The decision to hire a web design company can be a difficult one. Prices vary widely, many people are unsure of what truly distinguishes a good website, and it is difficult to know what expectations to have for both the finished product and what it will accomplish to generate cash. To help you understand what goes into choosing a NJ digital marketing agency and how to make the best decision for your company, I wrote this post. I’ve seen several people waste large sums of money on costly website design services that were not worth the money. And whether you decide to go with us or not, I want to assist you in preparing for your trip and understanding how to analyze your alternatives. The field of web design is one in which there are no entry barriers. As a result, a large number of persons, freelancers, and even some agencies enter the field to make money while offering little value to their clients. A solid rule of thumb is that if you buy a website for a low price, say under$5,000, it is unlikely to produce the outcomes that will generate significant money for your business. That is, after all, the whole point. It is not a cost; rather, it is a financial investment. It is important to highlight the qualities and benefits of your company on your website, and a superb website will inspire trust and confidence in your visitors. Listed below are some critical considerations to bear in mind before beginning your search for a web designer.   What is the web design platform that they are using? There are a plethora of web design platforms available these days. And they differ significantly in terms of performance and functionality. On the cheap end are platforms such as Wix and Godaddy website builder, on the middle tier are platforms such as Squarespace and Weebly that are only marginally better, and on the high end are platforms such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla that can be customized for exceptional speed. Shopify, on the other hand, is a good choice for websites that are primarily focused on E-Commerce. Then some websites are custom, developed from the ground up, which are the most expensive and often overkill for the majority of business website requirements. Inquire about the platform on which the web designer intends to create. This will provide you with a clear picture of where they are at. If you speak with a web designer who extols the virtues of Wix, you should leave immediately. WordPress will be used by the majority of developers because it is the most widely used platform and provides the most capabilities. We build the majority of our sites on WordPress, with a few on Shopify and our own CMS thrown in for good measure.   So, what exactly is included in the price of website design and development? This is a major issue. According to my years of expertise and competitive analysis, a large number of freelancers and web design businesses enter the market at a low cost but subsequently upcharge for every small item. What appears to be a good value at first glance ends up costing you far more in the long run because you are being charged for features that should be included, such as contact forms and social network integration. What should be covered, what should be charged, and how much should be charged should all be discussed in detail before signing any contracts. I’ve seen organizations charge absurdly exorbitant fees for simple tasks such as setting up a contact form, which can be completed in minutes, but others will charge upwards of $500 for the privilege. Why? Even though it doesn’t take $500 worth of time to get everything set up, they price things low in the hopes of luring you in and then make up the difference by overcharging for items they know you’ll need later on down the road. If a web design business isn’t upfront about what is included and what add-ons cost, this is a major red flag and you should avoid working with them.   Do they make recommendations or do they simply design what you instruct them to do? You want a web designer who has a lot of experience. Choosing a company that simply creates what you want them to without making any recommendations will not yield the best outcomes. Are you a marketing professional with a lot of experience? Are you a search engine optimization expert? Is it better to hire a conversion rate optimization specialist or a copywriting professional? Then why would you want to hire someone who doesn’t put in the effort to come up with innovative ideas to improve the performance and conversion of your website?   Who will be responsible for developing your website? Is it carried out in-house or by a third party? If it’s being built in-house, is it being handed off to an intern or is it being built by a seasoned professional? This is the most common type of situation that occurs with web design agencies. Was it ever brought to your attention that the majority of web design businesses outsource smaller jobs to foreign designers for pennies on the dollar? There are courses available everywhere that demonstrate how web design businesses can sell a website design for $5,000 to $10,000 or more and then outsource it for a few hundred dollars. This is extremely misleading and dishonest, in my opinion. Additionally, when you have a small business web design job, which is often under $10,000 depending on the agency, your project is passed off to an intern who is not given much supervision. So you may be under the impression that you would be working with an experienced professional web designer on your website, but in reality, you will be dealing with an untrained newbie. Because you’re a small fish in an enormous pond, and no one will ever tell you, that’s what happens. Companies like Radiant Elephant only take on a limited number of clients at a time because I, the owner, personally work on every website we design to ensure that you receive the highest possible quality website and the most value for your money.   Several things to consider when assessing a web design firm. Their site design portfolio is available upon request. Take a close look at the portfolio of a potential web design firm. Is the work visually appealing, does it inspire trust, does it load quickly, is it easy to browse, and does it make sense if you were a visitor who was interested in the product or service it represents?   Consult with previous web design clients. One of the most effective ways to get a sense of how a web design firm is to works with them is to speak with a few of their clients. Reputable web design businesses will have a small number of clients that have agreed to communicate with prospective customers. Inquire about how the procedure went, how well the company navigated it, how responsive they were to emails and phone calls, and whether or not they delivered the goods on schedule.   Are you looking to hire a graphic designer or a real web designer for your project? Although I have nothing against graphic designers, I believe that engaging a graphic designer to build out your business website is not always the greatest decision. Graphic designers are not marketers, they do not search engine optimization specialists, and they are not coders. Sure, they might create something visually appealing, but attractiveness does not always equate to conversions.   Designing a Website for Mobile Users It amazes me how many fresh websites I see being built by freelancers or even some companies that aren’t mobile-responsive at all. And some dare to include it as one of their additional fees. These days, having a mobile-friendly website isn’t just a luxury; it’s a requirement for most businesses. Mobile devices account for more than half of all website traffic. If your website is not designed with mobile devices in mind, you will lose out on a significant amount of business as well as damaging your brand’s reputation. The most effective solution is to engage a web design company that specializes in a mobile-first design. For example, I always start with a simple yet powerful mobile design and then gradually add bells and whistles as the screen sizes increase, resulting in a more immersive digital experience on the desktop. Furthermore, there is a distinction between a mobile responsive website and a mobile website. The term “responsive” refers to how the website responds to different viewport widths. It is a single webpage that changes depending on the breakpoints. A mobile website, on the other hand, is a different website that is activated when someone visits from a mobile device. The way this is done is sloppy, and it indicates that the organization or freelancer does not have a modern approach that adheres to best practices.   Preparing for the employment of a web designer includes the following steps: Having worked as a professional web designer for over a decade, I’ve witnessed firsthand what the most difficult aspects of creating a website for a client are. And one of the most important aspects is the organization. I indeed have a client who paid my retainer seven years ago but has never provided me with any of the materials I required to begin work. Additionally, this is the most common source of delays when it comes to fulfilling tight deadlines. Listed below is a checklist of the items you should have on hand before hiring a web designer.   The content of the website If you aren’t planning on hiring somebody to produce your material, you should have this ready, or at least close to being ready. The most common reason for project delays is the creation of new content. And, while a high-quality web design and marketing company would most likely change your content for marketing and SEO purposes, having a solid foundation is critical to success. Figure out the pages you want to include; you may end up adding some more later, but this is a good place to start. Consider your home page, about page, FAQ page, and service or product pages, and attempt to write 1,000-1,300 words for each of them, except product pages, which should be approximately 800 words. Make sure all of the text is properly spell-checked and ready to transmit.   Images to be used on the website If you have customized photographs that you want to utilize on your website, make sure to arrange them and have them ready to upload to a cloud storage service such as dropbox before starting. When sending photographs, make sure you submit them in the greatest possible resolution. In the case when you give an image that is 400 pixels wide and you want it to be the header image, it will seem sloppy and will cause a delay in the project since you will either need to find the correct file or hire someone to retake it.   Websites belonging to your competitors Creating a list of rivals’ websites and noting what you like and dislike about each site is one of the most effective things you can do for your business. The style you are attempting to attain will be better understood by your website designer if you provide examples.   Logo If you do not already have a professional logo or branding, look for a company that provides this as an added service. You don’t want to skimp on the quality of your logo. An excellent logo should cost you at the very least $1,000. If you do have a professionally designed logo, ensure that you have a high-resolution transparent.png version ready to be sent out at all times.