Choosing a Web Designer

Hire a Web designer who focuses on how to help your business

Beware of technicians who have never run a business, or have recently relocated or are re-engineered entrepreneurs who are new to the field. Technicians aren’t famous for getting along with people or for their creativity. Don’t be fooled by businesses that spout jargon; being able to talk the talk is all very well, but it’s important that they can explain the technology to you in terms that you understand. Remember the left brain/right brain stuff? The nature of a computer related job requires people be analytical rather than creative.

Watch out for Web designers who promise incredible results from using the Web. Results will vary – most things aren’t a success overnight. Like all forms of advertising it takes time to see results. Be a little cautious about any great success stories, as they will often be exaggerated.

You need to hire a designer who has created a number of sites, and has been in business for a reasonable period of time, bearing in mind that the Web was only founded in 1993, so it’s still very young. They should be able to show you some examples of Web sites they have created in the past.

Focus on results

Your Web Designer should talk business and market share, not promises. A common approach to a new client is to talk of what the future will be, of how wonderful all the new technology will be. The key phrase here is “will be” – anyone predicting the future is looking in a crystal ball that changes every day.

Many designers will explain different Internet technologies like video, sound, phone, music and so on. Watch out for designers that use new technology just because it’s there. Ask yourself – Is this going to help promote my business and help my clients? Many of these new technologies require plug-ins (extra software that must be downloaded) or newer browsers, limiting your potential audience.. You don’t usually need CGI, Active-X, and Java to have a good site – the designer may want all this to show off.

Find a Web designer who builds within the constraints of you’re audience’s internet connection. Many of the people in the online marketplace are from areas outside of cities, with slow phone lines and a variety of computers. Simple sites reach all people, while using technological tricks limits market share. Do you want to reach the most people or pay a lot more for something that won’t work on every machine?

Discover a Web Designer’s skills by what others say

The true measure of any business is what its clients and reviewers say about it. Don’t fall for the assumption that any old Web designer will do; read what clients and objective outsiders say about the company. Word of mouth is your most powerful ally when choosing a Web designer.

Look carefully at the designer’s own site. Their are some terrible sites proclaiming the abilities of the Web designer. Watch out for the old line – ‘We are too busy designing web pages to do our own site’. Don’t believe it. That type of line wouldn’t make sense at all in any other area of business. Would you hire a builder that lived in a small old shack because they were too busy doing building work for others?

A good Web designer combines excellent graphic skills, programming ability, content development, and knowledge of how the Web works. Make sure you get this combination and don’t settle for less. The look of the page, making the text easy to read and navigate around, and a simple focus on your business’ bottom line are the most important requirements of any Web site. You need much more than a technician. Understanding HTML coding is one thing, but having creative flair is also very important.

Find a Web Designer with a business plan

What is the process taken by the company to create your Web site? Do they customize your site or just plunk yours into a template? The Web site that is unique wins out over those thrown up just for the sake of being on the Web. Your Web designer should look at what you have to offer, make suggestions to present it that work with your current efforts, and provide the simplest design in a cost-effective approach. Don’t settle for less.

Be careful of those offering promises

“We can create the perfect web site for you” – yeah right. You are putting your business online – do you want to take the cookie cutter approach or spend a little extra time to get a custom designed site? Take the time to do it right and hire a professional; you can always make more money, but losing time by putting up a poor Web site will cost you much more. Your competition will gain an advantage, because every time someone comes to your site, they’ll notice how quickly and poorly it was done. And chances are, they will never come back. Would you?