When you're deciding on the right web designer to work with for your website development, it’s a good idea to open the lines of communication so all expectations are in the open as the project begins. We like to make all of our projects as transparent as possible, laying out the exact project design vision, work flow, and list of components and functionalities, before website production begins. Here are three of the main questions and concerns our web designers address with all of our clients before a web design project begins.
Do We Share A Vision For This Web Design Project?
As a reference, ask your web designer for a portfolio of their recent work to get an idea for their design style and the quality of their work. Take a look at other websites and talk with your website designer about elements of the sites that you like and don't like. You may not have the vocabulary to simply state what you are looking for, so being able to visualize particulars with the designer will ensure they have a good understanding of your preferred aesthetics, and there will be no surprises when the project is completed. Also, it's important that you ask the web designer for their input as well. While it's good to be involved in your web design project, it's always best to allow the designer to direct the projects design – after all, they know a great deal more about what is available and are knowledgeable of what the trends are for great website designs.
Get to Know Your Designer’s Capabilities
Find out just how proficient your prospective web designer is. Will your website development be handled by an individual or a distributed team? Find out what platform your website will be built on, whether or not the person you are speaking to will be doing the development, and how they plan to build the site. Most websites need to be built to scale for content, traffic, users, and more. Trying to save a bit of money on the front-end by enlisting the services of an amateur website designer could end up costing you more money in the long run in revamps, redesigns, marketing and more. Making sure that your web designer is a talented and competent developer that builds standards based websites will only ensure a stronger end product.
Support After the Site Goes Live
Lastly, make sure you come to an agreement of what happens after the website goes live. A dependable developer will have a rider in the contract for maintenance services for a fixed period while any minor bugs may need to be worked out after launch. Many websites don't require routine maintenance and upgrades, but most require content updates and improvements. Having a management plan in place before launch is a great way to avoid any unforeseen site errors or outages.