Do you know that there are still many businesses that don’t have a website? 90% of people have access to the internet and are regular users of it. And not having a website is quite a wrong step.
Now, if you are among one of the businesses that don’t have a website, you need to take a plunge for it now! We can understand that you are unsure about how to choose a web design agency for the development and maintenance of your website. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Here are some factors that you need to consider while choosing the right web design agency for your business.
Although most companies are operating remotely nowadays, it is a better idea to see if they have a physical office. Many people have trust issues with leaping on remote agencies and there is nothing wrong in that. It is always a safe option to hire a web design agency that has a proper office setup where you can drop in to schedule an appointment and discuss your matters and concerns face to face with the professionals you’re going to work with. Taking a peek into the google page of the agency is another great idea, check to see if they have a physical office and pictures of it posted on their google page.
Larger agencies provide more comprehensive web design services while small agencies use a more personalized approach. Choose the one that is according to your needs. Call around and have discussion with different agencies to know about the services they are providing so you can compare the pros and cons of selecting each of them.
2. Do They Have a Specialization?
Different web design agencies have different areas of specializations. So, you need to consider the specific type of services that you want before selecting the appropriate agency. Some of the web design agencies make specific arrangements if their clients ask for a specific service.
So, the first thing is that you need to identify the service you are looking for. If, for instance, you’re looking for front-end development, you might want to hire a web designer instead of an agency. But if you need a proper strategy for your website, you better go for a web design agency that specializes in web strategy, design, and development to get the maximum output.
3. How Credible Are They?
Make sure to look into the website of the agency before you hire them and hand your business things over to them. Check if they have certifications, a good reputation, and testimonials from their customers on their website. This is important when choosing a credible and trustworthy agency. Credibility matters because you will be handing over your marketing and communication tools so you need someone trustworthy to protect your business’s reputation.
4. Check Out the Quality of Their Designs
Carefully analyze the portfolio of the website agency before hiring them. You see no portfolio? Bummers! Move on to the next agency that does have a portfolio. Now what are the things that you should check in a portfolio? Firstly, critically analyze how user-friendly their design is? Because a user-friendly design will attract more customers. Secondly, check the quality of their designs? Are they impressive and eye-capturing? Or just Meh? Take your time and find an agency that has an impressive portfolio if you want to get success.
5. Do They Outsource or Do They Have an In-House Copywriter?
Frankly speaking, many web design agencies are handing over their copywriting work to freelance writers. Although it’s not a wrong thing to do, as freelance writers have a good potential, but it is always better to hire a web design agency that has an in-house writer just to make sure that the agency is willing to invest in their copy along with their design. Copywriting can have a huge impact on the appearance of your website.
6. How Knowledgeable Are They About SEO/SEM?
Many web design agencies talk about SEO but do they actually have a complete grip over the idea? SEO plays a very important role in boosting your website ranking. You need to hire a web design agency that is expert in SEO and one way to check if they actually know about SEO is by analyzing whether they are using SEO for their own website or not. What type of online advertising are they doing, if any? And is their website optimized?
Because you are hiring a web design agency to grow your business and you need every possible help that you may need for it. If an agency does not look like they are interested in their own marketing, how will they manage to do yours?
7. Do They Have a Social Media Presence?
Social media marketing is the top trend. If an agency is not using the social media strategy, run! Have a look at the social media of the agency to see how they brand themselves. If they are representing themselves well, then they can represent your business well too!
8. Check Out Their References and Reviews
Online reviews and testimonials are important. Whenever you buy something, you make sure to check the reviews first, right? SO why stay behind while selecting a web design agency for your loved business? If you find a website agency that has bad client reviews or a 1 star rating, it is enough reason to reject it and look for another one that actually has good reviews. Stay skeptic because some people write untruthful reviews just to defame a credible web design agency for their personal grudges or benefits.
9. Have a look at their costs
Before hiring a web design agency, know your budget and how much you are willing to invest for a website. Stay in the middle. It’s always a good idea. Don’t pay too much. Don’t pay too less. If you decide to hire an agency that is very cheap, their work would most probably be cheap as well. And an unimpressive site would be of no use for your business.
Always keep in mind that your website would represent your whole business on the internet. And the impression of the website would mean your business impression. It is the way through which potential customers would either approach you or dismiss you. So, make sure to follow the above factors before selecting a web design agency.