20 October 2011
Changing your website, whether refreshing an existing or commissioning a completely new one, has the potential to become an expensive, time consuming and frustrating experience. However, with solid planning and thought you can expect the process to be simple, enjoyable and a valuable investment of your time and money.

It’s worth remembering that a website should improve, not hinder your business and be something which plays a vital role in the business, not just to have for the sake of it.
It needs to work hard for you and be an intrinsic part of your business and overall marketing strategy.

The Wrong Way to buy a Website
• Ring an agency without thinking about what you want
• Requesting a quote without meeting the agency
• Keeping the budget a big secret
• Pick the cheapest
• Provide little or no content
• Not get involved in the overall process
• Expect miracles and overnight transformations

This approach represents how many people buy a website.
The whole idea is to discuss how the site can improve your business. This allows the agency to contribute ideas and concepts which you may not have previously thought of and may result in a better solution to solving your problems and achieving your goals. You know your business but agencies know the capabilities of web design, so don’t miss out on benefitting from this knowledge and experience.

The Right Way to buy a Website.
Engage with the agencies at an early stage. This approach means that fewer suppliers will be involved, but those that are will be able to help on a deeper level. The agency must thoroughly understand your business and the customers you serve in order to develop a concept and provide a great user experience. Work with the agency to plan how the website can improve your business and make it more efficient.
For example, your goal may be to provide a simple and obvious way of contacting your company or to use your site as an administration time-saver e.g. handling payments or automating processes online.
Regardless of the type and size of website, it will still have a key purpose and a design agency will develop an interactive approach to help your business to fulfill its web potential.

More time spent working closely with the agency on the initial brief will result in a more accurate cost and a greater understanding of what is required. More importantly, it will give you an insight into how the agency operates and don’t forget that you’ve got to work with them so it’s important to enjoy the time spent and to develop complete trust in their abilities.

Be sure that before the project starts, you feel the selected agency understands your business, is clear what is required and that they will add real value.