Enterprise Mastermind

In the first part of this 2-part series I will be assuming that you won’t be building the website yourself and you will be using the services of a web designer/developer.

Why choose a Web Designer and not do it yourself?

It is great to have a go at building a website yourself but if you were to tote up all those hours you spent doing it and then converted those hours into lost money, could you really justify it? OK, so you know how to put up a picture but could you build the wall it’s on? Sometimes getting a professional to do the job for you can be far more cost effective. Hopefully you will have read my previous 2-part articles on choosing a domain name and choosing a hosting provider, the latter you can usually leave with the web designer if you don’t want the hassle as most of them will offer their own hosting packages as part of the deal.

What should I look for in a Web Designer?

Good looks, …actually we’re all good looking, so that’s not going to help. No seriously, if you want a good website designed, it follows you need a good website designer. But how do you find one? Here’s a few little things to look for when choosing:

1. Look at their portfolio

A good web designer will always show examples of his work (preferably online!). The designs should show diversity, not all be based upon the same idea and should reflect the needs of the target audience. If the designer has no examples to show then steer clear.

2. Do they listen?

If you phone or meet the web designer and they do all the talking alarm bells should ring. A good web designer will listen to what YOU want, not be afraid to give suggestions and ideas but never dictate to you. Remember, it’s your site and you are in control. If they have no ideas of their own then perhaps you should choose a web designer who has!

3. Is design all they do?

You will need to get your website designed with the search engines in mind. Make sure that the designer is up to scratch when it comes to getting your site seen on the web. Ask them if they design within web standards and ask them for examples of high ranking sites they have on Google (make sure that the search terms they give you are not too specific).

4. Words of praise

Ask for testimonials from past clients. Verify website testimonials by emailing or calling each client and asking what they thought of the service given.

Get your act together

When approaching a web designer it is best to be armed with the information they are going to need to make a start on your website. Getting this information together will save lots of phone calls, emails and time later on and will save your chosen web designer a few more grey hairs too.

Things you should do, or be prepared for, before giving the go-ahead:

1. Register a domain

If you haven’t registered a domain name either instruct your chosen web designer to register it on your behalf or do it yourself (the sooner the better, it can take 6 months for a new domain to be included in Google’s results).

2. Find out who are you dealing with

Meet or phone the web designer with a full brief (email this to them too).

3. Cover yourself

Get a written quote and make sure it covers your brief.

4. Make things easy

Write your website copy and email it to them. Collect together any photographs, images and your logo and email these to them if possible, if not good old snail mail will do.

5. Part with your money

Not as bad as it sounds, but most most professional web designers will ask for a deposit upfront before commencing with any design work. This will usually equate to around 25% – 50% of the total cost.

In part 2 I will be covering the easiest way to get your business onto the web yourself.