Introduction
If you’re thinking about hiring a web design agency, it can be difficult to know what questions to ask. There are many factors involved in finding the right one for your business needs—including price, experience level and even style. But there are some questions that every project manager or business owner should ask before making the decision of who will become their web partner. In this article, we'll explore those questions in detail so that when you hire an agency (or freelancer) your project turns out beautifully!
Do they have a portfolio?
A good design agency should have a website, but even better than that is if they can show you some of their work on their website. Having an in-depth look at the types of projects they’ve completed will help you decide whether or not this is the right agency for you.
How much time do they spend on each project?
This is important to know because it’s normal for web designers to move onto new clients after about six months or so, so if your site hasn't been built yet and it's been more than six months since your initial meeting, it could mean there's been a delay somewhere along the line.
What are their rates?
You want someone who charges fairly and gets things done in a timely manner—you don't want to get stuck paying more than what's necessary just because someone threw out an outrageous hourly rate (or worse yet, didn't give any idea whatsoever).
Are they client-focused?
If a company can't put its customers first, then it's unlikely that you will be satisfied with the end product. Asking questions about their client-focused approach will reveal whether or not they truly care about your business.
How do they work with clients?
A good web design agency will have a process in place for working with clients to develop an effective strategy and deliver a great final product. Find out what this process entails. Some things to consider:
- Do they have a collaborative approach?
- How much do they listen to you?
- How much do they share their ideas with you?
- Do they offer suggestions or solutions to problems you may have?
- Do they work closely with you to deliver what you want, not just what’s easy for them
What is their process like?
The agency you choose should be able to explain their process clearly and thoroughly, including how they get started on a project. If the agency is just one person, ask how they handle communication with clients. Also make sure that their style of communication works well for you and your team.
A good web design agency will work as a team, not as individuals working separately on different parts of the same project. It's important that everyone has access to all relevant information so they can make informed decisions about how best to proceed with each stage of development.
You should also ask about deadlines: agencies have different ways of managing them depending on their size, so it's important that you discuss this up front before signing any contracts or making any payments.
What are their rates and billing practices?
Your first, and probably most important question, is what your service provider’s billing practices look like. You want to make sure that you are not paying any hidden fees or being charged for things you don't need.
Also be sure to ask about the agency's rates. Are they reasonable? Do they have a sliding scale based on the size of your business? How often are their rates updated? Is there room for negotiation? When negotiating prices with a web design agency, it’s best practice to get everything in writing before signing anything—and that includes contracts with billing terms and payment schedules (both monthly and annually). This way there won't be any surprises later on down the line as updates are made to their website.
Do you like their style?
The style of your website is a huge part of its success. You want to make sure that the agency you hire has experience creating websites with a look and feel that matches yours, or at least complements it.
An easy way to get an idea for an agency's style is to look at their portfolio, but many agencies don't have one—or if they do, it's not very helpful. If the portfolio isn't enough (which could happen if you're looking at agencies from far away), ask some more questions about how they conceptualize sites and how much thought goes into their process:
How do you come up with your designs? Is there any strategy behind them? What kind of research do you do?
Do you prefer working within templates or building from scratch? Does this change depending on the client or project?
How large are the website projects they work on?
A company that specializes in large, complex website projects is better equipped to handle the needs of larger companies. If you are a startup or small business, however, it’s best to work with an agency that can provide your business with the support and guidance it needs at this stage.
These questions can help you find a web design agency that will truly collaborate with you to produce results.
When it comes to working with a web design agency, you should be able to find answers to these questions in their portfolio, website, and client testimonials.
Conclusion
You can find a web design agency that will work with you to create the perfect website. By asking the right questions, you'll be able to weed out agencies who aren't interested in collaborating and find those who are more focused on creating results than simply making money off of your project.
