| What are the essentials Points to look for in a Web | | | | One important requirement is to find a company that |
| Design Company? | | | | understands fully about Search Engine Optimization. It |
| The first crucial step is to decide what your site is | | | | is an expensive mistake to have a site built that is |
| going to be about and what it aims to achieve. | | | | not Search Engine friendly. It is probably wise to learn |
| | | | a little about Search Engine Optimization yourself, so |
| 1. Is it going to be an: | | | | you can understand the importance of getting it right |
| 2. e-commerce site. | | | | first time. |
| 3. Service site. | | | | For your business to become successful and rank |
| 4. Educational site. | | | | well with the search engines, your web design |
| 5. Entertainment site. | | | | company must show you well ranked sites that they |
| 6. News site. | | | | have worked upon. Clarity of purpose is important |
| 7. Personal, blog. | | | | when you approach a company to design and build |
| 8. Or some other futuristic site that is experimental. | | | | your site. The bigger companies are not necessarily |
| Whichever type of site you choose it must look | | | | any better than the smaller ones especially for the |
| good, be easy to navigate and function well. The | | | | smaller business or website. In fact many larger |
| site, after all, has to cater for its target market. It is | | | | companies outsource their work to smaller |
| essential to make sure your website covers all of | | | | companies. Remember smaller companies have lower |
| these. | | | | overheads and you will get a more personal service. |
| So how do you go about finding a good web design | | | | The points your website must reflect: |
| company? It is best to view several company | | | | |
| portfolios of sites they have previously built. Check | | | | 1. Being a shop window for your product, or service, |
| each one for repetition, or are the websites all | | | | it must ooze professionalism. |
| different? If not they they could be using just one | | | | 2. It must be like a magnet in attracting would be |
| template for all their designs. Remember businesses | | | | buyers. |
| vary and require different solutions. | | | | 3. It must be easy to navigate. |
| Here is a check list: | | | | 4. It must be simple to understand and simple in |
| | | | design. |
| 1. Is the company honest and above board? | | | | 5. It must contain great content to sell your company |
| 2. Are they willing to work with you as against | | | | service or product. The cost of letting a company |
| working for you? | | | | build your site can be prohibitive. So look around and |
| 3. Will they help you market your product or service? | | | | get plenty of quotes before giving up your hard |
| 4. Are they interested enough to research your | | | | earned cash. Get quotes in writing and do not rely on |
| business? | | | | a verbal figure of how much it will cost you. It is |
| 5. Are they savvy enough to know the best ways | | | | business so treat it like one and act professional at all |
| to promote your site? | | | | times. |
| 6. Will they keep you informed as to the progress of | | | | One extra point, do you want to manage your own |
| your site build.? | | | | website and add content after it has been built and |
| 7. Have they referrals from satisfied customers? | | | | launched? If so, you must bear this in mind when |
| 8. Are they keen to see you succeed? | | | | originally planning your site. The web designers will use |
| 9. Will they listen to your ideas and talk them | | | | a content management system that will allow you to |
| through? | | | | do this. And they will have to be sure that you can |
| 10. Are they professional in their outlook? | | | | operate this yourself, with some training from them. |
| 11. Have they the time to guide you, as your site | | | | This is not a daunting as it would first appear, you |
| gets built? Remember a website build can last for | | | | are sure to make some mistakes, but that is how |
| months and you must be sure before you begin that | | | | we all learn. And your web design company is only a |
| all the design and details of your site are what you | | | | phone call away. |
| want, as it is costly to change your plans half way | | | | They can only tear their hair out once. So when |
| through the build. | | | | contemplating getting your website, built by a |
| Your Web Design Company should take the time to | | | | professional company, make sure you take all the |
| understand how your intended business will function. | | | | points listed above into consideration before |
| They should also advise you if they know your idea | | | | committing yourself to what could turn out to be a |
| for your site will not work, or is just a bad idea and | | | | costly mistake if not researched properly. |
| give you a valid explanation why. | | | | Remember: Good Research and Planning! |