| "A man's errors are his portals of discovery." | | | | bill, this is what he got: |
| What does the above quotation convey? To have a | | | | 1. $400.00 - Placing "X's" on two pipes. |
| portal, you have to commit mistakes. Isn't that | | | | 2. $4,600.00 - Knowing where to place the "X's". |
| funny? No, not at all. It may be a motivating | | | | The plant manager got what he paid for and |
| sentence, but in business it can turn out to be | | | | probably a lot more. He had already used up more |
| doomsday for small start-ups with little investments. | | | | than that amount on his own staff not to mention |
| This article has been done especially for small | | | | the loss in revenue while the plant was shut down. |
| start-ups who want to make it in their respective | | | | For him, securing the advisory services of a |
| fields and are planning to launch their website or | | | | consultant was the right thing to do. |
| looking for a facelift or adding new functionalities to | | | | It matters a lot if the company has a good |
| there existing site or aren't sure about their design | | | | experience in diverse business domains and has |
| requirements. | | | | professionals and specialists from variegated |
| Choosing a Web Design Company | | | | backgrounds. As such they will have an understanding |
| With a multitude of web designers and developers | | | | of different business verticals that may be an |
| out there, from freelancers, to agencies, to online | | | | advantageous point for your website. Another |
| templates, how do you know what the right fit is for | | | | important factor is budget. What you pay is what |
| your company, and more importantly, for your goals | | | | you get - WYPIWYG. Never compromise with the |
| and objectives? Choosing a web design company is | | | | quality of your website just for saving few quick |
| not that a serious job. But choosing a good web | | | | bucks. In the long run you will end up on a losing side. |
| design company is a real serious challenge. People say | | | | Have you ever imagined why American diamonds |
| that Internet has made business processes simple | | | | cost less and than real diamonds when at times it's |
| and global, but how about the complexities that | | | | difficult to differentiate between the two? It's |
| Internet offers which are unique. Just Search for the | | | | obvious - the brilliance and hardness of diamond. This |
| term "Good Web Design Firm" on Google, and it | | | | makes another interesting point, you can get a |
| comes up with millions of results. For normal human | | | | cosmetic surgery done for your website for a lesser |
| being it's impossible to search through every result. | | | | cost, but it will lack the functionalities and |
| We will go through the entire process of selecting a | | | | effectiveness. It can draw visitors but can not turn |
| Web Design and Development company in a | | | | them into business. So when you pay for something, |
| structured way. | | | | you definitely get a good deal in return.o Technology |
| STEP 1 - Planning | | | | - What is their technological competence? Does this |
| The first step involves defining your needs. While | | | | match with your requirement? How many projects |
| searching for the right web designer, it is important | | | | they have worked on using the same? How |
| to have a clear idea what role your new Web site or | | | | frequently their technology is upgraded- both in |
| a redesigned one will fill. Will it provide information to | | | | terms of software and hardware?o Deadlines - Has |
| your customers? Will it serve the needs of your | | | | the company carried out the projects in stipulated |
| employees? Or will it include an online shopping | | | | time? Time is one of the most important factors as |
| section so that you can sell your products to visitors? | | | | the longer it takes, the higher the input costs get. |
| Most Web designers will need to know the | | | | Some companies may offer you a shorter time |
| following:o The role of your new Web site.o The | | | | period and may be ready with the design. But after |
| intended market or audience of your Web site.o | | | | that starts the long and torrid journey of finding and |
| Your budget. | | | | fixing bugs which may turn your visitors off.o |
| Take time to consider what you expect from your | | | | Responsiveness - How promptly the company |
| Web site and the type of information you want to | | | | responds to your queries? Does it listen to your |
| communicate to your potential clients before you | | | | queries? Are they responsive to my suggestions and |
| approach your designer. This will save you and the | | | | questions? Do they explain issues in ways you can |
| designer a considerable amount of time and effort. | | | | understand? Do they share your general vision for |
| STEP 2 - Searching and Creating a Primary list | | | | the site? Are they interested in Return on |
| Searching is a vigorous process and does not require | | | | Investment for the web site? Do they possess the |
| any special skill other than diligence to effectively | | | | skills necessary to achieve your goals?o |
| come up with good results that fulfill your | | | | Communication Process - Poor communication is one |
| requirements. Just scan through directories, check | | | | of the major bottlenecks for business processes. |
| Google listings on specific key word searches and ask | | | | Ensure that the company with which you are working |
| for referrals from your friends or business partners. | | | | is comfortable with your language. Generally, English |
| It does not have to be a very extensive research | | | | (US/UK) is taken as the preferred language to |
| work. | | | | communicate with each other. What are the tools |
| Referral: Ask business acquaintances, friends, and | | | | and technologies they use for communicating? How |
| family which web design firm designed the website | | | | will they keep you updated with the developments |
| for their respective organizations, or if they can | | | | with regards your project? These are some of the |
| otherwise recommend a web design firm. | | | | important factors that should be kept in mind while |
| Web sites: Determine the web design firm that is | | | | deciding about the communication process while |
| responsible for the websites of organizations that | | | | choosing a Web Design partner.o Services - What are |
| you admire. These organizations may be your | | | | the other services that company can offer other |
| competitors, or in related or unrelated industries. | | | | than designing? What kind of value-added products |
| Sometimes the web design firm is included in the site | | | | or services can the design firm offer? |
| credits, or is listed elsewhere on the website. If you | | | | All these points will help you to narrow down to the |
| cannot find the credits on the site itself, feel free to | | | | list of companies that may offer you viable solutions |
| contact the organization and ask which web design | | | | and help your cause. The next step involves inviting |
| firm is responsible for the website. This can also be a | | | | proposals from the short listed parties. Just check |
| good source for references for that web design firm. | | | | through as many cross references that you find |
| STEP 3 - Evaluating and Short listing | | | | justifiable or will satisfy your curiosity. The more time |
| Once you have gathered a list of potential web | | | | you will invest in this phase, the sweeter will be the |
| design firms you are ready to pare them down to a | | | | returns afterwards. |
| shortlist. This requires a bit of research work.o | | | | STEP 4- Proposals |
| Portfolio - It's about the three C's - Credibility, | | | | Once you have selected your short-list of top web |
| Consistency and Capability. How consistent they are? | | | | development firms, request that they send you a |
| What are the parameters on which the company is | | | | proposal. Ask that their proposal include an overview |
| capable enough to fulfill your requirement? Are there | | | | of your requirements and their proposed solution. |
| any testimonials that speak about their credibility? Do | | | | This will help to determine which web design firm |
| the projects in the portfolio have a consistent | | | | understands your requirements best. Also ask that |
| quality? Have they consistently given good results in | | | | each web design firm include a description of their |
| the given time frame? Has the Web design company | | | | development process and a price breakdown for the |
| provided solutions to other companies in your | | | | various aspects of the website project. |
| industry? Have they dealt with similar challenges to | | | | STEP 5 - Evaluating Proposals |
| those faced by your organization? These are some | | | | Evaluate each proposal individually on the basis of |
| important factors to consider. When you've | | | | merit. Take the following points into consideration:a) |
| narrowed your search to a few design sources | | | | Wellness of the proposal.b) Respective strength and |
| (through recommendations, web directories, or your | | | | weaknesses of the companies.c) Evaluate the |
| competitors' sites), evaluate their online portfolios and | | | | presentation and format style. |
| their rate structure. A web site doesn't have to be | | | | STEP 6 - Selecting the Company |
| flashy or animated to do its job. Browse sites they | | | | After your organization has reviewed all proposals, |
| have built, check ease of navigation, organization of | | | | compare them with each other. How do they fare in |
| information, overall cleanliness and visitor-friendliness. | | | | terms of presentation? How do their processes |
| Also, consider hiring a firm that demonstrates some | | | | appear in terms of project management? Do they |
| familiarity with your type of business. Just go through | | | | present scalability and/or upgrade paths for your |
| the success stories/case studies that have been | | | | project, which go beyond the needs of the |
| made available on their web site and corroborate the | | | | immediate goals outlined? |
| credentials through references if possible.o Experience | | | | After going through all the above process, you should |
| and Fees - This is called the EF of web design firm. | | | | be able to zero in on to a particular company. If the |
| Experience and fees are very much inter-related. The | | | | doubt persists, establish communication process |
| general norm is the more experienced you are, the | | | | between the likely companies to understand their |
| more you are paid. This interesting story can tell you | | | | process and commitments. |
| what experience is all about. | | | | [NOTE: Avoid selecting an individual designer, on a |
| Once upon a time there was a steam generating | | | | freelance basis, to design and develop your |
| plant that was not producing much steam. After a | | | | organization's Web site. It is rare to find a single |
| frustrating search for the cause, the plant manager, | | | | person capable of handling the combined visual and |
| in desperation, called in an expert. After only two | | | | technical elements that make an effective Web |
| hours on site, the expert found the problem and | | | | presence. Additionally, by depending on an individual, |
| placed "X's" on two pipes that were causing the | | | | your organization is at risk of losing its investment |
| problem, saying that they had to be removed. When | | | | should anything occur to that one individual - or down |
| presented with the bill, the plant manager asked the | | | | the road they simply can't find time to help when |
| consultant how he could charge $5,000.00 for only | | | | you need it. |
| two hours of work. When he asked for an itemized | | | | |