Web Design

Designing web sites is big business.  A well-organized company web site requires the coming together of many individual parts.

When designing a web site, the first question you must answer is “what do I want my website to accomplish”?  Objectives vary, but most company websites fall into one of two categories.  A site is either designed as an ecommerce site, poised to take online orders, or as an online brochure, ready to give product or service information with a way to contact the organization.

Depending on what type of website you are after will determine which type of web site design firm to hire:

• Do they have their own web site? This should be the first thing they do, and if they don't have one, buyer beware.
• Is their site attractive, easy to navigate, informative? If their own site doesn't work well, yours won't.
• Can they show you an extensive portfolio of work? How long have they been in the business? There isn't anything "wrong" with hiring someone new to the business, but you should be aware that they may not have the knowledge and experience to help you.
• Do they have business references? Call them.
• Do you like their work? Many companies end up with a specific style or "look". If that doesn't fit for you, go elsewhere.
• Do all their websites look the same regardless of the business represented? A web site for a coffee shop has a very different look than one for a CPA.
• Do they ask questions; about your business, your goals for the website, your favorite color? They should be interested in what you have to say and produce content accordingly.
• Do they listen to you? Do they hear you? Or are they all about what they think you should have. Remember, this is YOUR website.
• Do they provide suggestions for content and design? If not they may not have enough experience to know what to suggest that will work for your company.
• Do they listen to you and show respect for your input? Just because they know something about the Internet and computers does not mean that they know your business objectives.
• Will you feel comfortable telling them you don't like something they have done? If not, you may not end up with the web site you want. And remember, it is YOUR web site and the ultimate decisions are yours.
• Are they reasonably priced? Web site design can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. Talk about the budget. If the designers "don't do" web sites under a certain dollar amount, find someone else.