“Are you worth it?” Things to consider when picking a website design and development firm

It’s a fair question, especially if you are new to the online world, and you are getting pulled in different directions. There are lots of considerations in both design and strategy to consider, and I’ll attempt to provide some “food for thought” with this post. I’ve tried to keep this post condensed, but it’s a bit long.

On the design side

Is the design team listening to you? This is maybe the most important part. Every business or organization is unique in terms of the services they offer, their target audience, the ways that they like to do business.

Every design team worth their salt tries to stay current with industry “best practices” such as web standards and ADA Compliance. As designers, we know the online world pretty well, but YOU know your business and your customers better than anyone. It’s our job to guide you with the pros and cons of different online strategies and techniques, but that process begins with listening.

Is the design team cutting the cost by selling you a template, instead of a custom design? Run. Run like hell. This is no place for a “one size fits all” strategy, and in the end, this route generally leads to disappointing results. A good and effective website design isn’t as arbitrary as you might first believe. The design should deliberately be born out of strategy and message, with an eye for who your audience is, and what they want to do at your site.

Does the design team encourage your participation? In the software development world, there are some excellent shops such as BlueSpire Consulting and Hashrocket that are huge proponents of something called “Agile Development”. This design process really encourages client participation “early and often” in terms of feedback and participation. That level of human interaction leads to a better product in the end, and it’s something that applies every bit as much to website design as it does to software development.

Looking through the portfolio, is there evidence of craftsmanship, and attention to detail? Craftsmanship and design are vital on the web to grabbing attention, engaging users, and developing trust in the online world.

How easy will the site be to use? Does the design team primarily design from the perspective of the user? The goal here is to make any interactive project intuitive and easy for the user to use.

Behind the scenes

Is the site built with a Content Management System? In order for your website to be effective, the information on it should be easy to change by you or your staff. The site will cost a little more upfront, but then you have a site that’s worlds more valuable over time if it’s easy for you to make changes yourself. The Content Management Systems have come along way over the years, so that it’s much easier to add more features to your website by using a CMS than without it, and without any sacrifice to the design.

Is the site built with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in mind? Or, put another way, what’s so great about having the best online store on the web, if nobody knows it’s there? Good on-site search engine optimization should be built in to the foundation of the new site, as opposed to an after thought. More on SEO in a future post, perhaps.

The site is live! Now what? You should have the sense that the design team you select can partner with you for the long term. Care, feed and maintenance of the website, but just as important, do you have a marketing strategy for driving customers to your site, and taking excellent care of them once you have them engaged?

I hope this helps give you some points to consider when thinking about a design overhaul of your site, or perhaps a more purposeful strategy. If you have any questions or thoughts, I’ll certainly do my best to help. Drop me a line.

Darren Allen leads a very talented group of designers, as they create compelling interactive design for our customers. Darren loves the space where great design and business strategy meet. Where our customers enjoy greater success because the message, the branding, and the online strategy are all working together with clarity and focus. When he isn't pushing pixels, or helping with an online marketing campaign, Darren enjoys cycling, running and kayaking in and around the great outdoor spaces of Florida, or spending time with his super-cool family.