When you’re looking to build a website for your business, choosing an agency to design it for you isn’t an easy task. There are so many people out there offering the service, that it can be tricky to know whether you’ve made the right call, or you may just feel overwhelmed by choice.
It’s best to not just go with the first agency you come across or the one that is geographically closest to you, and there are a few things you should bear in mind during the decision making process.
To make things a little bit easier for you, we thought we’d throw together a little guide to choosing a web design agency so you can feel confident in your hunt.
Check out portfolios
Let’s be honest, most web design agencies out there will claim to be the best, particularly in the area that is local to them, but the decision should be based upon your business and its specific needs, so having a look at portfolios is the first thing you should do.
It is really important to be able to see what they have done in the past and what their best work looks like, which is what they will usually be the keenest to showcase. If you are liaising with an agency and they don’t have a portfolio to offer you then they probably aren’t worth working with.
Try to figure out whether they have experience with building the type of site you require, too, as some agencies specialise in just one area. Liquid Bubble are a full service digital and print agency and their portfolio is split into categories and sectors, which is really helpful.
It is also a good idea to take a look at the standard of their own website. If it is very basic or only a holding page then they may be one to swerve.
Think about your brief before you start hunting
It’s a good idea to get your brief together before you even reach out to anybody so that you know exactly what it is you require from an agency.
It’s a good idea to keep in mind exactly how you require the agency to help you, and how you will measure their success when it comes to your finished website. You’ll also want to figure out what your budget is, and whether it is a simple job or whether it is going to be a huge project.
Bring all of these points up when you first contact any agencies so that you can be sure you’re both on the same page and you aren’t wasting any time. If you struggle to write project briefs, take a look at this website for help with the process.
Check references
Whenever you are looking for somebody to carry out work for you, it is important to seek out references. Whether that’s hiring somebody in-house, or working with an agency, it is still necessary to make sure that they check out.
If an agency is reputable they should have at least five references for you to check and if you feel like you need more, don’t be afraid to ask.
If you’re not sure why this is so important, this article from Total Jobs explains why references are so vital.