4 Things to help you pick the right website design agency
Launching a new website is a pretty big deal. Your website needs to sell your business 24/7 - so it’s got to be just right!
That’s why it’s important to do your due diligence when selecting a web agency. They have all the power in the world to either make or break your new website. And, let’s be honest, no business can afford a dodgy site being their online “face”.
So how do you find the agency that is the macaroni to your cheese? We have 4 simple tips that’ll put you on the right track...
4 Things to help you pick the right website design agency:
Do you like their work?
Do they challenge you?
Do they offer UX and UI design?
What type of support do they offer?
1. Do you like their work?
One of the most important things you need to do is look at the agency’s portfolio. What’s their work like? Do they adhere to modern principles? Is their work pretty versatile? You get the gist.
The last thing you need is for your resulting website to look like something that was “cool” twenty years ago. Trends, technologies and principles have changed over time and keep changing. Reputable agencies keep up to date with what’s hip and happening. You can almost be sure that they’ll deliver a site that looks current and modern.
But hold the phone, trends and fads are awesome, but there’s also a time and place to use them. Make sure while the agency’s work is current, they don’t overload their sites with every trend under the sun. You want site’s design to have a little bit of longevity too. Not sure what the current website design trends are? No sweat, check out Top 7 website design trends for 2020.
Oh and this is great tip: don’t trust the pretty website pictures on an agency’s site. Us designers have our tricks to make things look better than they seem 😉. Actually visit the sites they’ve designed. You’ll get a better idea of the outcome you could expect.
2. Do they challenge you?
It’s really important for your agency to listen to you. From the get go they should show keen interest in trying to understand your business, as well as your goals. If an agency actually takes the time to understand your goals, they’ll have a better idea of how to present your business to your target customers.
However, while it’s important for your agency to listen to you, you really don’t want them to roll over at your every request. An agency that sticks to their guns is not a bad thing - a little push-back is important for your relationship. You know your business, while they know theirs. Together, your ideas should fuel a website that converts leads into paying customers.
3. Do they offer UX and UI design?
In this day and age reputable agencies offer something called UX and UI design (not just plain old website design). Not quite sure what that is? Check out our post: User Experience Design (UX) and User Interface Design (UI). What’s the difference?.
A solid UX and UI design strategy will help ensure your website does what it needs to do: drive conversions or sales! Agencies that offer these services, use customer research to help inform your site’s structure, layout and aesthetics. Thus ensuring your online presence fulfils your target customer’s needs.
This might sound like a load of mumbo-jumbo if you’re new to this concept, but according to UXCam, for every $1 invested in UX, you can expect a return of $100. Not bad! Or how about this one: 88% of users are less likely to return to a website after a bad user experience. Sheesh. Great UX for the win!
Okay, but what about UI stats? Well, according to Sweor, 75% of consumers admit that they judge a company’s credibility based on their web design. That’s a pretty high number! So even though we’ve been taught not to judge a book by its cover, people still do it.
UX and UI are the perfect pair. Use them to make your website a customer converting powerhouse. See how they work together in our post, UI without UX? Nope. Here’s why you need both.
4. What type of support do they offer?
Right, so you have a new website. It’s awesome. It ticks all the UX and UI boxes. You’ve launched it. What’s next?
When searching for the right agency, you need to understand what happens after launch. You don’t want your agency to leave you high and dry at such a critical time. Chat to the agencies you’re considering to see if they recommend ongoing support and maintenance. If they do, ask them if they have any standard packages and what these include.
Nowadays it’s also important to continuously improve your website. Through customer feedback and data analytics your agency can determine what's working and what’s not. This might be another service they can offer you. Here’s how a continuous improvement strategy works.
by Uran
Now what?
You’ve scoured the internet for the best-of-the-best agencies. Now it’s time to develop your shortlist. Contact up to five agencies and arrange a call to see if you gel. If you’re a millennial and avoid phone calls at all cost, get an email conversation going. We’ve delivered a ton of successful projects communicating like this, both locally and internationally.
If you like the agency, request a quote. Be sure to send them a comprehensive brief so you get accurate costing. Not sure how to create a brief? Check our 8 step guide to creating a great website brief. We suggest sourcing between three to five quotes so you can compare offerings and costs. Be wary of agencies that are too cheap! Your website is a vital part of your business, the last thing you should do is cut corners.
We hope you find the right agency for your brand and that it’s a match made in heaven 💛
Need some guidance getting your site started? Why not check out The Marketing Manager’s 10 Step Guide to Website Design?