BEFORE you pick a web designer, ASK these 20 critical questions.

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Melina Greene
6 years ago
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1 BEFORE you pick a web designer, ASK these 20 critical questions. A guide from the good apples at Genovesi Web Design and Marketing

you and supports you after your site is launched.

2 You re likely to encounter two types of companies: One that takes your order and calls you when your site is complete, and the other that collaborates with you and supports you after your site is launched. So to get you prepped in your picking process, here s 20 critical questions to ask before you pick a web company.

On the other hand, if your organization needs special attention when it comes to standing out, or demands an

3 Question #1 Do you design custom websites or do you use ready-made templates? Truth is it depends on your needs. Those companies on a strict budget that need something simple shouldn t expect to pay higher fees for a custom site. On the other hand, if your organization needs special attention when it comes to standing out, or demands an amplified online personality, custom is the way to go. Either way, your web partner should be able to accommodate your needs.

What s important to note is it really will be largely affected by how quickly you supply them with the content

4 Question #2 How long will it take to finish my website? The size, or scope, of the site will determine how long it will actually take. What s important to note is it really will be largely affected by how quickly you supply them with the content (photos, text) they need to populate the site. Providing all of it up front dramatically speeds up the process. The range could be anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months, or longer if the site is expansive.

5 Question #3 How much input will I have in the design of my site? There should be an initial sit-down to discuss your business goals and strategy. Hearing how the company was formed, evolved, and the culture that developed out of it will influence the design. This will be the greatest contribution you make in the creative process. After that the company will create a design to suit. Once you approve a design the bulk of the creative process is done after which there will be a series of tweak discussions to refine it. The bottom line is it should be a collaboration. After all, no one knows your business like you, right?

That means the company you hire will need all photos and text in order to

6 Question #4 What do you need from me to get started? When developing a website, it is always content first. That means the company you hire will need all photos and text in order to populate the site. These will drive the structure of the site. Given that, the earlier you supply the content, the faster the process will go.

7 Question #5 Who provides images for my website? Usually there will be blend of images you supply and images that are purchased from a stock photo agency. Images you provide will create a feeling of authenticity, contributing to trust (which your site visitors are evaluating you on). Stock photos will more than likely be necessary to communicate other messages on your website. Ask up front if this cost is included or if they will be extra.

8 Question #6 Who provides text for my website? Like the images, you will likely supply all text for the site. But if you need a helping hand in that area your web partner should be able to provide it for you, though it will likely be at an additional cost. Keep in mind that any text you provide might need to be tweaked to add specific keywords that are necessary for proper Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

9 Question #7 Can you create a logo for my site? Make sure you hire someone who is not just a web developer, but they must also be a designer. For too long the web design industry was dominated by developers because they were the ones who already knew how to code. Those times are long gone but the developer who fancies himself a designer may not be. Be sure the designer or company you work with has got some mad design skills. That way the answer to this question will be no problem-o!

So yes, it should be a natural part of the website to have links directing potential customers to

10 Question #8 Will social media be a part of my website s design? Social media is huge, you know that. Everyone does. So yes, it should be a natural part of the website to have links directing potential customers to your Facebook and Twitter pages, and whatever other social media your industry typically uses. Also ask if your potential web partner offers guidance or management when it comes to social.

11 Question #9 Will my website design be consistent with my established brand? Branding is a whole industry in itself, and your brand should be treated with the same level of importance. Your branding is not just your logo and the colors you use. It s your company s personality and culture. It s what consumers are saying about you over lunch. It s a perception. I know, deep, right? If you have an established brand it should carry over to your website. If you don t have one, this should be part of the services that your prospective web partner offers.

Question #10 Will I be able to see the website as it s being created? No one likes surprises when it comes to their business. Birthdays, sure. Business, not so much.

12 Question #10 Will I be able to see the website as it s being created? No one likes surprises when it comes to their business. Birthdays, sure. Business, not so much. You should definitely expect to see the site as part of the collaborative process. Ask about it up front, and if it s not offered, you can make the call whether or not to let them run with it if you feel really confident in the company s abilities.

Making sure your site is responsive, or optimized for viewing on desktop, tablet, or mobile is a must.

13 Question #11 Will my website be compatible with mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets? Wow, this is a biggie! 71% of internet browsing is done on smartphones rather than desktop, according to comscore. Making sure your site is responsive, or optimized for viewing on desktop, tablet, or mobile is a must. Nevertheless, don t assume your prospective web partner will achieve this. If they hesitate when you ask, don t take a chance, move on to the next one.

Your site is not merely a billboard, but rather a marketing tool designed to help increase your revenue.

14 Question #12 As my business grows will my website be able to expand with it? Absolutely it should! The whole idea is that your new web design partner is going to build you a site that will GROW your business. Your site is not merely a billboard, but rather a marketing tool designed to help increase your revenue. After the site is built, any expansion necessary should be built with the current site. There should never be a full redesign to expand (unless you want one!).

15 Question #13 Will you build search engine optimization into my website? Yes should be the answer, at least at a very basic level. SEO is really an ongoing, lengthy process, but it should be set up with on-site SEO to start. The company you hire should be able to help and guide you through more advanced SEO techniques in order to maximize your site s traffic. Oh, and stay away from companies that promise immediate higher rankings for internet search. Although it may give immediate results, search engines like Google will eventually penalize these sites by removing them from any future searches.

16 Question #14 Do you offer domain name registration? Any web company worth its salt should handle this for you. It s very simple and inexpensive, and though you could do it yourself, we d recommend you let them handle all aspects of your website process as it makes it simpler (and takes the stress off you!).

17 Question #15 Do you offer web hosting services? This is going to be important factor in your decisionmaking. You re putting your trust in the web company to create a site that represents your brand, your image. Hosting goes hand-in-hand as you re trusting that they will have guaranteed uptime (hopefully 99.99%!) and high-speed page loads. Are they going to handle the back-end stuff for you, or are they going to hand you the reins and say good luck? You definitely want to know.

18 Question #16 After my site launches do you offer on-going maintenance? The wonderful thing about websites is that they can be changed on-the-fly. That s good news because the internet is dynamic, constantly changing and flowing, and your site needs to be able to change with the flow. There is no done and done when it comes to your website. Make sure your potential web design partner offers ongoing maintenance and if so, what the associated costs are.

Your site was not meant to be looked at and forgotten.

19 Question #17 How do you measure results after my site launches? If your website s traffic isn t monitored and analyzed, you have a billboard. Your site was not meant to be looked at and forgotten. It was meant to be a dynamic marketing tool that helps to increase your business. Ask the prospective web partner if they offer analytics and what kind of services they offer to get measurable results from your site.

aspects of the web design process such as copywriting or

20 Question #18 Will any of the work be outsourced? Sometimes, in order to be able to offer quality service, aspects of the web design process such as copywriting or coding can be outsourced. Ask if this is the case and how it will affect your total cost.

21 Question #19 How are your services priced? In talking with a few different web design companies you might see varying pricing structures. Ask if they charge a flat fee or if an hourly rate will be used. Beyond that, keep in mind that you get what you pay for so a web design firm that has a fantastically low price will surely mean you are getting stripped down service. Not something you want to endure while engaging in a crucial part of your company s marketing strategy.

22 Question #20 What s included in the price? This should not only be discussed up front, but it should also be something you get in writing, in the form of a formal proposal. You don t want to find out at launch time that hosting is not included. Awkward! Some web companies may offer hosting or maintenance services in which case you ll need to ask what that cost is.

We know, you can go online to hire a web company simply and quickly, and maybe even more inexpensively. So why should you hire us? Because we are local. We are your neighbor. You know, homegrown.

23 We know, you can go online to hire a web company simply and quickly, and maybe even more inexpensively. So why should you hire us? Because we are local. We are your neighbor. You know, homegrown. Surely you can call, or message us. But guess what. You can also MEET with us. That s right, in person, over coffee. We ll meet, shake hands, and talk about your business goals and needs. Try that with a faceless online company 1,200 miles away! At Genovesi Web Design & Marketing, our philosophy is one of collaboration. When you hire us to design, build and host your website, you are hiring a partner. That s because we focus on treating your business like it is our business. You are not simply a transaction, but rather we view you as an ongoing relationship that we will nurture and provide for. Pick us now. Genovesi Web Design and Marketing GWDandM.com info@gwdandm.com (845)

Key questions to ask before commissioning any web designer to build your website.

Key questions to ask before commissioning any web designer to build your website. KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK Before commissioning a web designer to build your website. As both an entrepreneur and business owner,