How to choose your web designer
A few years ago the web looked very different. There was little in the way of dynamic content, except a bit of Flash aniamtion, that most people steered clear of due to the drain on bandwidth. Back then, quality of design was a side issue.
Nowadays, things are a lot different ? we are in the web 2.0 era, and rapidly approaching web 3.0. Since web designing is quite a profitable business, it was inevitable for so-called designers to appear everywhere. Thanks to already-built designs and how-to guides, almost anybody that knows what web design is, can make a website . The problem appears when we discuss quality.
You need a web designer because you want a professional website built for your website. And this means opting for established designers, rather than those who are still learning. (Granted there are many talented new guys learning the craft, but you need to think carefully before becoming one of their “test projects” - your business is important to you after all). You must ensure they deliver the basics of web design - a user friendly, visually appealling website that loads very quickly.
The same thing goes with usability - if they find it hard to find the things they are looking for, they will leave sooner than you think. Therefore, a professional web designer that understands your needs is almost imperative. Do not search for the cheapest one on the market, because it will surely not make it worth your while. Now, there are some things you should look for when searching for the perfect web designer for your business, and I detail them carefully below:
* Is he open minded? Your designer should listen to your opinions and requirements - after all you know your business better than anyone. He should be able to take what you know about your business and customers and mould it with what he knows about web design. See if he listens and and asks the right questions, rather than trying to impose a solution on you. The desired result is a fusion of ideas to produce a remarkable website, rather than a “cookie cutter” solution.
* Good and fast - No matter how long the prohject is, you should always make sure progress is being made towards the end of the project. Ask him to complete the project in stages and tell you how long each stage will take. Make sure to review each stage as you go, to make sure he is completing everything to your satisfaction.
* Is he promoting usability? As we discussed, your business needs a website that your customers find useful - it should not be glittery and flashy at the expense of usability. Make sure he understands this - if he seems to intent on selling you all the “bells and whistles” then walk away.
Finding the perfect web designer is a difficult task but should not be totally impossible, if you follow what we have discussed . Review his portfolio to see if his past works are usable and well designed, ask questions and you shouldn’t go too far wrong. If anything arises that makes you think he might not be suited to your business, then walk away and find another one.
