What to look for when choosing a website designer

I Need a Website Designed and Built.  What Next?

When you start out in business – or you decide to change an existing one – there is always a lot to think about.

One of the first things on the list will be to “sort out a website” and find the right website designer.  But the process of designing and building the right site for you can feel like so much of a minefield, it makes your head spin.

If you don’t have the skills to design and build a website yourself, you WILL need help from people who do.

We’ve written about this before, but we don’t recommend DIY websites for businesses that want to grow and be seen. 

There’s a certain science involved in building a high-performing website.  It’s not just about creative and compelling design, but making sure the site is properly structured behind the scenes.

However, if you don’t know what that certain science entails, how will you know what – or whom – to look for? 

It’s not as though you don’t have options.  Web design is a competitive industry, so there will be lots of different packages and prices available for you to wade through.

To help narrow down those options, here are our tips on what to look out for when choosing a website designer

Let’s start with your website’s domain name: the unique, easy-to-remember address that people will use to access your site (like google.com).

You should either check and purchase your own domain name from sites like Namecheap, or look for a designer who will do this on your behalf.  Be aware that .com domains will be more expensive than .co.uk.

Also bear in mind that in future, you may want to switch hosting providers or work with a different web design team as your business grows. So you MUST make sure that your designer agrees to transfer ownership of the domain name to you when needed. 

Establish ownership of your website.

We have heard many a horror story from clients whose previous design teams won’t give them access to their own websites! 

Your chosen design team should give you admin access to the site as and when you request it.  Their contract also shouldn’t hold you to ransom if you decide to move or change your website further down the line.

Your web-design team should be positive and willing to learn about your business.

Good ideas are fragile.  If you’ve just started a business, or you’re taking an established company in a new direction, you deserve all the support and positivity you can get.

The last thing you need is a web design team with a negative attitude, is dismissive of your questions, or who won’t listen when you tell them about your business.  So if you detect any of this, go elsewhere.  As we’ve said, it’s not like you don’t have options!

We at Northsouth Design are here when you need us.

Our website contracts are clear and unambiguous, and we’re always willing to answer questions (even the ones you might think are ‘silly’). 

While we do sometimes buy domain names on behalf of our clients, we won’t quibble if they need to be transferred – for any reason.

You can also rest assured that we’ll listen to your business plans and design a creative, high-performing website that speaks directly to them – as well as your ideal audience.

Find out more by visiting our Website Design page, or telling us more about what you’re looking for in a message.