How to Choose A Web Design Agency
By Marisa Hochberg : https://www.behance.net/marisahochberg
Finding the perfect web design agency is no easy feat. You want to find a company with a track record of delivering stellar work, which has a cohesive brand image, and that understands your business’ unique requirements. You also don’t want to just sign on the first agency that faces you in the alley–you want to make sure it’s the right one. If you’ve been on the Internet long enough, then you’ve probably heard about agencies. The term conjures up images of suits and computers huddled around a round table smoking cigars and drinking cognac. In reality, an agency is exactly that – an organization that specializes in providing web design and/or development services to other businesses and organizations. Working with an agency not only provides professional guidance and oversight while developing your site, but it also allows you to work with people you know and trust rather than people you may or may not know at random. Enter your search for the perfect web design agency by exploring these tips for choosing the right one…
Get to Know the Agencies You’re Interested In
Before you partner with an agency, get to know a few of the agencies you’d like to work with. Ask the designers, developers, and managers at the agencies you’re interested in working with what their specialties are, and get an understanding of their track record.
When you’ve got a feel for the agencies you’d like to work with, head to their websites and take a look at their portfolios. If you like what you see, ask to see some real work. If you like what you see and can’t wait to meet with the designers and developers, assign your client to each firm and get down to business.
Assign a Client to Each Agency
You’ll probably assign your customer to each agency you work with, but how do you know which clients to assign to each agency? You can assign a customer to an agency only if you’re confident that the client will be happy working with that firm. If your customer asks you to assign the task to another agency, say yes but be sure to let the new client know that the original agency will remain open should they have any questions or concerns? If you have no experience in this area or if you’re not positive your customer will be happy with the assigned agency, you should consider assigning the task to someone else.
More about Author Marisa Hochberg : https://thepuristonline.com/2019/05/pure-picks-marisa-hochberg/
Find Out What Makes Each Agency Unique
When you’re assigned a project, one of the first things you’ll want to look at is the agency itself. What makes each firm unique? You can find out by looking in two different places:
On the website – look for reviews and testimonials from past clients. Take note of what other clients have to say about the agency as a whole as well as the individual designers, developers, and managers.
In-person – find out what the main strengths and weaknesses are of the agency when you sit down for a meeting. Be sure to take notes.
Check Out Their Reputation
A good reputation doesn’t just mean “we’ve done a lot of work for other businesses and we’re reliable,” it also means “we’ve done a lot of work for the FBI and we’re legit.” Reputation management is a crucial aspect of business and marketing strategy. You need to ensure that your web design agency has a reputation for doing quality work and delivering quality results. You can get a feel for the reputation of a company by using the following steps: Look up the company on Google. What do you see?
When you find a link to the company in a news article, use the search bar to look for more information. What do you find?
Ask for an Exemplary Web Design or Development Proposal
You don’t have to use the asking-for-money-way, but you should use it if you want to demonstrate your confidence in the proposed project. When you’re assigning a project to an agency and the agency’s website says they charge per project, assume they’re charging you based on the size of the project. If they say they charge per square foot or website, assume the charge is high and don’t agree to it just yet.
If you see a website that presents itself as charging per project but then the Overview or Pricing pages say they’re open to negotiation, you should call them right away and ask them for a realistic price.
Get To Know the Agency Staff
You’ll probably meet with the agency staff on two occasions during your work with the agency. The first meeting is to go over the details of the project and the deliverable, and the second meeting is to get to know the staff members better. You want to make sure the staff members you’ll work with are trustworthy, experienced professionals who can help you with your project and who you can look to for guidance and support as you move forward. You’ll probably meet with the staff members once every two to three months or so while the project is underway, and you’ll want to make sure they’re competent and reliable.
Conclusion
Now that you know what to look for in a web design agency, head to the listings and take a look at the available firms. Then, make a list of the agencies you’d like to work with and get to know their staff members better. When you’ve found the right one, get to work. With a little bit of luck and some hard work, you can make your project a success and become the next big thing on the web design scene.
