, and budget. Having a functional website is essential because if you don't have one, you won't be able to compete in the marketplace.
When it comes to doing something worthwhile, time and money are invested. You have created a site or platform and even made sure it runs smoothly and works properly. A WordPress site is not just some kind of magical entity; there are many people working behind the scenes to make your work known to others on the web. By keeping it well-maintained one can ensure that everything will continue to run smoothly which benefits everyone involved, including the user!
