36% of small businesses still don’t have a website. And if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you fall into that 36%.
Creating a website is an essential part of your small business’ marketing plan, allowing customers to research your business and ask questions while giving your company a way to build up your search engine optimization strategy and enrich your sales funnel.
However, building a website means bringing on a web designer. But how do you select a web designer, anyway?
Keep reading for some essential tips!
Request a Site Consultation
It’s one thing to see a designer’s resume. But it’s another to see their work in action.
As you start interviewing and comparing design fees, ask candidates what they’d do with your current website. Their answers can help you solve problems that you didn’t even know existed!
Focus On Quality Over Quantity
A large swatch of web design experience is certainly an important factor when choosing a designer, but it isn’t the be-all-end-all. Contrary to what you may think, it can lead to frustration down the road.
While there are plenty of talented web designers out there looking to help businesses bring their dreams to life, some focus on churning out as many websites as possible to make their money.
As you start to think more about your company’s website needs, pay close attention to the quality of a candidate’s work.
Lazy design or poor usability can end up costing you more than you’d spend on a competent designer in the first place.
Check for References
Any web designer worth considering should come with a ton of online customer reviews, as well as testimonials from satisfied clients.
Ask if you can contact these former clients to get a rundown on the things a candidate may not mention.
Specifically, look into how a designer communicates with their clients. You should also ask about any disagreements the client may have had with the designer, and how those disputes were handled.
Think About Future Usability Issues
Some facets of web design, like building a mobile-friendly website, will only become more important as the years go on and technology continues to evolve.
Before you start talking to candidates, do some research into what experts believe the future holds for web design UI. That way, you can see if a designer can address and incorporate these trends sooner rather than later, thus allowing your company to stand at the cutting edge.
Ask About Software Integration
It’s easy to get so caught up focusing on everything new that you forget to consider how your new site will interact with your older software.
Double-check that web design candidates can integrate your current software into your new design. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend hundreds of dollars and countless hours on purchasing and learning new analytics tools.
Fortunately, most software plays well with current web design practices. So if you’re using the Qlik dashboard to measure your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) you won’t necessarily have to adjust to brand new software.
How to Select a Web Designer for Your Business
Now that you know how to select a web designer, it’s time to get out there and start talking to candidates. Remember to ask the questions detailed above and consider all aspects of working with a designer, including communication and quality.
And while you’re here, why not check out more great business tips? Our business products and services blog has all the info you need to keep your company competitive!