| Regardless whether you manage a small business, | | | | Credibility Indicators |
| charitable organization, or Fortune 500 company, | | | | Identifying "credibility indicators" can help ensure a |
| choosing the right web design firm can quickly | | | | firm is trustworthy, and will be around after your |
| become a full-time research project. With thousands | | | | deposit or full payment is sent. Credibility indicators |
| of design firms to choose from, what factors truly | | | | include, but are not limited to: |
| determine which design firm is best for your | | | | * Toll free telephone support |
| business? | | | | * 24 hour customer service |
| The primary considerations for choosing a web | | | | * Better Business Bureau affiliation |
| design firm are: | | | | * Human e-mail address contacts |
| * Price | | | | * Google PageRank of 2 or above |
| * Customer service/access to support | | | | * Presentation of a hard-copy quote/design contract |
| * Credibility indicators of the design firm | | | | Design Experience/Portfolio |
| * Portfolio and design experience | | | | Does the design firm have experience in working |
| * Other services offered (domain renewal, hosting, | | | | with similar types of businesses? Even if a designer |
| SEO) | | | | doesn't have a web site in their portfolio related to |
| * Turnaround time | | | | your industry, the firm you select should have a |
| Let's take a closer look at each consideration in detail, | | | | strong working knowledge of how to develop an |
| and explore how to identify and qualify the right | | | | effective site for your business type. Product and |
| design firm. | | | | service web sites are not the same. Your designer |
| Price | | | | should have a plan of action for developing a site |
| Like many products and services we purchase, both | | | | that reaches the maximum number of prospective |
| personally and professionally, deciding on a web | | | | customers in your target market. |
| design firm can often come down to price. But the | | | | A few good questions to ask about a firm's design |
| value of the services rendered is really what's | | | | experience include: |
| important. A $200 web site usually turns out to look, | | | | * Does the firm offer a number of diverse, finished |
| feel and perform like a $200 web site. | | | | web sites available for review? |
| The price of your site's development will depend on | | | | * Will the firm conduct research regarding my |
| three factors: the features of the site, the amount | | | | competition? |
| of content, and the service options included with the | | | | * Will my web site highlight the features, benefits and |
| design package, such as hosting. | | | | value of my product or service? |
| Because pricing varies by firm, here are several | | | | * Has the firm outlined a plan of action for creating |
| principles to use when determining the validity and | | | | an effective site, start to finish? |
| value of a web design quote: | | | | Design experience need not always relate to the |
| * Does the quote state one all-inclusive price for the | | | | type of web sites the firm has previously developed. |
| entire project? | | | | If you have a specific look in mind, ask the firm if |
| * Is there a reoccurring monthly fee for hosting? | | | | achieving a similar design is possible. The ultimate goal |
| * Is the site custom-built, or is it customization of an | | | | is to know you're going to get a tangible benefit out |
| existing template? | | | | of your site through effective, affordable web |
| * Is there a separate fee for content development, | | | | design. |
| such as writing sales copy? | | | | Additional Services |
| * Is domain registration/management included in the | | | | Many web design firms offer design, but do not |
| package? | | | | provide other required services such as hosting and |
| * Will the firm provide multiple design concepts, prior | | | | domain name registration. Ideally, your web design |
| to actual development? | | | | company should be a full-service firm, offering at |
| It's important to compare quotes from at least three | | | | least basic hosting, domain registration and search |
| firms to, determine the value of the services offered. | | | | engine optimization services tailored to your needs. |
| Looking for the best value is important in a | | | | Research each firm to determine other key lines of |
| competitive service market. | | | | business, so that any future expansion of your site |
| Customer Service | | | | will be seamless as your business grows. |
| There's nothing worse than signing with a firm that | | | | Turnaround Time |
| offers a great product, only to find out they are | | | | An effective website should take 30-60 days to go |
| impossible to contact. Consistent, open contact with | | | | live, from the start of production. Unless you're |
| your web design firm is important for ensuring | | | | offering hundreds of individual products or services |
| success before, during, and after your web site is | | | | on your web site, the entire development process, |
| developed. | | | | start to finish, should take no longer than 60 days. |
| Throughout the design process, you may identify | | | | Turnaround time should include: |
| text, photos, or contact information you'd like to | | | | * Upload of your web site to the hosting provider |
| change before the site goes live. If you have | | | | * Configuration of any scripts or forms on your site |
| immediate questions regarding your site's | | | | * Domain propagation (accessing your web site and |
| development, you'll be glad to have immediate | | | | e-mail via yoursite.com) |
| contact with customer support staff by e-mail, | | | | Hiring the cheapest, fastest, or most elaborate web |
| telephone, or live chat. | | | | design firm does not always equate to hiring the right |
| If you are limited to e-mail technical support, consider | | | | web design firm. A limited amount of front-end |
| other firms that offer a wider range of customer | | | | research can save time and money in the long term, |
| service options such as telephone and live chat | | | | and maximize the sales revenue from your web |
| support. E-mail is great for convenience - when it's | | | | presence. |
| convenient. | | | | |