Six Ideas for Hiring a Web Developer or Designer

Hiring a web designer and the website design process can sometimes be a little overwhelming. I understand your apprehension. To help get you started, I have created a short list of six things to keep in mind when hiring a web designer.

Think About Your Business Goals

Setting goals is very important in business. This is especially true when designing for marketing on the Internet. Because a website can be as small as one page or as large as a thousand or more pages, it is very important to have clearly defined goals, like selling more widgets, getting more leads, or encouraging more calls for appointments. This goal list can be endless.

One common misconception business owners make when creating goals for their website is thinking that more traffic should be the goal. Always remember that more website traffic should not be the end goal of your website. Although more traffic is important, it is just a means to an end.

Think About The Target Market

A lot of business owners take a scattershot approach when planning for their website audience. The problem is, if you target everyone, you in effect target no-one. A clearly defined market should revolve around a very specific combination of age, gender, geography, behaviors, and things people like. For example, a boy in the United States is going to have very different interests than a girl in Japan.

A Website Is More Than A Static
Marketing Piece. Make It Dynamic.

There is still a small group of individuals that think of a website as nothing more than an electronic version of their brochure. This misconception leads to the idea that the responsibility of a web designer begins and ends with the layout and the selection of fonts and colors.

This, of course, is furthest from the truth. A good web design includes the overall user experience. Think about what features a website should have so your visitors get what they want. Should there be a shopping cart, a blog, or other educational resource? The list is endless.

In addition, think about how a website can help your business. Can an online catalog do double duty helping you keep track of your inventory? Remember that your website is open even when you are not available. So, why not make it easy for people to get all the information, make reservations, or learn about today’s dinner specials, anytime from anywhere?

Plan The Right Budget For
Your Project.

I know money is a touchy subject, so I won’t spend much time on this topic. The simple truth about the cost of design is yes, it can seem expensive up front. If you don’t set goals and forgo a realistic budget, your website design costs will skyrocket.

Remember to go into a web design project with an open mind. Ask questions of your designer and learn about the possibilities the Internet can offer your business. Only at that point, should you plan a budget.

If you go into the project without all of the details, you may budget too little, forcing you to cut corners. In the end, cutting corners will end up costing you more to adapt what was initially created, in order to add another feature at a later time.

Don’t Do It Yourself

With the advent of services like Wix, SquareSpace, or free website builders from website hosting companies, some business owners have taken web design upon themselves to try and save a little money. This may seem like a good idea, but what is often overlooked is the planning and strategy of good website design.

In addition, with free website builders you are usually limited to the list of templates that they provide. How is a business supposed to stand out when your site looks like everyone else’s? Nevermind being locked into their very specific functionality.

Is Hiring A Large Design Firm
Right For Your Business?

Some small business owners have a misconception that hiring a large, flashy agency to accomplish what a smaller agency can accomplish will get them the same results. Remember, just because an agency has McDonald’s or Anheuser-Busch on their client roster does not mean they will deliver you the same results. With a large agency you run the risk of becoming a small fish in a large body of water. You can quickly become an afterthought when the agency’s larger “shark” size clients come calling. Interview several design firms to make sure they are the right fit for your company.

Conclusion

Always remember that design is more than layout, color and fonts. The web requires a lot of planning and strategy to meet marketing goals. You don’t want to set your budget too low, which, in the end, will require you to cut corners and miss your business’ marketing goals. And finally, you want to make sure that the agency you hire is the right fit for your business.