10 Questions to ask when searching for a web design agency
If you’re in the market for a new website or a website redesign/upgrade, finding a suitable web design agency can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task. A simple search will return an endless list of website agencies that seem to fill the criteria but how can you be sure they are up to the task of designing and building your new website.
Your new website will most likely be the first point of contact your potential customers will have with your company, your brand, your product/service. That is why it is essential you ask the right questions during your selection process to make sure you choose the right agency for you. You need to find an agency that understands your vision and have the capability to design and build the website and create the user experience that your customers require.
To help you get started, we have put together a list of 10 essential questions that you should ask before appointing an agency.
#1 – Can you design and build a website that fits my budget?
Asking how much a website costs is a little like asking how much a house will cost. The budget required to build your unique website will depend on the requirements and functionality of the end product. So, it is important that you have a budget in mind before approaching a web design agency.
Don’t be afraid to disclose your budget with the agency. It doesn’t have to be your absolute budget, but it can be a range within which you are happy to work. The web design agency will be able to advise you if it is possible to achieve all your requirements while staying within your budget.
Don’t forget, you will also need to budget for ongoing annual fees for domain registration, website hosting, website maintenance etc…
#2 – Do you design and build websites in‑house or do you outsource part/all of the project?
Just because a web design agency lists web design and development as one of their services, doesn’t mean that they actually have the qualified staff in‑house to complete the project. While outsourcing part or all of a project can work, it can also lead to communication problems, project delays and additional costs. It is essential that you know if any part of your project is outsourced and to whom, so you can research that supplier too – to be sure that you would be happy to have them working on your project.
#3 – How long will it take to design and build my new website?
The time it will take to design and build your website will depend of the scope, complexity and requirements of your website. Based on a proper understanding of the needs of your website, a web design agency should be able to give you a timeframe for the design and build of your website. While delays can happen, this timeframe must fit your needs.
Often the element that causes the longest delay in building a website is the actual content, so remember to discuss your content needs with your web design agency at the earliest stage. If you don’t have any content yet, then you need to allow additional time for copywriting, photography, videography, illustration, etc…
#4 – Do you build custom websites or do you use off‑the‑shelf templates?
It is important to know how your website will be developed because not all methods are equal. An off‑the‑shelf template may be cheaper, but thousands of other websites may also be using the same template too. And making changes to a template in the future may add significant unexpected costs. A truly custom designed and custom coded website that suit your needs will mean that your website will exactly suit your requirements and help you stand out from the crowd.
You also need to know if your website will be built using a Content Management System (CMS)? A CMS will allow you to make changes to your website without requiring any coding knowledge. But not all CMSs are made equal, some require an annual license, and some are custom‑built by the design agency (meaning you will be stuck with that agency for the life of your website). An Open Source CMS offers you the best option – it’s free to use, it’s secure and it uses the most commonly used coding languages.
#5 – Do you follow SEO best practices when building the website?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a critical part of any website build. SEO helps your site rank higher on Google/Bing and other search engines. When asking a web design agency this question, if they don’t have a detailed response, then look elsewhere. SEO is something that must be part of your website design/build process from the very start. Adding it in at a later stage can be a very costly exercise.
And remember, SEO is a never‑ending project. Once the website is built, your SEO should be managed and maintained on an ongoing basis to achieve the best possible chance of ranking highly in search results. If you are not comfortable about managing the SEO yourself, ask the design agency what it would cost have them do it for you.
Beware of any company that claims that they can get you to #1 on Google in a very short space of time – they can’t. If that was possible, we would all be #1 on Google!
#6 – Will my website be secure?
Security is an essential element of any website. There is an endless number of hackers out there who would just love to hack your website or infect it with viruses. A properly build website using a properly maintained CMS and webserver with routine back‑ups (off‑site) and an SSL certificate will ensure ongoing performance for your website.
Also, make sure you ask where your website will be hosted – you need to know its physical location. With GDPR, it’s best to host your website within the EU or even better, support local business, and host it in Ireland. Don’t forget, due to Brexit, the UK is no longer a suitable place to host your Irish website.
#7 – Will my website be responsive, and will it comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?
A responsive website means your website will seamlessly work on all devices from a mobile phone to a large desktop computer. This is essential as over 50% of your website visitors will most likely be using a mobile phone. If a web design agency cannot build a responsive website, then look somewhere else.
An issue that is sometimes overlooked is accessibility. Around 13.5% of the population in Ireland (15% of the global population) has some form of disability (hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive impairments). Apart from the fact that your website should be accessible by everyone, compliance with WCAG guidelines will also improve your SEO ranking.
#8 – What about maintenance after the website is built?
Once the website is built, the CMS and the hosting server software needs to be regularly maintained with all security patches applied and tested for compatibility. Web design agencies will have different opinions on who manages this responsibility. If you are not comfortable to maintain your website software, then make sure your web design agency can look after it for you. Don't forget to ask them what the annual cost for maintenance is.
#9 – Can I make updates to my own website?
You should be able to add/remove/edit content on your own website without requiring any coding knowledge. You should be able to make changes whenever you want. It should be a very simple process or in time you will stop making changes. If you need to rely on a web design agency to make changes for you each time, it can lead to delays and frustration. It may also be costly in the long run.
Remember, your website should be updated regularly as your Google/Bing ranking will improve if you regularly update your website with new relevant content.
#10 – What do you need from me to start my website design project?
This may seem like an obvious question, but you need to know up‑front what are the assets you will need to provide for the website design process to start. These assets may include logo, brand guidelines, website content, photographs, illustrations, etc… If you don’t have some or all of the required assets, you need to decide who will be responsible for providing them. If you decide that the web design agency will provide them for you, make sure to ask for a detailed cost for each before they start.
Are you ready to ask some questions?
Determining which agency is the best equipped to build your website goes way beyond their capabilities and expertise. You need to choose a design partner that understands your vision and will best represent your brand in the final product.
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