How to choose a website design and development firm
Choosing the right firm for your next website design and development project can be a daunting task. There are so many options and everyone has a horror story about a website project that went wrong in the past. Additionally, someone in the organization inevitably has a cousin, nephew, or relative who "does websites" and can take care of your needs on the cheap. With so many options, how do you make a good decision?
Different firms provide different services and most of the time there is no one-size-fits all. For this reason, it's important to understand what your specific needs are before getting too far down the road with any particular company.
However, there are some basic things that you should be looking for as you evaluate firms.
1. A process. Before going to far, ask potential firms about their processes for planning, designing, and building websites. If they don't know what you mean or if it seems that they don't have a strong process that is systematic, you may want to reconsider. Strong businesses have repeatable systems that allow them to predictably deliver a product or service with consistency.
2. A Content Management System. A good Content Management System (CMS) is a must-have in today's environment. You should not have to rely on an IT department or an external company to make updates to your website. You and your marketing team should be able to manage your content and launch marketing campaigns easily from your own computers. Some website design and development firms will provide a CMS that they developed in-house while others will use a third-party product. Either option is fine as long as you find it easy to use and it is well-supported.
3. Phone support. It is unfortunate to see so many website design and development firms that still don't offer good phone support. Many of the clients we work with tell us that one of the most frustrating things about the previous firm they worked with was the fact that they never answered the phone or called back. If a company is serious about what they do, they will answer the phone or call you back.
4. Ongoing training. Once your website is launched, it's important to have access to training on a regular basis so you know how to use the online marketing tools at your disposal. Ask potential firms about their training programs. Look for a good mix of both in-person or phone training and self-serve online training.
5. Experience with organizations that you trust. If you cannot find very many examples of a firm's previous work, it might be cause for concern. A good website design and development firm will list previous projects online with case studies and links to each website. Make sure that the types of clients they they work with resonate with your needs.
6. Willingness to say no. If a firm seems eager to take on your project without much exploration, it might be a red flag. Most experienced firms understand that they cannot be all things to all people and so they are able to recognize when they are a good fit and when they are not. It's important that a potential firm explore the requirements of your project before saying yes. Saying no to projects that are not a good fit allows them more time and attention to say yes to projects that are the right fit.
7. A good website. This seems obvious, right? However, I still see many website design and development firms that let their own websites stagnate and convey very little information. If a potential firm does not have a well-designed website, raise an eyebrow.
There are a number of factors that go into choosing the right firm for your organization, but this will hopefully give you a baseline from which to start. What do you look for in a website design and development firm?
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