26 May The Benefits of Working with a Web Design Company
The Benefits of Working with a Web Design Company
Whether you are running a small business or a big one, having an online presence can make or mar its success.
A high-quality and detailed website is the foundation of your digital footprint on the web.
The digital landscape is expanding rapidly.
According to the Netcraft Web Server Survey in January 2018, there were 1,805,260,010 websites in the world compared to 861,379,152 sites in January 2014.
However, less than 1 million or 0.1% websites account for over 50% of web traffic.
If you want your website to be among the few that attract most of the web traffic, it needs to be functional, professional, and user-friendly.
It should also reflect your core business values.
Unfortunately, most businesses try to build a website themselves or hire amateurs to do so.
As a result, their website fails to make a lasting impression.
The only way to create a successful website is to hire a professional web design company to build it for you.
The following benefits will explain further why hiring a professional web design consultancy is way better than taking the DIY route.
Customised Web Design
One of the most notable benefits of working with a professional web design company is the ability to provide your website with a custom look.
More often than not, taking the DIY route or using a free website builder tool means using pre-designed templates to create your site.
As a result, it will have an average look and subpar functionality that is less likely to attract more web traffic or make visitors stay on your site for long.
In other words, you are trading off a poor design for quicker and cheaper turnaround time.
Working with a professional web design company, on the other hand, allows you to create a customised site that sets it apart from the rest.
It may not be as convenient as using a free site builder tool, but it will attract more web traffic in the long run.
Having a well-designed website shows your customers how far you are willing to go to provide them with the best browsing experience.
Whether you are running a local business or an e-commerce site, this approach can go a long way in improving your credibility and conversions.
Benefit from Experience and Increased Creativity
If you have already tried, you know that building a professional looking website, especially something as complex as an online store, is not an easy task.
You need to be proficient in at least a few computer languages such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), and JavaScript (JS), among others.
You will also need to know how to use a few software applications along with juggling graphics and creative designing skills.
It is hard to find a single person that encompasses all these skills and professional experience.
However, a web designing agency has many web designers and developers on the payroll.
They are professionals with a diverse set of skills.
They also have years of work experience.
So, writing hundreds of lines of customised computer code is no challenge to them.
They are doing it every day.
Most importantly, they are experts at creating unique designs as they have probably created hundreds of them already.
Your business can benefit from this experience in the form of aesthetically-pleasing site layout and real-time technical support.
Get Access to a Wide Range of Resources
From web design tools to add-ons, professional design firms have access to various resources that an average developer do not.
Thus, they are capable of developing and designing anything, from a simple static business web page to a sophisticated e-commerce website.
Accessing all these resources one by one is not only time-consuming, but also expensive.
When you hire a professional web design company, you get one-stop access to all such resources at an affordable cost.
Owing to their resources and expertise, you can anticipate the potential obstacles before they turn into a crisis.
In addition to the technical know-how regarding web design, professional web design agencies can also help you with non-design related services such as domain purchases and registration, email configuration, website hosting, Information Technology (IT) services, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), content creators, and social media as well as digital marketing services.
In other words, you get access to all website-related services on demand.
Mobile-friendly Website
When you have the latest resources and highly skilled professionals at your disposal, your website will be compatible with the latest mobile technologies.
With more than half of global website traffic (51.89%) coming from mobile devices in the second quarter of 2018, not having a mobile-friendly website will cost you dearly.
If your target audience fails to get the kind of user experience they do on your desktop version, they are less likely to return to your site again, perhaps permanently.
Most professional web design companies develop responsive web design or create a mobile version of your site.
In addition to getting more web traffic, a mobile-friendly website will help improve your SEO rankings.
Plus, a professional team will ensure that your site remains compatible with the ever-changing landscape of mobile technology.
Superior SEO Compliance
A professional web design company not only knows how to create a mobile-friendly and fast-loading website, but it can also provide you with SEO support.
They know what the latest SEO requirements are, whether for e-commerce or local business site.
Unlike an independent web designer, professional agencies are well aware of the two crucial SEO factors, web design and content marketing.
Web design companies have SEO experts.
They can optimise your website for on-site as well as off-site SEO, making sure it appears in a search engine’s top search results.
For example, they know that excessive use of CSS and JavaScript along with flash elements, HTML frames, and other errors can kill on-site SEO.
In addition to this, most web design companies also provide content marketing services.
These services will take care of your off-site SEO.
Why spend hundreds of dollars on an independent marketing agency when you can get all this under one roof?
More User-Friendly Layout
When you use a pre-made website template, it comes with the basic navigational elements that are less likely to impress your prospects.
The sole purpose of any website is to attract users and make them stay longer.
So, if you want your customers to get excited when they visit your site, you need to provide them with a unique and friendly browsing experience.
A professional web design company will study your business requirements and the behaviour of your potential customers to design a website that connects with the target audience.
They know where and how to put contact forms, addresses, sign up forms, navigation bars, product pages, and calls to actions on your site.
Better user experience improves the overall perception of your business and that of your brand.
Scalability
When it comes to web design, scalability is one of the crucial factors that you need to take into consideration as a business owner.
For example, you may start with a small online store that caters only to local customers with no more than a few dozen products.
Over time, however, you may want to expand your business globally and look for a platform that has all the features which can help you achieve your goal in the global market.
However, is your website ready to handle that kind of leap?
It probably won’t if you are relying on an independent designer located overseas.
A professional design consultancy firm, on the other hand, is equipped to handle this scalability requirement as your business grows.
Whether you want to add a new blog, payment options, new web pages, custom search functionality, or move your website to a different hosting platform, they will help you do it all on time.
They can also help you identify emerging design trends in your niche and add relevant content and functionality accordingly.
Cost Effective
It may be tempting to hire independent contractors from overseas or Craigslist because they offer cheap services.
However, you are putting your hard earned money and trust into the hands of others.
So, you need to consider not only the upfront cost but also the long-term value of hiring a web designer.
Instead of spending all your money and time on someone who will abandon your web design project halfway, it is better to hire a professional web design company.
It may cost you a little more upfront, but it will provide better long-term value as you will get a reliable website.
Thus, your site can start earning money within months.
Less Turnaround Time
The last but the most important benefit of hiring a professional design consultancy is lesser turnaround time.
Building a website is usually complicated and lengthy.
However, most professional agencies have developed a time-bound process based on their experience.
They will research and prepare the design and development process from start to end.
The process usually comprises designing, testing, debugging and launching the site.
However, they are also equipped to handle unexpected delays and ongoing (preventive) maintenance.
Less turnaround time translates into more savings.
As a result, you get more value for money.
How to Hire a Web Design Company – 5 Unequivocal Suggestions
Your website is the face of your business. In the fast-paced digital world we live in, companies who want to remain competitive must focus on establishing a compelling online presence and a user-friendly experience that customers enjoy.
And in most cases, the solution is to hire the right web design company. But choosing one among the others is not always straightforward, especially if you don’t know what questions you should be asking.
You want to hire a team with the ideal skillset who will deliver the best results within your budget and timeframe. Here are five questions to ask that’ll help you land on the right web design company.
1 – What Are Your Goals?
Is your primary goal to expand your customer base? Are you a new company that must first establish brand awareness? Before contacting any web design company, understanding your goals is essential to determining your online future.
A reliable web design company will take into account your goals, budget, and timeframe and make well-informed suggestions on what they think will work for you. Not taking the time to get to know your business before handing you a quote may serve as a red flag.
After all, every brand has a distinct personality and unique selling proposition. A web design company will need to understand your vision if they want to create a website that empowers your business.
2 – What Experience Do They Have?
Examine their history. Do they have experience with projects similar to the one you’re hoping to complete? Are they equipped with the right technical skillset for the job? Does their portfolio motivate you?
Do they work with industry-leading platforms like WordPress, WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify? The more of these leading web platforms a company is well-versed in, the more likely you are to find the perfect digital solution form-fitted around your needs.
Check if the company has received awards or certifications to further their credibility. What have previous customers said online? Reviews reveal the truth about a company’s work ethic and performance.
And most importantly, check if they have experience working with your type of company. For example, a web design company that has worked with many SaaS companies will understand the SaaS marketplace far better than one that doesn’t. It takes time to learn an industry, so don’t settle for less when it comes to your business.
3 – Are They Well-Versed in Digital Marketing?
A well-designed and developed website is useless to your business if it doesn’t see the light of day. Find a web design company that offers digital marketing on top of design and development services. Functionality, design, and marketing go hand-in-hand—your website is only as useful as each of these aspects allow it to be.
4 – What’s Your Plan for the Future?
A reliable web design company keeps the future in mind when customising a web solution for your business. Remember, your website is the face of your business.
As your customer base grows, so must your website. Get in touch with a web design agency that considers your potential for growth and builds a scalable digital platform.
You will also want your website to serve as a valuable collection of information about your brand, products, and services. And that often means building a website that is easy to update and build out as you grow.
5 – Do They Offer Ongoing Support?
Once you’ve reviewed a company’s portfolio, experience, and qualifications, the next question to ask is whether they offer the level of support you need. Are they responsive to your phone calls? Do they reply to your emails in a timely fashion?
Most importantly, does the company seem invested in the success of your project? Did they take the time to understand your short-term and long-term goals and how best to meet them? Questions like these point out the differences between companies intending to collect a quick check and businesses that are committed to customer satisfaction.
Remember, websites need updating if you want to stay compliant with Google’s best practices for search. This means updating your content, code, and more.
How Can You Get Started?
Building the ideal digital solution that fits your individual needs requires hiring the right web design company. In today’s competitive market, creating a high-quality and user-friendly website is the first step to building a customer base and promoting brand awareness—and quickly see a return on your investment.
Wrapping Up
Deciding to develop your business site in-house is admirable.
However, if you and your team members lack the necessary skills and resources, this could be a big gamble.
Professionals possess the right tools, knowledge, and experience to finish the job on time.
Hopefully, the above benefits will encourage you to hire a professional web design company.
If you still have doubts about getting professional help, do tell us in your comments.
We will be more than happy to help you. Meanwhile, keep searching for the best web design company.
Author Bio: I am the President and Founder of E2M Solutions Inc, a San Diego Based Digital Agency that specialises in White Label Services for Website Design & Development and eCommerce SEO. With over ten years of experience in the Technology and Digital Marketing industry, I am passionate about helping online businesses to take their branding to the next level.
