6. Choosing a Web Designer
Now that you’ve narrowed your search to a few prospects, you’ll need to evaluate the pricing, skills, and services offered by each web designer. Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide which web design company is the best fit for your business:
Quality of work
A designer’s past work is a good indication of how your site will turn out. Review other sites the designer has worked on, ask to see a portfolio, and become familiar with his or her capabilities. A designer’s sense of style and method of communication is so important here- you should be on the same page when it comes to design concepts. Think about it- if you describe your vision for your site as “cheerful, happy, and fresh,” does the designer “get” what you’re trying to convey in a way that matches up with your own expectations?
Timeliness
Most web programming services and design contracts have a timeline specified for project completion. Whether or not the designer adheres to these guidelines is an entirely different matter. Make sure that the designer is in sync with you when it comes to timing issues. Do they give concrete timelines (“I’ll have this to you on Tuesday”) or vague approximations (“This should be done sometime next week”)? Make sure that the designer’s sense of urgency and timeliness is one you are comfortable with.
Experience
Complex projects, like providing flash web design services, require time and skill to design. Make sure the designer can back up his or her abilities with actual experience by asking how many projects similar to yours they’ve completed. Ask what challenges they faced, how your site is similar, and what might be different. Companies that have been in business for a while are generally a safe bet when it comes to design experience.
References
Always get references! Even f you are working with a freelancer or a brand new company, a designer should still be able to present you with references of prior clients, even if the jobs were relatively small. Ask references about the designer’s work habits, timeliness, and skills.
