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Things to Think About When Deciding On a Website Designer

admin : February 15, 2021

Websites

Things to Think About When Deciding On a Website Designer

According to the US Census Bureau, 14.3% of sales during the third quarter of 2020 were e-commerce sales, and it’s predicted that by 2023 that 22% of global retail sales will be through e-commerce.

With companies moving practically everything online, it’s more important than ever for brands to have navigable, sleek, eye catching, and fully functional websites. Clunky interfaces with messily designed menus can make just trying to find the shop page a hassle. That’s why web design and deciding on a website designer that’s right for your company is key.

The need for a well-designed website can be daunting, but that’s where website developers come in! Selecting a website designer can be a daunting task, though, and picking the best web design company comes with a series of questions that need to be asked.

1. Think about, and map out, an idea of what you want your design to look like.

Before searching for the best website designer, think about the best website design. You have to have a design to tell the website designer about, after all, so consider what you want on your site and what you don’t. If you have no idea where to even start with your considerations, we’ve written a list of elements that should absolutely be avoided on any website to make for the best experience possible. Make your own list as well! Write down what you like from other websites and would like to see implemented into your own. It can make deciding on a website designer a lot simpler.

2. Specify your goals and needs for your website.

Also consider your company or organization’s specific purpose. If you’re building an e-commerce website, then there are a few things you should keep in mind (We have a list of our top priorities of things to avoid here), but needs vary between hemp or cannabis websites and manufacturing websites, even though they’re both e-commerce.

3. Browse their websites and ask to see the websites of previous clients.

54% of small businesses outsource their graphic design and website design, so there are plenty of designers out there with impressive resumes and websites with great success for the businesses who contracted them. Look around at their own website. Do they give you a list of clients who they’ve previously worked with? If so, go ahead and look at those websites, too. If you like what you see, then continue to consider them. If you’re not pleased with a majority of their work, then you can safely assume that they’re not the designer for you. Transparency about the quality of their work and the scope of their work is a good trait in website designers. Before deciding on a website designer, make sure that they can give you what you need.

4. Gather inspiration from your favorite websites and competitors--then find out who their web designer was.

Do some window shopping on everyday websites as well! Is there a site that you really enjoy using? Try contacting the site owner and asking who their website designer is. Looking for a website designer really can be as simple as that! It’s best to aim either for someone who is freelance, meaning that they’re not directly employed with the company that they created the site for and take on multiple clients, or for a company that employs several website designers. How to choose a web design company follows the same criteria as how to choose a website designer, you just won’t be employing a single person and rather paying a company.

5. Figure out your budget.

The cost of a website designer should also be taken into account especially if they’re freelance. Website designer rates vary significantly depending on the complexity of what you’re asking for as well as their own experience. A new website designer will obviously charge less than a more established one, but the more established website designer obviously has more experience in designing websites. One commonality most have, though, is that they charge an hourly rate. However, working with a web design company might mean they charge a flat rate.

This is a big step for any organization looking to modernize their setup and step into the digital marketplace. Onsharp offers web design services, and you can see examples of our past work here. We also offer a free brochure of our services. If you like what you see, you can schedule a free consultation with one of our web designers to discuss what your website might look like and what it will cost to make it happen.