Is your website old, outdated, and lackluster? A well-designed and functioning website can help support your marketing efforts. An outdated website, however, could hurt your business.
In fact, design has a 75% impact on a website’s credibility. Without credibility, consumers might decide they can’t trust your business.
Instead of falling behind, consider hiring an experienced web design firm this year. They can update your website and set your business up for success.
Not sure which firm to hire? Here are 10 questions to ask during your search. With these tips, you can find the right web design professional for the job.
You can rely on their experience and expertise to ensure your website wows customers.
Start your search for the best web design company around by asking these questions first!
1. How Long Have You Worked in the Industry?
Some web design firms have more experience than others. As you begin your research for a design team, take the time to learn about their experience.
First, determine how long the firm has worked in the web design industry. You might find a few digital marketing agencies during your search. Consider how long they’ve offered web design services.
If they’re new to offering web design and development, continue searching. Instead, find someone with years of hands-on experience.
Consider how many websites the firm has worked on over the years, too. If they’ve only handled a few websites in the past decade, keep searching. Choose a firm with experience and expertise you can count on.
An experienced web design company will have an easier time meeting your needs and expectations. If they lack experience, they might struggle to accomplish your goals.
Make sure they’ve worked on websites that meet the scope of your project, too. For example, perhaps you need a 30-page website. In that case, don’t hire a team that specializes in one-page websites.
2. Do You Have Experience With My Type of Business?
Remember, you’ll want to find a firm with experience that’s relevant to your needs. Before choosing a web design company, learn about their recent clients. Determine if they’ve helped clients that fall within your industry.
Their prior experience with businesses like yours could streamline your web design process. These firms will have more intimate knowledge about your target audience. They’ll have an easier time meeting the customer’s expectations as a result.
If you can, find a web design company that specializes in businesses within your industry.
3. What Services Do You Offer?
Ask each web design professional about the services they offer, too.
Some businesses only offer web design (not development services). Others offer hosting and routine website maintenance.
Think about the issues you’ve experienced over the years. For example, perhaps your website has failed to generate leads. In that case, you might want to look for a firm that offers copywriting services.
Consider what platforms the company uses as well. For example, you might feel more comfortable using WordPress.
Take the time to outline your needs, expectations, and goals. Then, determine if the web design firm can meet your needs.
You can hire a single web design company for everything you need.
4. What’s Your Process Like?
Before hiring a web design professional, ask them questions about their process. What information will they need before working on your website?
Your web design agency shouldn’t rush to start designing. Instead, they should take the time to gather research. Otherwise, they might not create a website with your target audience in mind.
Your website might struggle to generate leads as a result.
Instead, the firm should learn about your target audience, industry, and competitors. They should learn as much as they can about your business, too.
If they plan on writing copy for your website, they’ll need to learn about your brand to mimic your voice and tone. They’ll need intimate knowledge about your products or services to write effective copy, too.
5. How Will You Improve the User Experience?
Poor user experience (UX) design drives almost 50% of people to choose a competing business instead. A poor UX indicates your site is difficult to navigate and explore. Poor load times could impact the user experience, too.
In fact, conversions can drop by up to 20% for every second of site load time. When speeds go from one to 10 seconds, the probability of a bounce reaches 123%.
A high bounce rate can hurt your search engine rankings.
Before that can happen, ask your web design professional if they can optimize your website’s user experience. Ask how they’ll improve the UX, too.
For example, they might improve your site’s security and navigation. They should make sure your site is optimized for mobile devices. They might recommend following minimalistic design trends, too.
These small changes can have a big impact on how people interact with your website. The longer they stay and click around, the lower your bounce rate will drop. You can increase dwell times and potentially improve your search engine rankings.
6. Can You Optimize for SEO?
Search engine optimization (SEO) can help improve your website’s rankings on search engine result pages (SERP). Higher rankings will position you in front of more customers online. When someone searches for your product or service, your site could appear at the top of the page.
Higher rankings can also help you:
- Gain brand awareness and recognition
- Establish your credibility
- Rank ahead of competitors
- Generate more website traffic
- Generate leads and sales
- Improve your ROI
Without strong SEO rankings, however, consumers might not find you online.
In fact, nearly 70% of experiences online start with a search engine. The majority of people (75%) don’t check the second page of results, though.
Meanwhile, leads through SEO are eight times more likely to become paying customers than those from ads.
Before choosing a web design firm, determine if they offer SEO services. A firm with SEO experience will know how to optimize your pages.
In fact, your website’s design and development could have a major impact on your rankings. For example, Google looks for secure, mobile-optimized sites when determining SERP rankings.
It also makes sure websites are offering a positive user experience based on Google’s Core Web Vitals.
Take the time to find a web design expert that knows how to update your website with SEO in mind. Their skill set could benefit your business in the long run.
Then, you can improve your rankings, reach more customers, and drum up more business.
7. Can You Provide References?
Before rushing to choose between web design firms, make sure to gather references. Try to speak with three of the firm’s most recent clients. If you can, speak with a client who falls within your industry, too.
Make a list of questions you want to ask each client beforehand. For example, you might ask:
- Did the web design team communicate?
- Were they easy to work with?
- Were they knowledgeable?
- Are you satisfied with the outcome of your website?
- Were you satisfied with the cost?
- Would you hire them again in the future?
Ask each client if they encountered any problems while working with their web design expert, too. If so, ask how the problem was resolved. Choose a web design company that strives to improve the customer experience.
You can feel confident choosing a firm that already has a strong reputation in the industry.
You can also check the company’s Better Business Bureau and Google My Business profiles for client reviews.
It’s normal to find one or two unhappy comments. If you find an abundance of negative reviews, however, remove the firm from your list.
8. Can I Review Your Recent Projects?
Remember, you’ll want to make sure the web design firm can meet your expectations. Ask if they can provide links to some of the websites they’ve worked on. Explore each website and make sure it meets your standards.
Make a note of which features and elements that you’re impressed by, too. You can use these websites to make decisions regarding your own site.
If the company’s recent projects fail to meet your expectations, scratch that firm from your list.
9. What’s Included in the Estimate?
Get an estimate from at least three different web design firms. Ask what’s included with the cost. Get an itemized list of the services you’re requesting, too.
Then, ask each firm if revisions are included. Determine what happens if you’re unsatisfied with their work.
Make sure to get a written copy of each company’s contract. If you agree on a price, get it in writing. Having a written agreement will help you avoid disputes.
10. When Can You Start?
Ask each web design company about their availability, too. Consider how many projects they’re working on. Then, determine if they can meet your deadline.
If they’re stretched too thin, they might struggle to accomplish your goals.
Select the Best: 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Design Firm
You’re not obligated to hire the first web design firm you call. Instead, make sure to ask these questions during your search. Vet your options and make sure you’re choosing an experienced web design expert.
They’ll ensure the best possible outcome by designing a site that meets your needs and expectations.
Eager to get started? We can’t wait to help.
Contact us today to discuss your new website project!
