Employing a web design company may be a difficult choice. Prices vary widely, many people are unaware of what constitutes a great website, and it’s difficult to know what expectations to have for both the end product and its ability to generate money. I decided to create this post to educate you on the process of choosing a NJ digital marketing agency and how to make the best decision possible for your company. I’ve seen many customers squander large sums of money on ineffective and expensive website design services. And regardless of whether you choose to go with us or not, I want to assist you in preparing for and evaluating your choices. As I stated in the post “How Much Does NJ Web Design Cost,” I explain the distinction between an inexperienced “web designer” and a true expert. Web design is an industry with no entrance requirements. As a result, many individuals, freelancers, and even some organizations enter the field to earn money without delivering true value to their customers. A decent rule of thumb is that if the website is very inexpensive, meaning less than $5,000, it will not produce money. Which is precisely the purpose. This is not a cost, but an investment. A website should highlight your advantages and benefits, and a well-designed website fosters trust and confidence in your visitors.
Here are some critical points to consider before beginning your search for a web designer. Which web development platform do they utilize? Nowadays, there is no lack of web design platforms. And they differ significantly in terms of performance and function. There are full low-tier trash platforms such as Wix and Godaddy website builder, slightly better platforms like Squarespace and Weebly, and high-tier platforms with the greatest flexibility and the ability to be tuned for excellent performance such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla.
Additionally, for E-Commerce-focused websites, Shopify is a viable choice. Finally, some websites are fully bespoke, built from the ground up, which are the most costly and usually overkill for the majority of company website requirements. Inquire about the platform on which the web designer will develop. This will give you a good idea of their whereabouts. If you speak with a web designer who extols the virtues of Wix, flee. The majority will choose WordPress as their platform of choice because of its popularity and usefulness. We build the majority of our websites using WordPress, Shopify, and our content management system. What is included in the website design and development price? This is a significant issue. According to my years of expertise and competitive research, a large number of freelancers and web design companies enter at a cheap cost and subsequently charge for everything. Thus, what may seem to be a good bargain ends up costing much more since you are paid for features that should be included, such as contact forms and social network integration. It is critical to discuss EXACTLY what is included, what is an additional fee, and how much the additional price is. I’ve seen businesses charge absurdly exorbitant fees for putting up a contact form, which can be accomplished in a matter of minutes, yet others charge upwards of $500. Why? It does not take the $500 worth of time to set up, but they start cheap to get your business and then make up the difference by overcharging for items they know you’ll need. If a web design firm is opaque about what is included and how much add-ons cost, this is a big red flag and you should avoid working with them.
Do they provide suggestions or do they just create what you instruct them to? You want an experienced website developer. Choosing one that just produces what you want them to make without making suggestions will not provide the greatest outcomes. Are you a marketing professional? Are you a search engine optimization expert? An expert in conversion rate optimization or a skilled copywriter? Then why would you want to employ someone who does not spend time brainstorming ways to improve your website’s performance and conversion rate? Who will create your website? Is it carried out in-house or is it outsourced? If built in-house, is it delegated to an intern or is it built by an experienced professional? This is a common occurrence with web design firms. Did you know that the majority of web design firms outsource smaller jobs to low-cost foreign designers? There are even courses available that demonstrate how web design companies may sell websites for $5,000-$10,000 and then outsource them for a few hundred dollars. This, I believe, is very deceptive and dishonest. The second issue is that when a small company web design job, usually under $10,000 depending on the firm, is assigned to an intern with no supervision. Thus, you may believe you’re getting an experienced professional web designer to work on your website when, in fact, you’re getting an unskilled beginner. That is the result of being a tiny fish in a large pond, and they will never tell you. Companies like Radiant Elephant only accept a limited number of customers at a time because I, the owner, personally work on each website we create to guarantee you get the finest quality website and the greatest value for your money.
What to look for when evaluating a web design firm. Their portfolio of web design Consider the portfolio of a prospective web design firm. Does the work look nice, inspire trust, load quickly, and make sense to a visitor interested in the product or service? Consult with previous web design clients The easiest way to get a sense of how a web design business operates is to speak with a customer or two. Reputable web design firms will have a few clients willing to talk with prospective clients. Inquire about the process, the company’s navigation of it, their responsiveness to emails and phone calls, and their ability to deliver the goods on time. Are you going to hire a graphic designer or a web designer? While I have nothing against graphic designers, employing one to build up your company website is often not the best course of action. Graphic designers are not marketers, SEOs, or developers. While they may design something attractive, attractive does not always equate to conversions.
Design of Mobile Websites
It’s mind-boggling how many newer websites I see built by freelancers or even some companies that aren’t mobile-friendly. And some dare to include it in their upcharges. Having a mobile-responsive website is no longer a luxury; it is a must. Mobile devices account for more than half of all online traffic. If your website is not mobile-friendly, you will lose a lot of business and make your brand appear terrible. The best solution is to employ a mobile-first web design firm. For example, I usually start with a simple but strong mobile design and then add bells and whistles as screen sizes increase to provide a more immersive digital experience on the desktop.
Additionally, there is a distinction between a mobile responsive website and a mobile website. Responsive design refers to a website that adjusts to various viewport widths. It is a single webpage that changes in response to breakpoints. Whereas a mobile website is a distinct website that is activated when someone visits from a mobile device. This is a careless method to accomplish things and demonstrates a business or freelancer’s lack of a contemporary, best-practices-compliant strategy. What to do before hiring a web designer As a seasoned professional web designer, I’ve witnessed firsthand the difficulties inherent in developing a site for a customer. And the organization is one of the most critical factors. I have a customer that paid my retainer seven years ago but never provided me with the necessary materials to begin work. This is also the primary source of delay when it comes to fulfilling deadlines. The following is a checklist of the items you should have prepared before hiring a web designer. Content on a website If you are not paying someone to create your material, you should have this prepared, or almost prepared. The primary reason projects are delayed is due to content development. And, although a reputable site design and marketing firm would almost certainly modify your content for marketing and SEO purposes, having a solid foundation is critical. Determine the pages you want; you may end up adding more, but this is a good place to start. Consider your home, about, FAQ, and service or product pages and aim for 1,000-1,300 words for each, except product pages, which should be about 800 words. Prepare the material so that it is completely spell-checked and ready to transmit. Photographs for the website If you’re going to utilize unique pictures on your website, make sure they’re organized and ready to upload to a service like Dropbox.
When sending pictures, ensure that they are at the best resolution possible. If you submit a 400-pixel-wide picture as the header image, it will look terrible and will delay the project as you will need to either locate the correct file or pay someone to retake it. Websites of Your Competitors Making a list of rivals’ websites and noting what you like and hate about them is one of the greatest things you can do. This will assist your website designer in comprehending the style you’re attempting to accomplish. Logo If you lack a strong logo or branding, seek a firm that provides these services as an add-on. You do not want to skimp on your logo. A decent logo should cost at least $1,000. If you do have a professionally created logo, ensure that you have a high-resolution transparent.png version queued up for transmission.
