How to Choose a Web Design Company

Let’s talk about your business website for a minute. For some of your customers, the website may be the first impression they get of your company. For others, it may be an important part of their vetting process after visiting or hearing about you. Regardless, there’s two things we know for sure - 1) your business needs a website, and 2) choosing a web design company can be daunting. 

Every business has different needs and goals, and your web design company should be able to align itself with your needs and goals in the same way you try to do for your customers. That means not every option will be the best fit. So how can you choose the right web designer that will lend itself to the success of your business? Let’s take a look at 5 signs of a quality web design company that will help you with your search.

#1 - They’re Eager to Swap Ideas

Web designers may be experts in their industry, but you are the expert in your industry. A good company will listen to your ideas, ask lots of questions to learn about your field and market, and be open-minded to your suggestions of how to present your products or services. If they are unsure about anything, they should readily ask and stay in regular communication to make sure everything is presented in a way that makes sense for your business goals. At the end of the day, they should be able to take your expertise and combine it with their expertise so that your website reflects YOUR “voice”, or style. 

That said, a web designer should know how to listen to your ideas and give feedback. Their experience should enable them to challenge your opinions with an outside point of view with the goal of creating a conversion-focused strategy. If they do nothing but nod and produce replicas of all of your ideas, you’re not getting your money’s worth. Their field knowledge should come together to match your field knowledge and produce a high-caliber product.

#2 - They Have a Pro Marketing Team

There’s so much more to web design than launching a pretty website. If you actually want your website to work for the growth of your business, this growth generally doesn’t come from a one-man-band. A web design agency should have an experienced marketing team consisting of individuals with multiple areas of expertise who create a strategy for your company’s long term success. The internet is a jungle that is ever-evolving, and a quality web designer employs experts in all the nooks and crannies of this jungle to produce a well-oiled machine that works for your company’s growth.

#3 - They Keep Up With the Latest Web Trends

Vintage might be trendy when it comes to some things, but web design isn’t one of them. The last thing you want is to invest company money into a website that looks and runs like it’s 10-20 years old. Clunky, outdated websites break down customer trust, sometimes before you even have a chance to build any. Your web designer should be aware of this and have knowledge of the latest modern design trends and technology so they can keep your website fresh. Of course, there’s more to this than just pushing all the latest fads; tech trends don’t serve a website any purpose unless they convert. Quality web design has a proper balance between what’s modern and what works.

#4 - They Have a Plan For the Long Haul

As important as it is to stay in the loop about what’s trending, a web design company has to think beyond today. They should have a very clear systematic process that supports your business goals. They should understand the ins and outs of SEO (search engine optimization), CRO (conversion rate optimization), email and social media marketing, graphic design, and other factors that, when used correctly, can all coordinate to bring you long-term results. Any company that doesn’t have full knowledge of these mechanisms and how to build them into your website’s strategy probably isn’t a good fit for your business.

#5 - They Have Case Studies or a Portfolio

Most of us ask for reviews from friends or colleagues or just look for them online when we’re considering hiring a company. These are all good ways to vet a web design company. However, needs and goals vary. In the world of web design, the best way to “window shop” to find a good fit is to review real projects the design company has worked on and, if possible, read details about the strategy the company used and the results they have seen. Take your time and browse through their work and form your own conclusions about their process, and make sure you like what you see. If these results are not easily found on their website, feel free to ask. A pro web design company should be able to produce well-prepared case studies of statistical facts and client growth, showing proven results of their work. 

There’s more than these five tips to selecting the right web design company, but these are just five of the things we at AMST are passionate about providing our customers. Our top-notch holistic approach to web design ensures that our sites are SEO optimized, user friendly, fast, well-maintained, and securely hosted. But don’t take our word for it - look at our proven results and decide for yourself. Contact us today, and let’s start swapping ideas!