| As soon as you make the decision to either build a | | | | outsourcing and overload. Outsourced work can be |
| new website or re-design the one you’ve got, | | | | uneven and unpredictable simply due to the fact that |
| you’ll realize that everyone you talk to knows | | | | work can be outsourced to different contracted |
| someone that can build the “site of your | | | | designers with varying skill sets. Overload issues |
| dreams”. Putting an ad on Craig’s List will | | | | occur when the bid for a project is too low to cover |
| confirm the fact that there are so many designers | | | | the cost of outsourcing, requiring that the work |
| out there that sorting through the responses will | | | | stays in-house. If a bigger, higher margin project |
| likely be totally overwhelming. “Designers” will | | | | requiring all the firm’s resources comes in, guess |
| range in skill level from the nephew that will template | | | | whose project is going to get put on ice? |
| your website for what looks like a reasonable price | | | | * Determine what you are paying for and what |
| to experienced professionals that will build a site with | | | | you’re getting – There’s a fine line |
| unlimited capabilities, with a price tags reaching five | | | | between too little and too much in terms of |
| figures. That range in skill levels provides a range of | | | | developing your site. Pay too little and you’ll |
| potential outcomes, starting with the nephew that | | | | sacrifice on design, functionality, and ongoing support. |
| takes half of his reasonable price up front and then | | | | Pay too much for features you don’t need and |
| loses interest, gets a girlfriend, or gets distracted and | | | | you won’t get the return on investment needed |
| never quite finishes the project. At the other end of | | | | to have the project make financial sense. |
| the curve is the professionally designed site with | | | | * Get a handle on whether your site will be designed |
| features and functionalities that are way beyond the | | | | to generate visitors, conversions, and revenues or as |
| scope of what you want to accomplish with your | | | | a whiz-bang project that looks great but doesn’t |
| site. | | | | function as part of your business. A good looking site |
| Filtering your options to find the right fit for your | | | | that is properly optimized and captures visitors is |
| objectives can be done, starting with the following | | | | going to do a lot more for your bottom line than a |
| punch list: | | | | flashy site that the search engines can’t crawl. |
| * Check out the designer’s previous work – | | | | * Establish good chemistry – You’re probably |
| Any firm that has been around for a while will have a | | | | going to have both a working and creative |
| gallery or portfolio of websites that they have | | | | relationship with your designer. The best relationships |
| designed. Spend some time on the sites, especially | | | | have some chemistry and trust at their foundations |
| those with functionalities similar to what you want on | | | | and the best results are going to be achieved when |
| your site. Remember your first impression upon | | | | the two partners are working together, pulling in the |
| arriving at the sites, check for clarity on what the | | | | same direction. A dysfunctional relationship, on the |
| sites are supposed to deliver, and look for ease of | | | | other hand, which curbs constructive communication |
| navigation. Don’t get too caught up search | | | | will either break up or ultimately doom the project to |
| engine rankings unless the designer intends on | | | | failure. Establishing good chemistry at the outset can |
| providing search engine marketing after the | | | | greatly reduce the possibility of hitting those |
| web design. | | | | avoidable pot holes. |
| * Call a few of the designer’s past clients to get | | | | Your website is going to be your |
| their reviews of the experience and their final | | | | “storefront” and a vital piece of your |
| product. Find out whether deliverables were done on | | | | business. The importance of partnering with the right |
| schedule, the level of cooperation, and if the owner | | | | designer to execute that aspect of your |
| got what they expected. | | | | company’s strategy is going to be crucial. Taking |
| * Find out how many people actually work for the | | | | the time and committing to making the hard decisions |
| web designer – You will want a design company | | | | on that partnership will greatly increase the odds of |
| with some depth and consistency in their employees. | | | | its success. |
| Two common problems with small design firms are | | | | |