For many people, the process of choosing a web designer can be an overwhelming and confusing one. There are various factors and options that you should consider, and because of this, it is easy to make mistakes. With that in mind, we have put together a list of the 5 most common mistakes people make when choosing a web designer and why you should avoid them.
Basing Decision On Price
Although it is true that the price a designer charges is important to factor into your decision, it should not be the only one. A website for your business should add value, so you should not see it just as a financial drain, but something that could bring new customers, clients and business opportunities to your company.
If you choose a web designer that offers you the cheapest quote, you could miss out on getting the options you need. Whereas, a designer that charges more, may not actually be offering the best value for money. As well as price, you should take into consideration the experience they are bringing to the table for their quote as well as the timeline and portfolio of their past work. Check out web design & marketing company Concentric for some good ideas.
Not Giving Consideration To Specialities
It can be easy to not understand that there are various types or areas of design that one designer may have more specialist experience in than another, particularly if you are new to the world of web design. You need to look for a web designer that has specialist experience in web design that is relevant to the type of project your website is for.
For instance, don’t hire a web designer who has worked on lots of flash-based and complex website designs, if you are looking for something plain and simple. Obviously, this applies on the other end of things too.
Not Giving Consideration To Future Maintenance and Updates
Maintenance and updates are necessary for your website, regardless of how great it is and the majority of web designers offer these services either as part of a package deal or at an hourly rate. However, don’t assume services are offered if they aren’t explicitly outlined. Talk to them to see what their quote for updates and maintenance work would be.
Generally speaking, it is better if the designer who built your website carries out the updates and maintenance. This is because they know your site better than anyone else.
Hiring A Designer Who Builds Websites Without Considering Search Engines
It is possible for you to have a website that looks great but is not built with search engines in mind. Although SEO is not just about site construction and layout, having a strong foundation to work from will serve you best in the long run.
If you do not know much about SEO and web design, it can be hard to assess if a website is well-designed for search engines or not. You need to ask how search engines affect the decisions they make regarding web design.
Influenced Too Much By The WOW Factor
You will find that many website designers like to use elaborate elements such as Flash intros on projects they work on as a way to entice clients with the WOW factor. However, in the many industries and sectors, these kinds of sites will annoy site visitors rather than attract and entice them.
Top Tip: Google business reviews are a good way to finalise your choice and read up on customer reviews.