As a creator, you know that having a professional and engaging website is essential to showcase your work, grow your audience, and monetize your content. But how do you find the best website design services that suit your needs, budget, and vision? Here are some tips to help you choose the right one.
Before you start looking for website design services, you need to have a clear idea of what you want your website to achieve. Do you want to sell your products or services, build a community, collect email subscribers, or share your portfolio? What kind of features, functionality, and aesthetics do you need to support your goals? Write down your objectives and prioritize them according to their importance.
To choose the right website design service, I'd consider their portfolio, client reviews, customization options, responsiveness, communication, technology expertise, cost, and post-launch support. It's essential to find a service that aligns with my creative vision, budget, and business needs.
Sure, define your company goals for your website, but make sure to define your customers goals too. A lot of businesses make the mistake of getting too personal with their likes/dislikes when it comes to their site - it’s about what your customers want to see, how you can stand out from your competitors and ultimately how you convert your traffic ??
A clear idea of what purpose the site is going to serve is important in developing a web design strategy so that your website is successful. A good designer or design agency can help with this, so even if you don't have a solid strategy to begin with it's okay. If there are really important aesthetics that you want on your website, consider it, otherwise a good designer will help guide you toward appropriate aesthetics for your site. You're best off seeking a designer or agency who's familiar with your industry, so that they can create the aesthetics you need.
When looking for website design services, creators have several options to choose from. DIY platforms are online tools that allow you to create your own website using templates, drag-and-drop editors, and plugins. They usually offer affordability and flexibility, but may have limitations in terms of design, performance, and security. Freelancers are individual professionals who can design and build a website according to your specifications. They can offer more creativity and personalization, but may also take longer and require more communication and feedback. Agencies are companies that provide website design services as part of a package that may include branding, marketing, and maintenance. They can provide more comprehensive results, but they may also be more expensive and less responsive.
Make sure your brief is DETAILED! ?? Going to an agency or freelancer and asking for a modern website with 20 pages is like walking into a car garage and asking for a red car with 3 doors, some may quote you for a Ferrari and others a Vauxhall Corsa. This is why detailed briefs are SO important, you can’t choose to work with someone based on price when what they’ve quoted you for is completely different. Top tip, don’t go with an agency or freelancer that provides you a quote without questioning your brief! ??
Do you have more time, money, or skill? Even DIY builders will take a learning curve, and if you don't have the aesthetic skill to be able to build something that looks good and functions well it's best to hire an agency or freelancer. Agency's are more expensive, and are often working with freelancers anyway. But you can trust that they are contracting with people who do a good job, so there is extra security. With a freelancer you'll need to do a bit more research to make sure they are legitimate and can deliver the results they promise. I always recommend hiring designers who already know your industry or already work within the aesthetic you're looking for.
Once you have a shortlist of website design services that match your goals, you need to compare them based on their pros and cons. Some of the factors to consider include cost, quality, support, and fit. For cost, ask yourself questions like: how much do they charge for their services, and what is included in the price? Do they offer different plans, packages, or discounts? How do they handle payments, invoices, and refunds? When it comes to quality, look at their designs, features, and performance. Do they have a portfolio, testimonials, or reviews that demonstrate their work? Do they follow the best practices and standards for website design? For support, consider how easy they are to communicate and work with. Do they offer customer service, technical support, or after-sales service? How do they handle revisions, updates, or issues? Lastly for fit, ask yourself if they understand your niche, audience, and vision. Do they share your values, style, and goals? Do they have experience working with creators like you?
Simple, ask about your return on your investment! Your website is an investment in your businesses success. Whether you’re selling products or services, your website is a tool to do so. If your goal is to sell, improve sales or generate leads, ask when you will see this return on your investment. Most of the time you’ll find the higher the quote, the better they’ll be able to able to answer this question because there’s more effort going into helping you obtain your goals - and if their quote is high and they can’t answer this question…RUN ??♂???
Before you commit to a website design service, you should test the waters by asking for a consultation, a proposal, or a demo. This will help you get a feel for their approach, skills, and personality. You should also ask them questions about their process, timeline, and expectations. You should look for a website design service that is responsive, transparent, and professional.
ASK FOR REFERENCES ?? You’d ask for references when hiring a member of staff, why not ask when you’re vetting an agency or freelancer. Anyone can fake reviews, case studies and results so get your evidence!! Some of my favourite questions from clients were “what should we know before we start a project with you”, “what type of clients do you prefer to work with” and “if you’ve found clients difficult to work with, why was that” - remember, there’s not one creative that ever WANTS to have a bad relationship with a client. It’s important to really get to know each other to make sure it’s a great match! ??
I always start any website project with a free consultation with the client to get to know their business, what they're looking for, and make sure that we're a good fit. This call is important and helps set the stage for the work that's going to be done. If your freelancer doesn't want to do a discovery call there's a good chance they're not a legitimate business. A freelancer should also have a solid idea of timelines (generally between 6-12 weeks) if they're offering something much faster, or much cheaper than other designers there's a good chance they're not legitimate. Asking for references is also always a good idea to make sure that they have clients who trust them. Remember though, that references can also be faked.
Finally, you should trust your gut and choose the website design service that feels right for you. You should feel confident, comfortable, and excited about working with them. You should also feel that they respect your vision, value your feedback, and deliver on their promises. Remember, your website is a reflection of your brand, so you should choose a website design service that can help you shine.
This is TERRIBLE advice. We once had a potential client say “we’re just going to go with our gut on this”. 5 months later they popped up in my inbox having lost ￡10k on a developer that didn’t deliver…but they were “so nice”?! There are some excellent sales people in this industry, don’t get sold snake oil and go with the FACTS. If someone is charging ￡5k less for the same product, why is that? Has this team really got to know my business in and out? Have they educated me on what they’re selling so I truly understand it? Do they have a track record of customers that they’re happy to put me in touch with? Gut feelings can be wrong, don’t let this one create a toxic relationship where your business is involved!!
A freelancer should be able to give you a clear idea of their process and be communicative with you. Typically I meet with clients every week during a design and then every 2 weeks during development. Other freelancers may have a different process, but they should have something solid that you can reference. Remember that a freelancer is also trusting you to be a legitimate paying client, and may also ask you for references or contracts to be signed.