10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Design Agency
Your business website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business – so you need to get it right. That’s why when you’re looking to hire a web design agency it’s essential you find one that’s the perfect fit for you.
But how?
Here are 10 key questions to ask before making this very important decision!
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How long have you been in the web design business?
No matter how much flair or passion for design an agency or individual designer has, you need to be confident they have the experience to make the process a smooth one from start to finish. If the business is a new one, ask about the experience designers or developers have from previous jobs / employment.
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Does your in-house team do all the development?
An agency that outsources development is not necessarily an issue, but it’s good to know who is doing the work. After all, some agencies will specialise in design, others in development. One thing to ensure is that whichever agency you choose will project manage the build from start to finish.
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Can I see examples of your work?
An agency telling you they create beautifully designed websites is one thing, but can they show you?
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What services are included in your packages?
It’s good to know in advance what else the agency offers beside basic web development, and it means you won’t have to go elsewhere for those finishing touches. For example, do they offer SEO, copywriting, marketing strategy?
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Do you have experience in our industry?
Having experience in your particular niche is a bonus, because they’ll understand more the complexities and challenges your business might face.
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What technical aftercare do you offer?
This is such an important question to ask – what happens once your website is finished if you have any technical issues or queries? It’s normal to need the odd tweak or two once your site goes live, and you need to be confident you’ve got the right support.
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How can I make updates to the website?
Again, once your site is up and running you’re going to want to update certain things, like content for example, without having to ask the design agency first.
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Will the finished website be based on a template?
Your business website should be unique to you, not a duplicate of countless other websites! That’s why you need to look for an agency that offers custom design, not just carbon copy templates.
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How does your pricing work?
It’s not just how much you’re going to pay you need to understand, it’s whether you’re looking at a fixed price that includes everything, or will you be billed extra for certain elements?
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How long will the process take?
While no agency or designer will be able to give you an exact timeline, they should have understanding of your needs and the experience to give you an estimated timeline. You need to go into any project with an expectation of turnaround time, particularly if you know you’re on a tight timescale.
While these questions to ask before hiring a web design agency are by no means an exhaustive list, we hope they’ve given you an idea of what you need to know. And don’t forget, if you don’t like any of the answers you get, move on to the next agency!