Choosing a Web Designer Demystified

Selecting a Web designer is a key task in the marketing of your business, whether you're just starting a new company and have a pressing need for a strong Web presence, or remaking the site your 13 year-old niece made you years ago.

The task of finding a Web designer can seem daunting given how many there are to choose from. To make the decision easier here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Does the Web designer's site feature samples of past work and is their role in these sites' creation clearly described? Is a strong sense of creativity and originality evident in their work? Your Web presence should be a unique reflection of your company, instead of looking like everyone else's site.
2. Do their promises seem too good to be true? Do they insist your site will be ranked first in Google for your top keywords within a week of its launch? Do they insist they'll do everything for you... for virtually nothing? Be weary of designers who make claims they can't live up to.
3. Can you understand them? If you can't decipher the jargon your Web designer tosses around, you won't be able to communicate with them very effectively. A good designer speaks and writes in plain English and clarifies any terms you may be unfamiliar with.
4. Are they professional? Do they return calls and reply to emails promptly? Provide a clear written estimate? Guide you through every step of the Web development process?
5. Do they test your site on several platforms and browsers? Some designers assume everyone who visits your site will be on a PC using the latest version of Internet Explorer. Good designers realize that Mac users and those using other Web browsers also deserve to see your site properly.
6. Do they recognize the importance of search engine optimization? A good designer keeps search engines in mind when developing a site and always tries to ensure that your site will be found by those looking for it.
7. Are they in love with fancy technology? Are they enamoured of Flash animation? Smitten with scrolling Java headlines that take forever to load? A good designer uses a given tool only when it's the best possible way to achieve what you need, not because it happens to be their favourite toy.
8. Do they listen to you? Are they open to your suggestions or do they already seem to have their mind made up about what your site should look like and how it should work?
9. Is the price fair? Keep in mind that a high-quality site is an investment that will pay for itself many times over in sales, while a poorly crafted site will drive away potential customers. A cheap site may seem like a bargain at first but in the long run will cause more damage than it's worth.
10. Do they care? A good designer will go beyond your expectations to make sure you're completely satisfied with your Web site. If you get the sense that the designer you're considering churns out Web sites like sausages, move on to the next one - your ideal Web designer is out there somewhere, it's just a matter of time before you find them.

To learn how Zoonini Web Services can create a strong and unique Web presence for your company, contact Kathryn Presner at 1-888-488-7067, by email, or use the form on the contact page.