How to Hire Your Web Site Designer
Professional Web Site Commercial Development

In 2008, everyone who wants information, promotion or automated buying or selling knows that their web site is key to achieving those goals. Internet Marketing starts with a site designed to be a marketing communications and sales powerhouse.

Whether you target other businesses (B2B) or consumers (B2C) for your products and services, whether you are a Christian ministry or a Fortune 1000 international company, your web site is the hub of your image and heart of your business communications.

Unlike other marketing strategies, your company's web site has a global reach and can be accessed online at every moment. You need a professional Web Development and Web Marketing firm that knows how to make the most of the today's internet marketing advantages.

If you want a web site, but you're not a designer or developer, how can you go about getting one? You don't have the time to learn what it takes to be a Web design guru, have a degree in online marketing, and you don't trust that your cousin, who studied computer science, has enough experience to build you a professional Web Site -- one that:
(a) puts your company in the best light,
(b) makes you irrefutable to your ideal client and
(c) is marketed for maximum profitability.

So, who should you hire to build your company's web site? With hundreds of web site designers and developers out there, ranging from individual freelancers to big web design agencies, how can you make sure you choose the right help?

Start by asking yourself the following questions:

• What kinds of information do you want on the site? How big do you think your site will be?
• Who are your users? How computer savvy are they?
• Will your site require regular updates? Would you like to make changes yourself?
• Will you be selling something through your site?
• Will you need a database to store and retrieve information?
• Do you want to utilize search engines to send interested leads to your site?
• When do you need the job done?
• What is your budget?

Those who can spot a good web designer are usually good web designers themselves. But for those who aren't designers, the choosing of a professional can be confusing because, while the bid amounts vary widely, the services look pretty much the same on paper.

Once you've compiled a list of possible Dallas Web Designers / Web development company from the sources of your choice it is time to narrow it down to the right firm.

What if some of the designers on your list are from out of town? Don't rule them out if you really like them. If you don't mind working via email and talking on the phone, you may be quite happy with your choice. There's always an advantage to meeting in person and onsite visits can be important, especially if there are problems.

There are many things to consider when reviewing your list of potential Web experts. The first, obvious thing to do is to check out their gallery of Web sites. Browse through the pages and find as much information about them as you can. Ask yourself:

• Is it easy to find information and to get back to where you started?

• Do you like the navigation system?

• Are the pages accessible (no broken links)?
  
• Are the pages and overall design consistent?
  
• Are there a contact page and site map and can they easily be found?
• Is there enough relevant information on the site (eg. details about the company including location, what they do, the people, policies, etc.)?
  
• Are things aligned properly?
  
• Is the text easy to read? Well written?
  
• Do the pages load quickly?
  
• Do links open onto the same page?
  
• Is there a portfolio you can view?
  
• Does the site make a good use of color?
  
• Are page titles appropriate and informative?

The answer to all the above questions should be yes.

Essentially, if you don't like a Web designer's site, you probably won't want them to design your site. Check their portfolio and see if the style is right for you. If you see sites that you really like, make sure the employee/s who built those sites are still employed and can work on your site. What technologies does the designer use? Will this technology work for you and your viewers? Does the team follow Web standards or are they still stuck coding sites like it's the 90s? Ideally, you want your site to work independent of the user's operating system and browser.

Has the team created sites for other businesses in your industry? If so, were they able to reflect the business properly? If yes, then this team already knows the needs of your industry and will be more the kind of expert you need than will other Web design generalists who haven't produced these particular sites.

If the site offers testimonials, read them to see what past clients had to say about the work they received. In addition to having technical skills, the designer should be continuing his/her education in order to keep up with the latest technologies and standards.

Some Dallas ad agencies want all they work they can get and thus claim to be web developers, but really are novices to this kind of design and promotion. Call and ask your designer-to-be about their experience. Your Web designer should, at the very least, be able to help you with Web design and development, Web hosting, graphics creation, database creation, Web content, maintenance and Internet marketing and promotion.

Freelance vs. the Big Web Design Firm
After you evaluate the selected sites, you may need to choose between engaging a freelancer and using a big web design company. A big web design company may appear to have a lot of credibility due to its large portfolio, many testimonials, and large collection of experts in all areas of design and development. These experts have to work together to deliver a consistent and successful package for their clients. The size of this kind of organization can make clients feel secure and confident in enlisting in their services.

Freelancers are individuals who can take on all the necessary design and development responsibilities. These kinds of providers often work very closely with others to get the job done, and such close collaboration between fewer people (or in some cases, just one person), means that consistency is easy to achieve. Working alone or in a small group can also generate more motivation and dedication to completing projects in which clients can be guaranteed satisfaction. In this type of arrangement, what you see is what you get: the professional freelancer you meet on the Web will be the Web specialist for your project, and can be held personally accountable. In contrast, in working with a larger company, in the big agency a total stranger may be assigned as your account manager once the sale goes through. Will they care enough about your success today and down the road?

While using a freelancer may be cheaper initially, can you afford the marketing communications hub of your business to be in such small hands?

Depending on the size and complexity of your site, you may feel safer going with a big agency. A larger company may be in a position to deliver bigger projects more quickly than can an individual freelancer. However, know that the "big" web site and internet marketing firms in Dallas may be simply turning around and hiring freelancers themselves to do you job. They get in on the cost savings and mark it up to you.

Boutique Web Development Agency -- the best of both worlds
A boutique web development and internet marketing agency like Covenant Designs provides the best of both worlds -- the personalized attention, the accountability, the efficiency, the stability and the quality -- all without the over-inflated price tag of a big agency that has a high internal turnover rate and has to charge you to maintain their impressive office overhead. Our "no flakes allowed" policy ensures your site remains yours and can be updated when the time comes for you to change or expand.

Pricing and Guarantees
To further refine your list of possible designers, you'll want to make note of their service rates. The prices designers put on their services can vary drastically. Our research indicates that firms with rates between $85 and $200/hour are the best. Compare rates between designers with similar levels of education, experience and talent. Like most purchases, with Web design, you tend to get what you pay for. If your project is fairly small and straightforward, freelancers may charge less than big agencies. By "small", I mean a site with a few forms and a small database.

Once you've narrowed your list, get in touch with the companies or individuals concerned, explain your project, and ask for an exact price quote. Make sure your designer can outline all costs and the work in detail for you. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask.

Make a note of the supplier's response time, too. You want to work with a firm like Covenant Designs -- who's readily available, easy to contact, accountable, on time, and who will get back to you promptly.

Last Steps: Contact and Check References
When you've narrowed your choice down to just a couple of web site designers, it's time to contact them. First, call the providers and ask questions. Are they polite on the phone? Are they good listeners? Were they helpful at all? If they are difficult to talk to and you don't like the way they treat you, it will be difficult to work with them.

Lastly, it's a good idea to meet with the designer in person and go through your project ideas. Even at this point, you are not obligated to enlist in their services unless you are perfectly confident they are the right person for the job. Covenant Designs builds web sites to exude trust in your ideal customer so the "yes process" is streamlined for your business.

It's Worth the Work!
Follow these steps and you should increase your chances of successfully finding and hiring a Web designer or developer who meets your needs and those of your project. A lot rides on your web site. Going the cheap route will likely put a short leash on its marketing effectiveness and thus starve your profits. The process of choosing a professional web site developer may seem like a lot of work, but when you're spending thousands of dollars, over many years, on your online presence, it pays to do your homework!

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