How to choose a website designer
If you want to build a website, how do you choose a company or an individual to help you do it?
A web design you're proud of
We're constantly asking ourselves how people choose a partner for their web project, because we want to know what motivates you to visit our site. In the course of our research and from our own experience, we've come across a few practical tips. Naturally we think we've got them all covered, but *even if* you don't choose us for your web design project we hope these points will help you to get a result you're proud of.
Do I even need a web designer?
We could talk all day about branding, but I think this advice about logo design applies equally to websites:
"When choosing and designing a logo, make sure you have a reasonable budget and get professional help. Avoid the temptation to 'knock something up on the computer' yourself or to ask a colleague to do so. Good design need not cost a fortune but bad design will have a huge impact on how your project will be perceived." ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council)
What is a website designer?
The term 'website designer' is very broad. Sometimes it can mean that a person is familiar with Dreamweaver and quite good at graphic design - so they can combine the two and create nice looking websites. But they may not really understand the technical issues involved in creating interactive websites (for example, ecommerce sites or database driven ones).
At the other end of the scale you might find very technical people who are whizzes at creating great integrated solutions, but your website looks - well - uninspiring.
Without a balance between these two skills, you will find that your website either fails to attract visitors because it doesn't work properly and perform well in search engines - or that your website works great but nobody trusts it with their credit card details because it doesn't 'look professional'.
How to find a good website designer
If you are commissioning a website the best approach will be to start by writing a brief so that you can clarify your own ideas of what it is you want your website to do. Then start looking at internet sites similar to the one you've planned. Find out who created the site and send your brief to them for a quote.
TIP: Most website designers will leave a credit in the hidden source code of the site - to see the source code click View > Source in Internet Explorer. All browsers have a similar function.
How much will a website design cost?
The reality is that your website will cost as much as you are willing to spend on it, just like a car. Like a car, your website can be a functional, fuel efficient Renault or a gas guzzling, beautiful Porche.
For a global multi-million dollar brand like Nike their web presence is an extension of their media advertising campaign and most of the spend is on creative elements such as high quality pictures and flash animation. To emulate such a web site will take a serious investment in heavy weight graphic designers, copywriters and experienced marketing professionals.
Serious high street brands will spend between £40 000(GBP) - £85 000(GBP) just testing their website. This figure begins to make sense if you think about the cost of a website failure. Consider SKY television. Each time someone finds it too complicated to sign up to SKY TV using their website, that visitor will typically ring their callcentre instead. Every call will cost them about £16(GBP). In other word, each time someone signs up to SKY using their website, the company makes an extra £16(GBP) in profit.
Unlike Nike, you may be planning a website that is principally about presenting informational content and resources to your visitors (perhaps you are a charity like the Down's Syndrome Association). You may have a limited budget that will be split into chunks, with some money for graphic design , some for building the site with any interactive widgets it might feature (such as searching) and a planned internal spend to generate and organise all the copy and content.
Or you might just have a really good idea, like Friends Reunited , but not the first clue how to make a website and a shoestring budget.
Once again, whatever your situation, start by writing a brief.
A good website design company will be able to tailor their offering to meet your budget.
How to recognise a good website designer
A good website design company will respond to your brief with sensible questions about your business and expectations, followed by a clear written proposal.
You will find that the standard of proposals you receive will vary widely. The best responses will make reference to your brief document and suggest clear solutions and new ideas. The worst will simply be a list of prices with no explanation.
A good website design company will have a strong portfolio of satisfied clients and will be able to provide referees.
