Web Design Questions

How to understand and compare what the different web design companies are offering

Many people have absolutely no idea what they should be paying for a Web site. When it comes to evaluating the different solution providers, you will receive a broad spectrum of quotations from many companies and individuals with different levels of experience and competence. This often makes it difficult to accurately compare different web design proposals and select the most suitable supplier. Listed below are some important points to consider:

1. Never underestimate your 'gut feeling'

if you build rapport with a particular web design company and you feel that they instinctively understand what you are after, chances are they will provide the right solution. Remember, designing a website involves you working hand-in-hand with your web design company over an extended period of time.

2. Is the company quoting for your business a reputable business with a going concern

Although you do not need to be working with a multi-national conglomerate, it is important you choose a web design company with the resources necessary to ensure your website can be delivered in accordance with your requirements. As your business grows and develops, you will appreciate the peace of mind knowing that your web design company will be around to accommodate your requirements and provide the support that you demand.

3. Does the company have proven track record in delivering effective web design solutions

There is no better way to gauge a company than by reviewing its existing work and speaking to its current clients. Make sure the companies you are dealing with are able to showcase a number of different solutions that they have created for other companies in a similar industry. Consider both the overall design of the websites as well as the functionality incorporated into each solution. If they claim to offer a solution that will work for you, their previous customers should be more than welcome to provide a reference. All good web design companies should have an extensive portfolio of work for a diverse range of customers.

4. Check the companies level of accreditation and professional experience

Professional web design companies are generally government endorsed and accredited suppliers in their field of expertise (E.G. Microsoft partners with accredited development teams). This eliminates a lot of the guess work and instills confidence knowing that they have satisfied the stringent levels of compliance necessary to receive the relevant endorsement or accreditation (ranging from core competencies to minimum insurance requirements).

5. Does the company in question possess the business experience necessary to design and build your website

IT specialists and software developers are often very skilled at what they do but lack the underlying business experience necessary to completely understand the purpose of the solution. In most cases it is far better when the project manager is not directly involved in the actual development process. Ideally you need project manager with a high level understanding of strategic business and a background in development to ensure they are able to understand your requirements, make the necessary recommendation and then produce a detailed ‘solution specification’ that provides the designers and developers with the information necessary to produce an effective solution.

6. When it comes to cost there is no accurate way of providing the guidelines in relation to specific amounts or even hourly rates - There are simply too many variables

Web design cannot be costed by the metre like carpet. You can be sure that companies determining the cost of a website by the number of pages are not valuing the project correctly. For example, a five page website maybe as inexpensive as a couple hundred dollar or as costly as few thousand depending on the design intricacies and the level of functionality. You need to be certain that the contending companies all have a clear understanding your requirements, a proven track record in producing great web design interfaces and the experience necessary to develop and support final website. Assuming this is the case, you are now in a position to compare the quotations based on price, weighing up each contender in accordance with value.