As businesses wake up to needing a strong online presence, the demand for web design and marketing agencies has increased. With so many web agencies out there, all claiming to bring you success on the web, it is tough to choose one for your business.
To help you narrow your choice a little, we’ve picked five of our top tips for choosing a web design agency.
Do some digging
Try to research the agencies you’re considering to see what kind of clients they’ve worked with before.
This information is usually available on their website and gives an indication of the level of clients they work with.
You should then check out the sites the company has worked on to see the agency’s work firsthand and test whether it delivers a good user experience.
Also, consider how long the agency has been working. While a more experienced agency isn’t necessarily better, it suggests that they’re doing something right!
It’s also essential to look for an agency that’s up-to-date with modern techniques, like embroidery digitizing for logos, ensuring they can provide you with the latest design and technology solutions.
Get a phone number
One of the clients’ biggest problems with agencies is struggling to get someone to answer their queries.
If an agency simply provides you with an email address, your emails and concerns will likely be forgotten and buried at the bottom of the pile.
On the other hand, a phone number means that you’ll be connected to a real person who can keep you up to date on the job.
Consider the staff
While a bigger agency isn’t always the best option, it does give you more resources.
This will depend on your budget and the size of your business. While it’s better to know that there are plenty of staff to pick things up if someone is off, a smaller team can also have its benefits.
Smaller teams are more likely to take more individual care of your site, and you can build a closer relationship with them to have more input into the job.
This is why it’s also important to ensure that you get along with the people you’ll be dealing with.
Your relationship with your web development team should be a two-way partnership. They should be approachable and to the point without any jargon!
Find out if work is outsourced.
Some agencies are known to outsource some or all of their design work, so make sure to find out what will be carried out in-house and meet the team working on your site.
If your work is going to be outsourced, this raises worries about quality control, so make sure to find out who will be doing the work and try to get a contact number.
Hiring an outsourced web developer isn’t ideal but check out this post from Forbes on how to survive the process!
Read the small print.
As with anything, you should know exactly what you agree to. Get a detailed proposal before any work commences, and make sure that there are no hidden fees in the small print.
If you need the agency to help manage and maintain the site, make sure to check the cost of this, too.
Hopefully, your web design agency will be transparent and upfront about these things, but if not, ask lots of questions.