Choosing a Web Designer
Chances are there are hundreds of web designers in your local
area. Some will be a good fit for you and your business, some wont.
Don't - choose a designer based on your location. You can
successfully hire and work with a website designer remotely using
email, telephone and other online services for communication. I have
worked remotely for the past 9 years with clients from across the
country and world with success.
I know it may be a daunting task to try and find a web design
company online but it may be worth your effort in the end. Think of
it as looking for a new employee. You wouldn't hire just anyone to
work with your existing staff why hire just anyone that contacts you
about doing your website?
Don't - think that just because your nephew is going to
college and plays around on the computer all day that he knows what
he is doing in regards to website design. Would you hand him $20 and
ask him to build you a new house if he had no expertise or
experience? No. Leave the web design to a professional if you want
to LOOK professional. DO - Make a good first impression
with your website design. LOOK at the web designers portfolio.
Then, do a search for your industry and look at their websites. See
one you like? Most web designers will add their information at the
bottom of the homepage they have designed. If you come across a
website you like the looks of contact the web design company who
created it. DO - Ask if it is ok to contact some of
their clients for references. An established website design
company will not have a problem with you doing that.
DO - Consider how long it will take for your website to be
online. Some designers have a long waiting list of clients. Do you
want to be online in a week or a couple of months? DO - Get
your ducks in a row. Have at least a couple of paragraphs for each
page you want on your website, contact information and some idea of
what domain name you want. This will make it easier on the designer
and also show them you are committed to the project. Most of my
downtime is spent waiting on clients to send me the content, images,
pricing, etc, etc, so I can install their site. The sooner you get
your website online the sooner your business can be picked up by the
search engines to get listed.
DO - Ask if the designer will optimize your website for
listing on the search engines. Some designers fall short when it
comes to making sure your website gets recognized online. DO -
Ask what ALL the costs are. You don't want to be surprised when the
bill comes!
There are three things you need to have a website on the WWW.
A Domain Name - This is like the
address of your home. Your mail carrier recognizes it and drops your
mail off in your box every day. Same with a domain name. When
someone wants to visit your website they simply type the domain name
into the address bar of their browser and they have arrived!
Hosting Space - This is like the land
on which your house is built. Can't build a house without a plot of
ground to put it on. How big your land must be depends on how big
your house is. Same with a website. If your website is going to be
huge, you need a lot of hosting space.
A Website - This is like your
storefront or house. Each is unique from the color and design of the
exterior to the decor and layout of the interior. You want people to
feel engaged, interested and welcomed when they first see your
home... and HOMEPAGE. NOTE: The
homepage, index, starting or default page or whatever you want
to call it is what people see FIRST. This file is like the exterior
of your business or home. Make it an appealing and professional
first impression! It should also have "calls to action" These are
links on the page that people WANT to click on to get more
information, see specials, new products / services, etc.. Whatever
you would say to a potential customer or client to get them to buy
from or hire you SHOULD be the focal point of your homepage. |
