Choosing a Suitable Website Designer
Choosing the right website designer impacts your business in a positive manner. Using the guidelines below, you can find the right web designer to meet your needs. Your website, the online door to your business, should provide visitors with an experience that satisfies their needs and goals, and creates a memorable, positive experience.
Step 1 – Re-evaluate your website (if you have one already. If you do not, please proceed to Step 2)
Almost as soon as they first visit your site, people should know what the website is about and how to use it. Run through the following checklist. You should be able to answer true to all of the questions. If you answered false to any, move on to Step 2.
- Is there is a clear, visual hierarchy: important info is more visible, less important not as visible?
- Are pages divided into well-defined areas, such as graphics, buttons and text?
- Are web conventions used such as colour schemes, lists, headlines, search boxes and taglines?
- Are buttons and links obviously clickable?
Step 2 – Choose a suitable website designer
Deciding that your website needs improving, or you would like to create one, you will now need to find a designer. Follow the three steps below and you’ll be able to choose that talented person you need for the job.
Investigate: Using the Step 1 checklist, view a potential website designer’s site. If their site doesn’t pass the test, move on to another candidate. Check out the designer’s portfolio and view his or her completed websites.
Interview: If you are satisfied with the designer’s portfolio, you can contact them. Here are some important questions to ask in the interview:
- Can I have a list of references?
- What are your qualifications, degrees, certificates?
- Can you provide a free sample page?
- Can you give me a written estimate?
Negotiate: If you decide to hire the designer, you will need to negotiate a contract. The contract should be written up during the initial hiring consultation by you, the client, and the web designer. The agreement should include payment amount, down payment if required, upon what conditions, and within what time frame. There should also be a clause regarding contract cancellation, just in case. Make sure you keep a hard copy for yourself.
Step 3 – Begin the design process
Now it’s time to begin the design process. Have a look around at various websites that you like and then consult with your web designer. The design process is a collaborative one, with teamwork providing the framework for creativity and excellence. Be honest with your designer about what you want, what you like, and what you don’t like. Your website, once you’ve completed all the steps above, will no doubt satisfy both you and your customers.
In your research, don’t forget to contact us. We have some nice surprises for you, including affordable pricing, business consultation to help you discover your marketing message, and friendly staff.
call: 519-482-5670 or e-mail info@rbnet.ca
