How to hire a designer – by Jonathan Kelly
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEB DESIGNER:
10 Questions to ask a potential designer… questions you need to know when you are looking for your web designer. Presence Web Design has these requirements and more!
1. Do they have a portfolio?
Make sure they have some experience under their belts and unless you want to be a designer’s test subject, make sure they have some experience behind them.
Presence Web Design has an extensive portfolio and customer satisfaction!
2. Can they cater to any type of business?
Look through the portfolio for variety. Make sure you are paying for a custom web design service, not a cheap template.
Do their client’s websites all look similar in format and structure?
Presence Web Design is 100% unique to each business, as you will see in my portfolio.
3. How is their response time?
This is vital to the success of your website.
Take note of their choice of response (e-mail, phone, fax, instant messenger, chat) and how quickly they can respond to your inquiries.
If you prefer to do business over the phone and the designer doesn’t, then it’s probably best to move on to your next choice.
Presence Web Design will answer you within hours….NOT DAYS! I have A+ customer service! I have been accused of being a workaholic!!
4. Do they have a contract?
If it’s not written – it’s not true. Everything should always be put down in writing.
Before you sign anything, make sure you read the entire contract, including all the fine print.
If you have any questions on anything: ASK! Don’t sign a contract unless you understand everything in it.
If the company’s representative makes you feel awkward or uncomfortable with your “bothersome” questions, then end discussions and find another designer.
Presence Web Design has an Agreement; it states everything you need to be comfortable with what you are getting and what is expected of me & my employees. You can request a copy anytime!
5. How reasonable are their prices?
Make sure you get what you pay for and if you are on a budget, that the designer you choose won’t exceed it. But it is also important to insure you put plan for extras and have a plan to continually invest into the website’s construction. Your website is going to the link between you and your customers, so make sure it is the best it can be.
If you can’t afford for everything you feel your website should have then settle for a smaller website and create it in stages.
Don’t settle for a cheaper designer. You get what you pay for.
Presence Web Design works with any budget. I do have an estimate request form and will provide an estimate based on your needs, but if you are on a tighter budget, I will work with that and let you know what I can provide for you that will still be AMAZING for your business!
6. Can they help you market your website?
Online marketing is key to your website’s success It is best to find a designer that knows how to promote the sites they work on whether it be through search engine optimization, pay-per-click marketing, viral marketing or another method. Ask your design firm what they feel is best for your company. You should feel comfortable in their explanation and reasoning; otherwise ask some other firms what they’d recommend.
No one can guarantee you TOP search engine ranks! That is a false promise! Search engines such as Yahoo!, Google and MSN/Bing keep their ranking data closely guarded to keep anyone from cheating the system. Presence Web Design does optimize your website for search engines with css/html and your regular keywords, etc.
7. Are their clients satisfied?
Can you find client testimonials/referrals on the site?
Don’t hesitate to contact their clients to ask for opinions and get their feedback on how their service with that company went. It’s your money after all. It’s better to spend 15 minutes on the phone than months of hassle and pain with the wrong developer.
Presence Web Design has MANY satisfied clients! You can read their comments. Testimonials
8. Are they able to meet all your needs?
Do you want an e-commerce store, Flash elements or a custom web application? Can they do everything you want? The last thing you want is different companies meddling with your website’s design. Choose a firm that has the full corporate solution for your needs – whether it’s Flash intros or database-driven websites.
Presence Web Design offers multiple services! Just contact me for information on your project.
9. Can they deliver on time?
Are they willing to meet reasonable deadlines? If you need your site done by a certain date, can the designer you choose get it done by then? Be sure to ask about delivery times when you’re on Step #7.
FIRST CLUE: What was their response time? Did they give you an unrealistic price that you expected for Web Design? For example: give you a price undervalued price? It means they are going to be taking on a lot of projects – can they get to yours AND give you supreme one on one service…can they help you once everything is done?
Ask any of Presence Web Design’s clients – they are answered and the question answered within 3 hours of contact (during regular hours)!
Most of my websites have a turnover time of 1 week!! It depends on the extent. But Presence Web Design limits the amount of designs taken on at one time in order to cater to everyone in a timely manner! I will never overload my projects as it only affects the clients and I will never risk my reputation for the purpose of greed!
10. Do they take a personal and friendly approach?
Is the designer willing to help and suggest his/her own ideas, or do they robotically go along hoping they got everything you want? It’s always best to find a designer that has some ideas of their own, with fresh ideas and that knows their limits and won’t insist something be done a certain way if that’s not what you want.
Presence Web Design will work hard to give you EXACTLY what you are looking for! Most times, my first draft is the last! My client’s are always amazed at what they got and how easy the process was! I love getting creative control, but if you have something specific in mind…I can do that too!
Although this article can seem like a no-brainer to some, many companies will often run into difficulties and conflicts within their design process. These are simple yet often overlooked steps, and can be the difference between a rough and a smooth design process. Keep this list in mind when looking for a web designer and you should find the right one to create your website!
