How to choose the right Web Designer
Web designers are popping up everywhere. Owning Microsoft Frontpage does not make you a web designer. However, it does let us know you aren’t a web designer. Free web design software can be found anywhere and downloaded in the time it takes to brew coffee. Just because a designer boasts about the software they use isn’t a good reason to choose that designer. A lot of my code is done old school using just notepad.
For your site to look professional, function correctly and meet search engine submission criteria you need a professional with experience. There are so many web designers out there right now, it’s nearly impossible to determine who is good and who isn’t. Anyone can grab a few templates from some free template site and create a nice portfolio. So how do you ever really know? Research, ask questions, and get them on the phone.
A good web designer will have some sort of formal education, whether it’s from taking online classes, self-study, or a taking a certification program at a local college. Some of the classes they should have under their belt are HTML and javascript – at the very minimum. There is much more to design than pasting clip art onto a page or tweaking a template. (actually, neither of those options are signs of a pro) Find out what kind of formal instruction your designer has.
Finding a designer that has the necessary skills is one thing, but finding a designer with talent is a totally different ballgame. A web designer needs to have that creative edge – which is usually a natural talent rather then something that’s learned. I know a lot about HTML, CSS, javascript, PHP, and a huge variety of software, but without my creative side I would just be some guy that knows all that stuff and couldn’t design a yard sale flyer.
Take the time to browse through the designer’s web site and portfolio. Are his or her designs something you like? Are they edgy enough for you or professional enough? Do they have a variety of styles or just the same style over and over with different colors or images? A good web designer knows what colors are right for the image you want to send out. A good designer also knows that too many “bells and whistles” are …..well, too many bells and whistles.
A good designer will be able to create fresh, interesting graphics from scratch, they won’t rely on over-used clip art and they won’t use other people’s designs.
Ok, we decided education and creativity are important, but be sure that knowledge is backed up with solid experience. Take the time to not only view the designer’s portfolio, but also drop an email to a former client or business. Ask questions like: Was the designer timely and efficient? Did they answer e-mails promptly? Did the designer make an effort to keep them up-to-date on the progress of their web site? Are they happy with their web site design and the customer service of the designer?
A web designer should listen to your thoughts and ideas about how you want your web site to look and they should ask questions and offer suggestions. The designer should also offer their thoughts as to why a certain idea might or might not work.
Ok, now we know the designer has skill and some necessary education, but are they charging too much? Web designer fees vary. A good rule of thumb is to weigh the designer’s price with the amount of experience and the quality of the web site that designer produces.
To sum up, choose your web designer with the same care as you would a building contractor for your family home. Ask about their qualifications and carefully review their work. Ask for references and then actually check the references. Remember that the design of your web site is a direct reflection of your business. Never settle for a template or generic clip art. If that’s all the designer offers then move on to another designer. Remember, the professionalism of your web site design might be the deciding factor that makes or breaks your success.
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