7 tips for choosing the best web designer

340 Reading Rd.Suite WestCincinnati, Ohio [email protected]

7 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST WEB DESIGNER

Not all web designers were created equal

As a top web design company with clients across the US, we meet and speak to potential clients on a daily basis. One thing that has stood out from many of our conversations is that many people who are beginning their web design project don’t exactly know what to look for in a web designer.

While our team always makes sure to address the important questions and topics, not all web designers or agencies will do so. That is why we’ve put together these tips highlighting the significant (yet often overlooked) aspects to consider before you begin reaching out to companies, in order to choose the best web designer for your project.

Tip #1: Know what it is that you want to accomplish with your website

It is SO very important that you have a clear vision and understanding of what your goals are, and how you are going to measure your success. There are many different types of websites to accomplish different goals. If you plan on having an e-commerce website you will want to make sure you are focused on how your website will help build and maintain a customer database, track conversion of sales, and it’s overall ROI. If you are a new company, you will want to make sure your website is focused on helping your brand awareness by increasing visibility along with having a clear focus. Two very different goals, and extremely important to know before you begin.

Tip #2: Compile a list of web designers with impressive portfolios

Instead of looking for a firm with industry-specific portfolio pieces, look for a company that has created a wide range of projects. This shows that they have a healthy creative philosophy –– and a company that works to understands the brand, listens to its clients, and doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to their design process. Separate the novices from the “big dogs” by paying close attention to whether or not they’re using basic cookie-cutter templates, or custom, responsive web designs.

Tip # 3: Don’t limit yourself by locality

The web design process can be a very technical and overwhelming process. No matter the scope of the project, you want to choose a designer who can articulate the process thoroughly, yet in a way that you understand. There is nothing worse than working with someone who is unable to explain the process to you in a way that you can understand it.


One common misconception is that you must work with a designer in town. We can’t stress this one enough, it is absolutely not necessary to confine your search to a local designer or agency. Any savvy design team will have a system of long-distance communication in place. Designers and developers are used to discussing projects with each other over the phone and online through collaboration programs and software, so it’s just as effective to discuss your project in the same manner. You may choose a local designer who is awful at consistent communication, while a designer located a few states away works hard at staying on top of communicating with you about your project. Bottom line, don’t limit yourself –– it’s important that you feel you can communicate with your designer, because it is essential to the design and development process.

Tip #4: Determine your cost vs. value

Alright, it’s time to address the elephant in the room. Cost is an important aspect of your project. As with anything you purchase, the saying “you get what you pay for” definitely holds true when building a new website. Whether the goal of your site is simply brand awareness, or to generate leads, in the end it is about supporting and helping your business succeed in its goals. If you begin to cut costs solely for saving money now, you may not earn as much long-term value when it comes to delivering the results you imagined.

So how do you justify the costs of your website project? It’s simple, really. Ask your agency if they can provide examples of the value delivered through real results. Remember in the end, it’s not about cost –– it’s about value (or at least it should be). If the agency can provide a website that yields a return-on-investment, then cost isn’t a deal breaker. Don’t let sticker shock derail you from your overall project goals.

Tip #5: Consider the long-term maintenance of your investment

After the launch of your new site, a reputable agency will maintain a healthy relationship with you. It will be important for you to know how involved you want to be with the maintenance and publishing of content after launch. Any knowledgeable web designer or agency should be able to support your project with analytic reporting to guarantee that your website is helping you reach your goals. It’s a good idea to ask your designer about their existing and ongoing relationships with past clients, and if you reach out to any of these references, discuss this aspect from their point of view.

Most people want an ongoing relationship with their design team, with the ability to follow up, discuss website maintenance, or just to kick some content ideas around. Some design houses purely design; other design companies are willing and able to help with digital a marketing strategy, which leads to our next tip…


Tip #6: Decide if you want search engine optimization services

A website should have one main purpose: to help you achieve business growth. If your web designer offers to optimize your site for search engines for you, make sure they’re willing to spend some time on the marketing end of your website.

The phrase “If you build it, they will come” is not true in today’s search engine optimization (SEO) best practices. Many people focus so much of their efforts on building the website, that they give no thought to how it will be found among search engines. Understand that just because you have a beautiful new website, it does not guarantee visitors or customers. People have to find your site, and there are many technical and design factors that affect website visibility.

Some design companies offer an array of SEO and digital marketing services. Do your research to decide if you will want to invest in this service (we highly recommend that you do). Deciding on search engine optimization before you begin will save you time and money in the long run, by allowing your design and development team to incorporate SEO best practices from the very beginning.

Tip #7: Accept that content is part of the problem

Everyone has their own reasons for either a re-design or custom build of a new website. Most often, the first thing that comes to mind is how your website looks and functions. These are both important factors, but the most overlooked aspect of this process is your content. You absolutely need to be focused on adding relevant, keyword optimized and valuable content to your site. Copy and pasting your original content (which probably is not up to SEO standards) is a dead practice. The designer you choose needs to be asking in-depth questions about your business, clients and industry. If they are not, that should be a major red flag. Whether they write your content or work with your copywriter, they are responsible for building the framework housing your content, so make sure they recognize its importance.

Are you looking to create or update your company’s website? Our team strives to create websites through innovative design and development. We are successful at what we do not because we are a big company, but because we are industry experts. We design and develop digital experiences for enterprises and start-ups alike, enabling them to realize their business goals across mobile and digital platforms.

We call it innovation by design.

7 tips for choosing the best web designer

Marketing