With the world constantly moving online, you may have determined that the time has come to revamp and refresh your website. If you do not currently work with a web design agency with whom you are delighted, how do you find the ideal firm to enhance your business’s online presence?
Once you have narrowed down your list of potential companies to leverage its website development services, follow these steps to ensure a successful engagement.
1. Visit the prospective web development agencies’ own websites.
A web design agency’s website for its own business is an excellent indicator of its design aesthetic, talents, and technological ability. How do you feel about the site as a whole? Is the site mobile-friendly?
Does it adhere to your aesthetic and usability standards? It is acceptable if the site’s design does not perfectly mirror your personal style—a reputable web design business will adhere to your brand requirements and aesthetic, not theirs.
What matters is that the site is visually appealing, extremely functional, and provides a positive user experience. If you anticipate that the website project will include fresh content, look for professional, interesting writing on the company’s web pages and blog.
2. Check their previously developed websites
You will be able to see examples of their work in their portfolio area. Have their websites been designed to look professional, while being simple to use web development company? Do you think their featured clientele seem to be of similar size to you? Does the subject matter the same? Will you be needing the features of these sites for your own site?
3. Set up the meeting to discuss the project
Call them to talk about your project and set up a meeting. Take note of how they manage the call—are they approachable and pleasant?
Do they inquire about your business and the specifics of the job, or do they get right into a hard sell? Because you will be working with this company for several months, chemistry is critical.
While the individual who answers the phone may not be the person you interact with the most (or at all) once you become a client, that person still portrays the company’s general personality, so make sure it seems right.
Consider the following advice for selecting a web development company in Melbourne, as well as the complications that may arise as a result of forgetting critical details.
Determine the features that your website should include.
You should initially establish the number of pages (other than the home or contact pages) and the primary functions of your website.
A website built using a template may have limits in terms of adding functionality. Excessive features can make your website unusable and cause users to wait longer for it to load which can often aggravate the users and therefore create a negative experience. Regardless of the type of website you develop, analyse your own internet experience and which elements similar to yours were superfluous and which aspects a website lacked.
Visit the company’s website.
Examine their digital presence, which includes their official website (be sure to check out the mobile version), social media profiles, and blog posts.
If they advertise cutting-edge and innovative solutions but do not implement any of them on their website, this calls into doubt the company’s expertise.
Check their portfolio:
If they do not have one, request that they conduct one for you. Additionally, inquire about the number of successful launches of similar sites in the same niche as yours. Visit those sites and observe how well they operate (namely, pay attention to UI and UX).
Consult websites such as Clutch, which compiles reviews of organizations from around the world, to learn what their clientele has to say about their job. Keep an eye out for reviews of comparable ventures. Additionally, you may check their overall score and see whether they have received any accolades.
N.B. Contact a past client and inquire about their expertise with the business.
Make sure they are responsive.
Regardless of whether it is a small company without a sales department or a bigger one, contact them to see how they answer to you, how fast and polite they are and how much interest they have in your business.
N.B. When choosing the right agency for web development, ensure giving the experts the time to answer your questions if it is email correspondence. If they keep you waiting or try to hard sell from the start, be cautious.
A strong online presence is vital in our technology-driven world. It is a proven way of building an effective marketing communication channel with your customers.
Conclusion:
If your budget does not permit investing into a feature-rich website, you may start small and opt only for the essentials that you can afford. Over time, as your business grows and evolves, you will better understand what important functionality should be added and prepare to invest in web development.
We hope this article helps you clarify some larger concerns regarding choosing a web development company.
