Organic Website Design: How to choose a website designer

Is website design and website construction unfamiliar to you? Do you or your business require a web presence? Consider hiring a local and talented website designer to help construct and launch your web presence.

What are the benefits of using a local website designer or website design team?

· Supports your local economy

· Allows you to meet the website designer in person

· Builds a better business relationship

The Internet is a vast and dangerous virtual landscape filled with 21^st century snake-oil salesmen, multi-level marketing schemers and identity thieves. That said, you or your business would benefit by seeking out a local website designer to help build your web presence.

Insist that you meet the individual or individuals fact-to-face. There are talented website designers that do work from home, but there’s no excuse why they can’t meet in a public place for an initial consultation. If you do choose a website designer that works from home, make sure they provide a phone number, a physical address and a business license number.

What to expect from a website designer: The least you should know

Every website design project is unique and caters to whatever audience the client is seeking to reach. But how will your website designer meet your needs? There are some minimal expectations to have of your website designer or website design team.

1. Free-of-charge face-to-face meeting

2. Free-of-charge “scope of work” or work proposal

3. Three mock-ups (at least) of your potential website to choose from

4. Flow chart explaining and describing the website’s navigation

5. Don’t pay extra for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

6. Don’t expect the work to stop after the website is launched

7. Remember that the most popular Social Media sites are free!

Face-to-face

It’s true, we do live in a world where telecommuting, conference calls, virtual meetings and Skypeing have become the norm. Nevertheless, we still do a lot of business face-to-face and close deals with a smile and a handshake.

Analogies abound here, but all of us require a contractor’s services at least a few times in our life. Website designers are contractors, and they’re construction workers. They’re in the business of website construction! Just because their toolbox is a computer doesn’t mean that they can’t take the time for an in person meeting. The meeting should be free-of-charge with no expectations other than getting to know you and your website design needs.

Scope of Work

If you’re comfortable and confident with your website designer and you decide to move forward then expect a scope of work (work proposal). Your website designer should provide, free-of-charge, a document providing an overview of what work will be done. Additionally, this document should have some estimated costs and a work flow timeline.

Mock-ups

Expect at least three mock-ups of your future website to choose from. Mock-ups are created by website designers and presented to clients. Clients are given the chance to see what the website could look like. Clients are typically allowed to pick and choose elements they like or dislike about the website design scheme from the three mock-ups. Once again, meet your website designer in person to review the mock-ups. A good website designer will be able to discern much of your feedback by how you physically react to the mock-ups.

Navigation

Design is fine, but how will users of your future website find the information/goods and services you’re offering on the site? Your website designer should provide a flow chart (or something equivalent) of how visitors to your website will access whatever it is your website will offer. Essentially, your website designer must be able to easily explain how users will successfully navigate the pages of your website.

Just say no to paying extra for SEO!

There’s a never ending “Tower of Babel” about Search Engine Optimization currently under construction. Do a little research before you ask your website designer about it. Pick ten articles from reliable sources and read about SEO; review Google’s Search Engine Optimization Guide; and, peruse a copy of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization at a bookstore.

With a little SEO knowledge under your belt, talk to your website designer about SEO and how it will be applied to your website. The bottom line, the website designer should be applying SEO techniques to your website at NO EXTRA COST. SEO is part of the website design process.

Website design doesn’t end after launch

Website design is ongoing and organic. Your website will require updates and expect to pay for them after it's launched.

*An exception to this is a content management system allowing the client to make there own changes to the website. Your website designer may or may not provide this service.

Social Media is free, but it requires work

Most websites use social media such as Facebook, Twitter and blogging to help build and enhance their web presence. But remember, most social media is free and you can set-up and launch these services yourself. However, it takes time to keep social media content relevant and engaging.

Check with your website designer if they provide social media management. A savvy web designer or web content specialist should be able to set-up and launch the most widely used social media outlets. You should expect to pay extra for social media management.

Conclusion

A good website designer should be able to identify your website design needs. They should present website design options that work best for you and your web presence. Moreover, you should be comfortable and confident with them especially if you plan to use them to manage your web presence. As such, find a local and talented website designer, website design team or website design firm that will work and meet with you face-to-face.