What to look for in a web design company
Choosing who builds your website is a big call. Here's a checklist to help you choose well.
Picking a web design company is an important decision, and it can feel like a tricky one if you haven't done it before. Here's how to go about it, whoever you end up choosing.
Know your goals and your budget
Before you start looking, write down what the site needs to do: the pages, the features, and what success looks like for your business. Then set a budget, or at least a range. It helps every company you talk to pitch the right solution, and it saves everyone's time.
Look at their work
Go through their portfolio. Do the sites look good, work well on a phone, and feel easy to use? Have they built something similar to what you need, or worked in your industry? You can see a selection of the sites we've built on our portfolio page.
Read what their clients say
Testimonials and reviews tell you how a company is to deal with: whether they communicate well, meet deadlines and do what they say they will.
Check what's included
Some companies only design. Others also handle development, hosting, domains, search optimisation and ongoing support. Work out what you need and whether one team can cover it, or whether you'll be juggling several suppliers.
Notice how they communicate
How quickly do they reply to your first enquiry? Do they answer your questions clearly and actually listen? The way a company talks to you before you sign up is a good guide to how the project will go.
Get proposals, and compare them properly
Ask a few companies for a proposal and compare what's included, the timeline and the price. Be wary of quotes that look too good to be true, because something usually gets left out. Sharing your budget helps here too: what we'd recommend for a small starter site is very different from a large online store.
Ask about life after launch
A website needs updates, backups and the odd change long after it goes live. Ask what support is available once the site is finished, and what it costs.
Make sure you get on
You'll be working closely together, so it helps if their way of working suits yours. A good fit makes the whole project easier.
When you're ready to talk about your project, get in touch. We'll give you a straight answer and a fixed price.