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There are many reasons to outsource web design work, even as a web designer, web developer, or graphic designer yourself.
Perhaps you don’t have the time to do this work independently and need to outsource it. Or you may be looking to redesign your current site, but with all your other work, you just don’t have time for it. Either way, this is where an experienced web design agency comes in.
Your website is your business card. It is the first impression people have of you and your work. A quality, well-done website is an absolute must for your business, not a goal or wishlist item. Almost 39% of web users judge a business by its website. As such, it should be a tool to bring you business, and if you want to keep the customers that come across your website, it needs to be a good one.
Every business needs a website that lets people know what you do and shares your brand’s story, what services you can provide them, how much those services cost, and/or how potential clients can get in touch with you for more information or a quote. It is a way to showcase your brand as well as communicate your legitimacy. This hopefully increases your sales.
As a web designer, you know what makes a quality website. It should be quick and easy to navigate, organized, well-branded, and most importantly, attention-grabbing so a potential client will either reach out to you or, even better, purchase a product/service. A web design agency should be able to provide you with all of this (and more!).
In addition, as cellphones become the new mobile computers, a website that is mobile-friendly and also looks well on multiple browser types is becoming increasingly important.
You should keep a few things in mind as you start thinking about what you want to see on your website and who you should hire to do it. Keep reading to learn about how to find a web design agency.
There are multiple tasks to consider before searching for a web design agency, and once you have found a web design agency that can fit your needs.
As a freelancer, you know that designing websites can be costly, and features can add up quickly. A new website could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 total, with custom features only adding to that. Per hour, it doesn’t seem like much but can add up quickly. However, there are differences in pricing for overseas web design agencies vs. US companies. Outsourcing internationally is generally cheaper, at closer to $20-25/hr, compared to the US cost of up to $50/hr.
Before you start searching for a web design agency, it is wise to set a budget and stick to it. With the multitude of agencies out there, which can be overwhelming, setting a budget can help narrow down options.
Before even looking into web design agencies, you should have an idea of what design and themes you want to see on your website. It may help to create a vision board of styles and designs you find inspiring, a color palette of your brand, and examples of content and features you want displayed. It is also a good idea to keep a sample list of websites you like nearby to show the company you hire.
Web design companies can bring ideas to the table you haven’t even thought of. Still, it is good to have a general idea of what you want.
Word of mouth is a great way to find a web design agency. But if that fails, searching the Internet and using freelancing websites also works. When researching web design agencies online, keep these things in mind:
You want to see what they have done before and whether or not you like the websites a web agency has already designed. If their websites do not have the same vibe you are going for, you should probably pass. On the flip side, if you see new features that you are now interested in incorporating into your website, that agency might be good to hire.
How long have they been in business? How many customers have they had? Do they seem knowledgeable and able to do the job easily? These are all essential questions to consider before hiring a web design agency.
Some websites allow customers to send in reviews of their experience using that specific web design agency. You may also be able to find reviews on Google or on the web design agency’s website itself. Either way, it is good to research what people thought of their experience working with them.
It is helpful to see how they are to work with. Even if a web agency designs beautiful websites, if they are challenging to work with, that is a strike against them.
As mentioned before, setting a budget will really help you narrow down your web design agency options. You want to go with a designer who has reasonable prices for the packages they provide, as well as any additional add-ons. Their pricing structure is crucial, too, whether it is a standard package fee or a price/hour.
At the end of the day, you should be happy with your decision and comfortable working with whatever web design agency you choose. Requesting references, similar to looking at reviews, is another way to see their work as well as see what previous customers thought of them.
In addition, especially when using international web design companies, it is good to ask questions about language proficiency and security. Also, ask for their working hours and availability, especially for companies in a different timezone than you.
Hiring a web design agency can be overwhelming, even for a graphic or web designer themselves! Hopefully, this list will help you think about what you need to know before hiring a web design agency.
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