As a business owner, you would surely know your products and services, but your area of expertise may not be in marketing, branding, or sales. So, get this information out in the world and in front of people, then you need a website for your company/business. You may also not be an expert in web design. So, why don’t you just hire a web designer who can tackle that part of the business for you? As website designing is not a piece of cake. The thing is, websites are essential for any business and very important because they define who you are, your online identity, and it is also the first place where potential customers come looking for you. You cannot afford a business website that is ill-planned, messy, and confusing, which will serve no purpose to inform, educate, and entertain your potential consumers.
A good website can build credibility, brand value, and boost your business in no time. If you are planning to build a new website or revamp an existing one, you will have to take the help of an experienced web designer or design agency. But choosing one is not that easy, especially if you are not very sure of the aspects that are rather technical.
Here are five things that you must keep in mind while hiring a web designer for your needs.
1. Qualification
First things first, before hiring, you need to consider if they are even a certified web designer, i.e., many young people know what they are doing but are not affiliated with any agency. So, beware of them. Now, all freelancers, as well as design agencies and web designers, maintain online portfolios that can be easily accessed and used by potential customers to see their work. You need to choose a designer who has the knowledge and experience in the specific area you want to focus on. Furthermore, you need to always go with designers who are passionate about this line of work. Your designer should definitely be able to build a business website that is customer-centric as well as user-friendly.
2. Experience
The second most important thing to consider before hiring a web designer is to look for experience. By experience, I mean the person should have a strong track record of success as a web designer. Good technical knowledge is also essential to become a qualified website designer. A thorough knowledge of graphic software like Adobe Photoshop, etc, is helpful when you need an aesthetic and alluring website design. Experience does matter as web designers should know what they are doing and what they are getting themselves into. You need to figure out if they have been successful with similar projects in the past for their former clients.
3. Functionality
Functionality is extremely important. It starts and ends with good design. Why do you think high-quality websites tend to have high-quality conversion rates? That’s because of the great design of the website that gets people talking. We live in an era of technology, so in today’s world, where everyone boasts and brags about their ability to build great websites, but a very few people actually tend to do. Not everyone knows the principles of good design or how to try to achieve it. I think a good website is a living and breathing website. That happens when people see your website, and that requires a marketing campaign, and this is where the social media magic gets in. Once your website is ready and working, your sales will shoot through the skies.
4. Connectivity
You need to consider this before hiring a web designer, as you need to be able to communicate with the designer. When outsourcing work, you need to make sure that you check on communication skills of the designer you will eventually work with. E.g., it is important that you be able to pick up the phone and talk to your designer. You must let him/her know of your requirements, concerns, and needs beforehand. Also, if they are well aware of the newest trends and practices in the market, and that they’re also well-connected. You would want to hire a designer who would understand the latest practices, trends, and developments within their area of expertise. A great designer will use multiple platforms to be aware of the knowledge and use it to stay on top of their game. They will surely make you a site that you have always dreamt about.
5. Commitment
The important thing to consider in a designer is his/her level of commitment to a project. Successful designers will be in demand in the market. With knowledge and experience, it is also important that the designer has good copywriting skills, as they are a valuable bonus. If the designer has good marketing skills and can also write a great copy, then it will ensure that your website will be blessed with good brand management and brand potential. So, you need to ensure you set up expectations with the designer in the beginning for their commitment to your project, and also you need to ensure that the project will be successfully completed on time. Also, you need to make sure that they have committed virtual clients and will deliver quality work even on tight deadlines.
To find and hire the perfect web designer, you need to consider these four essential things and cross them off one by one. By the end of it, you will definitely have your web designer who will enable you to reap the rewards of a quality website for years to come. The thing is, the more effort you put into thinking things through, getting clear about your business plan and goals, the more likely you are to get a return on your web design investment. Basically, the more you are involved in the process, the better it will be.
