As custodian of your company’s core digital footprint, your website designer should be more of a partner than an order-taker (especially if you’re not experienced in web design and development yourself). When it comes to a website project, you want to know that the Website Designer you choose is going to take you closer to your ultimate vision. To be sure that you’re working with the right person, there are some key considerations to go through.
This is both from the viewpoint of the website designer and your business. Bear in mind that it’s common for clients and service providers to experience some degree of communication misalignment, meaning that when briefs are provided it’s often not clear enough what the expectation is. It’s important to ask the right questions when you work with service providers, especially creatives like Website Designers.
Communication is key. Without it, the result will cost a lot of time and money and, most likely, end up not being the result that you were looking for in the first place. Here are five points to raise with your next potential website designer:
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Ask to see your website designer’s portfolio
When you are looking for a website designer, it’s important to view their portfolio. The purpose of a portfolio is to showcase the designer’s style and range of expertise. When asking to see the client portfolio of work, know that you can ask about when it was last updated and if there are any other specific projects not included in the showcase.
Some of these examples could be relevant to the type of website design work that you are looking for. The website designer or developer may not always have further examples of their work, but listen carefully to whether they stop at having nothing further to share or if they offer further ideas and insight which could be applied. When you look through their website design portfolio, ask them to guide you through the development and progression of each assignment.
This will allow you into the mind and rationale of the website designer/developer so you can assess if their approach is aligned with the way your business should function.
Ask the Web Designer to Describe Your Brand
Your branding is a vital part of your business. It’s how customers identify you and identify with you. It’s like leaving breadcrumbs and clues to your company’s personality, all over the channels where you appear.
Make sure that the website designer understands your brand and who you are. Ask them whether they recognise the representation that you want to promote. It’s important that you (the client) and the website designer are on the same page in this regard.
A good description of your brand, by the website designer, will include:
- Including your values
- Picking up on your aspiration and vision
- Translating those things into visual elements and a website layout successfully
Ask Them about How They Collaborate
When it comes to the design process, it’s important to make sure that you and your website designer work as a team. As the client, you can ask the website designer how they feel about collaborating (with your team) and how they are able to handle feedback.
Working with someone shouldn’t create more challenges than you had at the start of your working relationship. Ask about:
- How their quoting, invoicing and payment systems and timelines work
- How many revisions come with their standard fee
- What communication channels they use.
Ask About Their Strengths and Preferences
This lets you know which kinds of website design projects and tasks to hand over to the new website designer. Seek to understand the priorities and motivations of who you’ll work with so you can run a business that plays and wins by activating people’s strengths and preferences.
Website Positioning: Get What You Pay For
Every website designer and/or developer offers a different value proposition, and thus a different avenue through which to position your business (or your clients’ businesses if you’re running an agency). You shouldn’t be paying top dollar for a shoddy workflow and poor quality deliverables. Make sure that you ask your provider where they position themselves and their work on the dual spectrum of quality and price.
You do this so that you can hold appropriate levels of expectation. You shouldn’t expect high-end websites from someone who has no experience. You should be more patient with someone who works on a specific project for the very first time.
Be decisive
When asking these questions, you will be able to gain the insight that you need, into the workflow and motivations of the web designer. Provide them with the necessary information they need, too. Don’t be afraid of proposing a pilot website project, a test of sorts, to see how well you both work together before moving any further.
Peige 360 offers website design, development and digital marketing services for small businesses in need. Enquire now by completing our contact form if you’d like to book a free consultation with one of our friendly champions.
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