Website design By BotEap.comSelecting a web designer for your business is a lot like choosing a contractor to work on your home. Get ready for…
- ask lots of questions
- search recommendations
- Check out the work they’ve done for others
Website design By BotEap.comIf you use these common sense tips when choosing a design studio for your website, chances are you’ll get the results you want.
Website design By BotEap.com1. Be specific about what you want to achieve. Write it!!
Website design By BotEap.comMost web projects that get off to a rocky start do so because the site owners don’t know what they really want or need. When looking for the right company to carry out their project, site owners are often unaware of the qualifications of the design studio. Is it a website design company that also does marketing, or a marketing company that also makes websites? All of these things make a difference. Most companies usually have a core competency.
Website design By BotEap.comA good idea is to prepare a document that describes the purpose of your site. Be as specific as you can. If you’re not sure about something, say so. Have a list that includes “must have” and “nice to have” items.
Website design By BotEap.comThe more a designer understands the scope of work, the easier it will be to get your project done. He is likely to get price discounts if he can really pinpoint what he needs to have designed. When looking for a suitable designer for my clients’ projects, I use a Request for Proposal (RFP) as part of my approach. It’s a way to ensure that studios compete on a level playing field. It gives you a better chance of comparing proposals on an “apples to apples” basis. My RFP is as specific as possible. Even small projects should have something like an RFP.
Website design By BotEap.com2. Know what deliverables you’ll need beyond the website.
Website design By BotEap.comToo many businesses just don’t know what they’ll get once the site launches. Maybe it’s because it’s the first time they’ve contracted to have a site produced for them. It could also be that they just don’t know what they want and/or what to expect from a design company.
Website design By BotEap.comIf you’ve done a good job writing and describing the details of what you want done, you’ll know what results to expect from your provider. In addition to the website files, the following items must be included in your offer:
Website design By BotEap.comart masters
Website design By BotEap.comMake sure it is clear that all artwork created for your project is provided to you and that you understand how the material may be used outside of your website.
Website design By BotEap.comDocumentation
Website design By BotEap.comDocumentation can be done in a number of ways, all of which should be discussed BEFORE the project begins. The supplier must document the issues related to the design and programming, paying special attention to the workarounds that solved the problems. This is very important if you need to hire someone else to work on the site in the future.
Website design By BotEap.comContent Management System (CMS)
Website design By BotEap.comMost websites are built with a CMS that allows the site owner to make changes to the site once the site is launched without having to be a web designer. While a CMS can be easy to use (that’s its beauty), some training is usually required to learn how to use it. Make sure you are trained to use the CMS and understand the support commitment made by the design firm.
Website design By BotEap.com3. Have a contract.
Website design By BotEap.comA contract is more than a sign that a studio is professional and knows what it is doing. It is the key to understanding the scope of the project and hopefully how it will be carried out.
Website design By BotEap.comMake sure you understand the contract. If you are not familiar with the legal language, you may want to execute the contract with a lawyer. If you’re not familiar with web development, design, and production terminology, seek advice from someone who is.
Website design By BotEap.comTypically, you’ll get a list of services that are included in the agreement. Pay special attention to the following:
Website design By BotEap.comA) Who owns the materials created for the project?
Website design By BotEap.comDo you have the rights to use anything created for the project in any way for any media? This is known as a “Work for Hire” contract which is more favorable to you. Designers may be reluctant to grant such terms, but you’ll likely find flexibility through negotiation.
Website design By BotEap.comB) What design approval process does the study use?
Website design By BotEap.comYou’ll usually get two or three “round trips” while the studio tries to get final approval of your design. Determine how many “round trips” you receive before you incur additional charges and what those charges will be.
Website design By BotEap.comC) What happens if the project is not completed on time?
Website design By BotEap.comSomething you might need to have in the contract is a late payment penalty. If you have a rush project that doesn’t get completed on time, chances are you’re missing out on sales opportunities. Designers don’t like this idea because delays are often caused by factors beyond their control.
Website design By BotEap.com4. Know how changes will be made to the site after its launch.
Website design By BotEap.comThere are two ways to manage changes once your site has launched: pay the design company to make the changes, or make the changes yourself. Most companies today don’t like to stay in the studio to make upgrades. If your website rarely changes (which is not a good idea), then you can let the designer do the updates. If so, learn the terms of this agreement. Usually it is a monthly fee or an hourly rate. The biggest problem is that the updates are not done in a timely manner, so fix everything in advance.
Website design By BotEap.comThe do-it-yourself approach involves the use of a content management system as mentioned. The CMS provides pre-made templates for your site so that you can add and edit content. This way, you won’t have to rely on a vendor to do the work for you. If you are growing your business online, this is the preferred way to do it.
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Website design By BotEap.comWhen looking for a web designer, remember the adage: Buyer beware! Learn as much as you can about the web development, design, and production process, or work with someone who already knows how it works.
