The choice to hire a web design company may be a difficult one. Prices vary widely, many people are unsure of what distinguishes a good website, and it is difficult to know what expectations to have for both the end product and what it will accomplish to generate money. To assist you to understand what goes into choosing a NJ digital marketing agency and how to make the best decision for your company, I wrote this post. I’ve seen many customers spend large sums of money on expensive website design services that were not worth the money. And whether you decide to go with us or not, I want to assist you in preparing for your trip and understanding how to assess your alternatives. The field of website design is one in which there are no entry barriers. As a result, a large number of individuals, freelancers, and even some agencies enter the field to earn money while delivering little value to their customers. A solid rule of thumb is that if you buy a website for a low price, say under $5,000, it is unlikely to provide the outcomes that will create significant income for your business. That is, after all, the entire purpose. It is not a cost; rather, it is a financial investment. It is important to highlight the advantages and benefits of your company on your website, and a superb website will inspire trust and confidence in your visitors. Listed below are some critical considerations to bear in mind before beginning your search for a web designer. What is the web design platform that they are using? There are a plethora of web design platforms available these days. And they differ significantly in terms of performance and functionality. On the cheap end are platforms such as Wix and Godaddy website builder, on the middle tier are platforms such as Squarespace and Weebly that are just slightly better, and on the high end are systems such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla that can be tuned for excellent speed. Shopify, on the other hand, is a good choice for websites that are primarily focused on E-Commerce. Then some websites are fully bespoke, built from the ground up, which are the most costly and usually overkill for the majority of company website requirements. Inquire about the platform on which the web designer intends to develop. This will provide you with a clear picture of where they are at. If you speak with a web designer who extols the virtues of Wix, you should leave immediately. WordPress will be used by the majority of developers since it is the most widely used platform and provides the most features. We build the majority of our sites on WordPress, with a few on Shopify and our own CMS thrown in for good measure. So, what exactly is included in the price of website design and development? This is a major issue. According to my years of expertise and competitive research, a large number of freelancers and web design companies enter the market at a cheap cost but subsequently upcharge for every small item. What seems to be a good bargain at first glance ends up costing you far more in the long run since you are being paid for features that should be included, such as contact forms and social network integration. What should be covered, what should be charged, and how much should be charged should all be discussed in detail before signing any contracts. I’ve seen businesses charge absurdly exorbitant fees for simple tasks such as putting up a contact form, which can be completed in minutes, but others will charge upwards of $500 for the privilege. Why? Even if it doesn’t take $500 worth of time to get everything set up, they price things cheap in the hopes of luring you in and then make up the difference by overcharging for items they know you’ll need later on down the road. If a web design firm isn’t open about what is included and what add-ons cost, this is a major red flag and you should avoid working with them. Do they provide suggestions or do they just create what you instruct them to do? You want a web designer who has a lot of experience. Choosing a company that just produces what you want them to without making any suggestions will not give the greatest outcomes. Are you a marketing professional with a lot of experience? Are you a search engine optimization expert? Is it better to hire a conversion rate optimization expert or a copywriting professional? Then why would you want to employ someone who doesn’t put in the effort to come up with innovative ideas to improve the performance and conversion of your website? Who will be responsible for developing your website? Is it carried out in-house or by a third party? If it’s being built in-house, is it being handed off to an intern or is it being built by a seasoned professional? This is the most common kind of situation that occurs with web design companies. Was it ever brought to your attention that the majority of web design firms outsource smaller jobs to foreign designers for pennies on the dollar? There are courses available everywhere that demonstrate how web design companies can sell a website design for $5,000 to $10,000 or more and then outsource it for a few hundred dollars. This is very deceptive and dishonest, in my opinion. Additionally, when you have a small company web design job, which is usually under $10,000 depending on the firm, your project is handed off to an intern who is not given much supervision. So you may be under the impression that you would be working with an experienced professional web designer on your website, but in reality, you will be dealing with an untrained beginner. Because you’re a tiny fish in an enormous pond, and no one will ever tell you, that’s what happens. Companies like Radiant Elephant only take on a limited number of customers at a time because I, the owner, personally work on every website we create to guarantee that you get the highest possible quality website and the greatest value for your money. Several things to consider while evaluating a web design firm. Their site design portfolio is available upon request. Take a close look at the portfolio of a prospective web design business. Is the work visually appealing, does it inspire trust, does it load quickly, is it simple to browse, and does it make sense if you were a visitor who was interested in the product or service it represents? Consult with previous web design clients. One of the most effective ways to get a sense of how a web design business is to work with them is to speak with a few of their clients. Reputable web design firms will have a small number of clients that have consented to talk with prospective customers. Inquire about how the procedure went, how successfully the business handled it, how attentive they were to emails and phone calls, and whether or not they delivered the goods on schedule. Are you looking to hire a graphic designer or a real web designer for your project? Although I have nothing against graphic designers, I believe that engaging a graphic designer to build out your company website is not always the greatest option. Graphic designers are not marketers, they do not search engine optimization specialists, and they are not coders. Sure, they may create something visually appealing, but attractiveness does not always equate to conversions. Designing a Website for Mobile Users It amazes me how many fresh websites I see being built by freelancers or even some companies that aren’t mobile-responsive at all. And some dare to include it as one of their additional fees. These days, having a mobile-friendly website isn’t just a luxury; it’s a must for most businesses. Mobile devices account for more than half of all website traffic. If your website is not designed with mobile devices in mind, you will miss out on a significant amount of revenue as well as damaging your brand’s reputation. The most effective approach is to employ a web design firm that specializes in a mobile-first design. For example, I usually start with a basic but strong mobile design and then gradually add bells and whistles as the screen sizes increase, resulting in a more immersive digital experience on the desktop. Furthermore, there is a distinction between a mobile responsive website and a mobile website. The term “responsive” refers to how the website responds to various viewport widths. It is a single webpage that changes depending on the breakpoints. A mobile website, on the other hand, is a distinct website that is activated when someone visits from a mobile device. The way this is done is sloppy, and it indicates that the business or freelancer does not have a contemporary strategy that adheres to best practices. Preparing for the employment of a web designer includes the following steps: Having worked as a professional web designer for over a decade, I’ve witnessed firsthand what the most difficult aspects of creating a website for a client are. And one of the most important aspects is the organization. I indeed have a customer who paid my retainer seven years ago but has never provided me with any of the materials I need to begin work. Additionally, this is the most common source of delays when it comes to achieving tight deadlines. Listed below is a checklist of the items you should have on hand before hiring a web designer. The content of the website If you aren’t planning on paying someone to create your material, you should have this ready, or at least close to being ready. The most common cause for project delays is the development of new content. And, although a high-quality web design and marketing firm would most likely modify your content for marketing and SEO purposes, having a solid foundation is critical to success. Figure out the sites you want to include; you may end up adding some more later, but this is a good place to start. Consider your home page, about page, FAQ page, and service or product pages, and aim to write 1,000-1,300 words for each of them, except product pages, which should be about 800 words. Make sure all of the material is properly spell-checked and ready to transmit. Images to be used on the website If you have customized pictures that you want to utilize on your website, be sure to arrange them and have them ready to upload to a cloud storage service such as dropbox before starting. When sending pictures, be sure you submit them in the greatest possible quality. In the case when you submit a picture that is 400 pixels wide and you want it to be the header image, it will appear sloppy and will cause a delay in the project since you will either need to locate the correct file or pay someone to retake it. Websites belonging to your competitors Creating a list of rivals’ websites and noting what you like and hate about each site is one of the most effective things you can do for your business. The style you are attempting to create will be better understood by your website designer if you provide examples. Logo If you do not already have a professional logo or branding, look for a business that provides this as an extra service. You don’t want to skimp on the quality of your logo. A decent logo should cost you at the very least $1,000. If you do have a professionally created logo, ensure that you have a high-quality transparent.png version ready to be sent out at all times.