Choosing a website design company is an important decision. Your website represents your business online, and the quality of the design, functionality and ongoing support can affect how customers perceive and interact with your business.
With agencies, freelancers and DIY website platforms all available, how do you choose the right option?
Here are the key things to consider.
1. Look beyond how attractive their websites look
Visual design matters, but a professional website should also be easy to navigate, communicate your services clearly and make it simple for visitors to take action.
When reviewing a designer’s portfolio, consider whether the websites:
- Work well on mobile devices.
- Clearly explain the businesses’ services.
- Make contact details easy to find.
- Load reliably and provide a good user experience.
- Appear suited to the needs of each business.
A website should look good and serve a practical purpose.
2. Choose a company that understands your business goals
Before recommending a design, a good website provider should ask questions about your business, customers, competitors and objectives.
Are you trying to generate more enquiries, sell products online, accept bookings, establish credibility or support an online marketing campaign?
The answers should influence the website’s structure, content, functionality and design.
3. Ask what is included in the quote
Website quotes can vary considerably, so compare the scope of work rather than looking only at the final price.
Check whether the quote includes:
- Website planning and design.
- Website development and responsive layouts.
- Page structure and navigation.
- Content migration or copywriting assistance.
- Basic on-site SEO setup.
- Contact forms and required integrations.
- Testing and launch.
- Training or instructions for managing content.
- Hosting, maintenance and ongoing support, if required.
Ask about additional charges for changes, new functionality, third-party software and ongoing services.
4. Understand who owns the website
Before proceeding, clarify ownership and access arrangements.
You should understand who owns or controls the domain name, hosting account, website files, content, licences and administrative accounts.
Where possible, your business should retain appropriate ownership and administrative access, with clear arrangements for any third-party software or subscriptions.
This can make future changes, migrations and provider transitions much easier.
5. Ask about SEO and website performance
A website needs to be accessible, usable and structured in a way that supports search visibility.
Ask how the provider handles mobile usability, page speed, metadata, page headings, redirects where relevant, analytics and conversion tracking.
A new website does not guarantee first-page Google rankings, so be cautious of promises that sound too good to be true.
If SEO is important to your business, clarify what is included in the website project and what would require an ongoing SEO service.
6. Find out what happens after launch
Websites require ongoing attention. Software updates, backups, security, hosting, troubleshooting and content changes may all need to be managed after launch.
Ask whether the provider offers ongoing maintenance and support, what it costs, how support requests are handled and what happens if you decide to use another provider.
A clear post-launch arrangement can help prevent unexpected problems.
7. Understand the process and timeline
Ask how the project will be managed, what information you need to supply, how feedback is collected and how many rounds of revisions are included.
You should also understand the expected timeline and what could delay the project, such as missing content, approvals or third-party integrations.
Clear expectations help keep the project moving.
8. Compare value, not just price
A cheaper quote may exclude important services, while a more expensive quote may include features your business doesn’t need.
Consider the total cost, quality of work, support arrangements, suitability of the proposed solution and the provider’s ability to meet your requirements.
The right website company should be able to explain its recommendations clearly and help you make an informed decision.
Why choose Quikclicks?
Quikclicks works with businesses to create custom websites aligned with their goals, services and customers.
From planning and design through to launch and ongoing management, we can help you understand the available options and build a website that supports your business.
Looking for a website design partner? Contact Quikclicks to discuss your requirements and find out how we can help.
