10 questions to ask a web design company before hiring
1. To get the most out of your website and boost business, it needs to be more than just pretty. Building it smartly is key to making more money.
Your web agency should clearly explain how they plan to help you maximize your investment. This topic is important enough to deserve its article. For practical advice, check out our top 10 tips to get better results from your website.
2. Do we talk directly to the person doing the job?
Some web design companies don’t let you speak directly to the person actually doing the work.
This is a problem for 4 reasons:
- It leads to misunderstandings (like a game of telephone). If you tell the project manager something, they might accidentally tell the web designer something else (or forget to mention it).
- It slows things down. Since you can’t talk directly to the designer, there’s more back-and-forth communication, making things take longer and causing more hassle.
- It costs more. When there’s someone in the middle passing messages, you’re paying for their time too.
- Your agency might be hiring someone else to do the work. If they won’t let you talk directly to the person doing it, they might not even work for the agency. Sometimes, it could also mean the person doing the work isn’t good at communicating, and the agency doesn’t want you to know.
3. Do you show us different design ideas?
Design can be very personal, so it’s good if your agency gives you a few different design ideas for your homepage.
We suggest they create 2 different homepage designs that look very different from each other. Then you can compare them and choose which one fits your brand best.
Once you pick a design or mix elements from both, they can make changes until it’s just right.
After you finalize the homepage and decide on the overall look, it’s fine if they only show you one design for the other pages, as long as they’re willing to make as many changes as you need.
4. How many changes can we make before the website goes live?
The answer should be “as many as you need”.
Think about this:
You’re not completely happy with the work your agency did, and you want to tweak a few things.
But then they say, “You’ve already used up your revision limit, so you’ll have to pay extra.”
Does that seem fair? Of course not! You hired them to make your website perfect, so why should you pay more if they didn’t get it right the first time?
Make sure your agency lets you make as many changes as you want… or you might end up with unexpected costs!
5. What platform do you build websites on?
We suggest using WordPress for two main reasons:
- It’s extremely flexible, meaning you can create any design or feature you want. Even if your needs are basic now, WordPress can handle more complex requirements later on.
- It’s the most widely used platform by professionals. So if you ever need to switch agencies or make changes in the future, it’s much easier to do on WordPress than other platforms.
6. Do you provide hosting and maintenance services?
WordPress websites typically require ongoing fees for hosting and maintenance.
Hosting is what keeps your website live on the internet, while maintenance ensures it runs smoothly without any errors or security issues.
While not essential, it’s beneficial to have the same agency handle both design and maintenance. They are already familiar with your website’s specific details, reducing the risk of oversight.
Additionally, hosting your website with the same agency streamlines updates and issue resolution, as they have direct access to their servers.
7. Do we own our website entirely and can we edit it easily?
Many agencies unfairly tie their clients to ongoing hosting and maintenance fees.
In such cases, if you’re dissatisfied with their service, you can’t take your website elsewhere because it belongs to them.
The agreement should clearly state that the website is yours and can be transferred to another provider at any time.
Furthermore, ensure the website is user-friendly for edits. You should be able to add blog posts, edit text, change images, etc., without technical expertise. Professionals should only be needed for major redesigns or complex features.
8. Are you an independent freelancer or part of an agency?
For those on a tight budget, hiring a freelancer is a smart choice. Freelancers often have lower prices due to fewer overhead costs.
However, if your budget allows (typically above $10,000), opting for an agency offers several advantages:
- They offer stability. Agencies tend to be more enduring than freelancers and have reliable systems, crucial for ongoing hosting and maintenance.
- They provide diverse expertise. While freelancers work alone, agencies have multiple team members offering insights and suggestions, enhancing the quality of your project.
- They offer complementary services. Agencies often provide additional services like copywriting, video production, and SEO, boosting your website’s effectiveness and overall value.
9. Do you rely on templates?
Your website should be uniquely tailored to your needs, offering full customization and original design.
Ensure that the agency you choose doesn’t limit your website’s potential by relying on templates.
10. Do you provide additional services?
Web design and development often intersect with other essential services like branding, copywriting, and SEO.
While you could hire separate agencies for each, consolidating services under one provider is typically more efficient. It saves time, reduces costs, and ensures a cohesive product with a unified strategy.