2 January 2009
Make sure the design company you choose use web standards. By making sure the design company are developing and designing in this way you can ensure the best usability and accessibility on your website.

2 January 2009
I would suggest initially browsing the web and searching for web designers that are close to you. Have a look through their portfolio and shortlist the companies that you like the designs they've made so far.

Then contact that shortlist either by phone or email to see what their initial response is like. Arrange a meeting with as many of them as possible so that you can meet them and get a feel for what they are like. You'll soon find out which company you would like to work with.

Above all, I would suggest that you work with a company who is local enough to you so that you can meet with them. It's far easier to discuss ideas and convey messages in person than it is over email or the phone.

Finally, look at your website as an investment, not an expense. If you try and save money on this aspect of your marketing by purchasing a website for

2 January 2009
Firstly have a look at their portfolio, make sure their design taste is inline with yours!

Secondly ask them is they code in compliance with the W3C and ask for proof. A site that is W3C compliant is cleaner and a lot easier to upgrade when your business evolves.

Don't jump in, have a few meeting either over the phone or in person make sure you like their character.

Ask your self do they want to help you or line their pockets? If it's the latter you'll only get what you pay for.

Results

3 January 2009
Another thing to consider is when and what your paying for, most good web designers out there are happy to consult and give advice for free.
The golden rule in my book is to engage in a full conversation with them and if they feel like the right company for you then they may well be, if something worries you at any stage, address the concern before proceeding.

3 January 2009
Hi Emma,

All the answers you have been given are excellent advice. I would add that you might want to ask your developer about any costs associated with Content Management Systems, (CMS). There are different schools of thought out there concerning CMS, however any good developer will make sure that you have the tools available to you that you need and will not try to gouge you for them. Additionally, there are many unscrupulous developers out there who think they are lawyers and they love to charge you for speaking with you on the phone after you are a client, make sure this is not the case with your prospective developer(s).

Essentially, if your developer would like to create a long-term relationship with you, with your best interests in mind, they will develop a system for you that will not keep you dependent on them for changes. If you would rather they make the changes, please expect to be charged for them, however if you would like easy access without having to learn File Transfer Protocol, (FTP) programs, make sure they can deliver that.

I would like to make a comment about local companies... sometimes your local area will not be able to provide the services you need, so if after you look and you find that you are not comfortable with the local options, feel free to look out of your area. I strongly agree with the comments above that you should engage in a full conversation with any prospective developer and if they can't explain what they are going to do for you in a way that you can easily understand it... move on to a different developer!

Finally, I would tell you that although your project is something that you would like to have completed as soon as possible, but don't sacrifice speed for quality. Your developer should have a portfolio, but also their clients should be willing to add some feedback, make sure to ask about speaking with their clientele.

There is a lot to consider, and as with anything you are investing in, feel free to poke, prod and "test drive" before you make a purchase.

Best wishes,
Mark Cloyd

5 January 2009
best advice... go visit them at their office/studio... a face to face visit (armed with some of the questions already given to you) will be very beneficial to you. A good legit company should be keen for you to meet, and you'll both get much more from this than am exchange of emails.

6 January 2009
Hi Emma

Try to have a good idea first of what you want from your website - this will then give you a benchmark to look for.

Next check out some local web designers - although you don't have to stay local, it is easier to communicate ideas and knowledge face-to-face. Have a look through their portfolio and see if you like the style of their designs - does it match what you're looking for, have they done any similar sites to what you need (in terms of size, function, style). Also check that they do conform to 'web standards' - you might see mention of HTML, CSS, and accessibility compliance.

Once you've found a couple you like, try and set up a consultation meeting - this should be free, and will give you the chance to explain what you want, and give them the chance to make suggestions and show you what they can do. You should get a good feel in this meeting whether you are comfortable working with them - do they listen to your ideas, and make pro-active, useful suggestions, or conversely do they try to railroad you into something you don't really want?! You should also be able to get some fixed costs at this point - and don't necessarily go for the cheapest. Look at the cost as an investment - you need to develop a positive working relationship with these people.

Finally, the most usual complaints I hear, when people switch from other agencies, is that they were difficult to get hold of once the website was built, and any updates took a long time and/or were expensive - so try to get a feel for after-sales service too.

Kind regards


Emma
Clarified Web Design

8 January 2009
Dear Emma,

Here are some suggestions for you.

1. Stories. Ask them to tell you success stories of working with different clients/companies. Who is their favorite client and why? Have they had any situations where clients have been unhappy? How did they handle those situations?

2. References. Call at least two or three people that they have worked with or are currently working with. Check the Clients, Portfolio or FAQ pages at their website. Ask three important questions:

a. Can you tell me what type of experience you

12 January 2009
Hi Emma,

Take a look around a few web sites you like. The best way to determine if you're going to be happy with a design company is if you're happy with their site and the work they've done for other clients.

You should be aware of sites that advertise themselves on having very low prices and fast turn around times. Chances are they'll be using templates or producing poor quality designs that are going to leave you disappointed.

As mentioned, companies that code in web standards are usually the ones to go for. It shows they are aware of modern web design techniques and your site is going to be 'futureproof'.

Hope this helps and best of luck,

Jordan Burnett
Purple Internet

14 January 2009
When I consult with a client I get a feel for what their business is like, the image they want to have and their target market. A design should aim for the target audience.

Next, remember that most designers charge by the hour or the page and how much flash you want. My advice for first time web owners is simplicity. Basic attractive, navigational functionality is a great start for a first site.

Professional simplicity is a good rule of thumb, sort of like the little black dress idea.

Surf for sites that you think are attractive, bookmark them and show them to the designer you choose. This will help tremendously in the design process. Search your competition's sites and see what they are doing and improve on it.

Check out the local Colleges and even high schools for referrals. They may have graduates who are in the business.

22 January 2009
Step #1

In order to choose a well-suited web design company for your specific project, you should first determine the following:

- The overall goal of the project
- The intended audience for the Web site
- The anticipated budget for the Web site
- How the project will fit into your company's marketing and business plan

Once you have clearly defined these items, put them in a document and use them as an evaluation tool against potential web design companies.
Also include in this document details about the website (as much as you have) such as: What features it needs, how many pages, what types of content need to be on the site, etc.

Step #2

Generate a list of companies. Ask for referrals from people you know in business. Search companies in your local area. Search for companies that do good work by checking who designed websites that you admire.

Step #3

Narrow down your list. Spend time looking at the portfolio's. If they have low-quality work shown, cut them. If only have 1 or 2 projects, cut them. if they are using old technologies, cut them (inquire about web standards as another person mentioned here). Look for company's with testimonials and references.

Ask them about there process for designing and developing websites. If they don't seem to have a systematized way of doing things, expect to have a unorganized and mediocre experience.

Step #4

After getting your list down to 2 - 5 companies, send them your document and ask for a proposal. Be clear about what type of proposal you want. If you want just an itemized quote, ask for that. If you want a 5-page outline of their proposed solution, ask for that.

Be sure to let them know your budget, and ask for the best solution possible within that. Then evaluate the different proposals in terms of how well they address your needs.

Also get them on the phone to discuss the project. See how they are to communicate with.

Step #5

Choose a company that has a strong portfolio, is organized, has references and is easy to communicate with.

I hope that helps.

16 February 2009
I agree with the first answer. Make sure they are advocates of web standards!

This is the latest and best way to build websites. It'll ensure your site is search engine friendly, accessible and easy to manage. Saving you time and money in the long run. Not to mention your site will be practically future proof.

This is something we specialise in. To find out more about web standards - read our article about it on our profile.

Alex

23 March 2009
The easiest and fastest way to narrow down your selection (in my own opinion) is to plan your website out in advance of looking for a designer or design company.

Get a piece of paper and roughly sketch out where you want graphics, logos, text, multimedia content, etc. and what pages you want your site to include (about, resources, contact, and so on).

This will not only give the designer your choose a basis in which to quote you on but will also give them an idea of how you want your site designed and laid out.

Lots of designers specialize in a select field (such as SEO marketing, ecommerce/shopping cart, cms, flash, template modifications and so on), so knowing ahead of time what type of website you will need based on your rough sketch, will help you narrow down the field of designers.

Most importantly, view the designers portfolio (or request to see samples of past sites designed). This will also help you narrow down your search, especially if you find a designer that has that "look and feel" you want to emphasize in your own site. If possible, contact the individuals or companies who have had their sites designed by the designer and ask for feedback on the designer - their working relationship, time/project commitment, things the company would have liked to have seen done differently, etc. Word of mouth can give you a great heads up to companies to follow and those to stay far away from!