The digital world is ever-evolving, and with more and more people spending time on the internet, it is only natural that businesses spend more and more of their efforts on going digital.
My specialty is ensuring companies have the proper outlet for their goods and services. Hi, my name is Shovon Joarder. I work with my team to provide high-end digital solutions for anyone who needs them.
Web design and development are among the solutions I provide as a digital marketing consultant. I have been working in this space for more than seven years and have seen this industry grow into a cornerstone of business today.
The importance of web design and development cannot be understated. Around 89% of consumers move to a competitor if they have a terrible experience using a site.
I always stress to my clients that having a well-functioning, beautiful website is the only way to establish credibility, and the numbers support this.
When I work with clients who want to establish themselves in a highly saturated market, I always tell them that having a killer website is the only way to stand out from competitors.
Adobe, back in 2018, found that 73% of businesses are investing heavily in their web design and development, with more projected to invest in the coming years.
Since I have been working in this sector for almost a decade, I have enough experience to know that I won't be the right choice for everyone regarding web design and development solutions.
However, that doesn't mean I cannot help small businesses find the right web design and development solutions.
If you are already here, you most definitely want to know how to choose a web designer and developer for a small business or startup, and you've come to the right place.
In the following, I will list a few criteria for finding the right web design and development solution for your business. So, without any further delay, let's check them out!
Due Diligence Is Key
When choosing the right web designer, you first need to do due diligence, not on web design and development companies but on yourself and what you want to achieve. You need to be able to answer the following questions before going on the hunt for a developer and a designer:
- How big do you want your project to be?
- How many pages will the website have?
- Are there any particular features that you want to add?
- What sort of help do you need? Is it only the design and development components, or do you need an overall digital solution provider who will help you with copywriting and SEO, along with design and development?
- Do you have a budget in mind for your project?
- Which websites inspire you?
Now that you know what you want, you can start researching whom you want to work with. For example, suppose you look up how to choose web designers and developers for small businesses. The first thing you will see is people telling you to check out the service provider's portfolios.
Checking out portfolios is vital because it allows you to cross-check their work rather than just believing what they say. However, make sure you don't just believe the pictures. Instead, visit the sites yourself and check the footer.
You may find a link to their site and credit in the footer if they are still working for that client. When you go to those sites, make sure you check the following things:
- First, check the page load speed.
- Check the mobile and desktop views separately.
- See if the layout is simple and uncomplicated.
These factors significantly impact site performance and SEO. Remember, customers need to be able to get the information they want with one or two clicks.
Therefore, the design elements should be engaging enough. At the same time, the website also needs to load fast, as that impacts user retention.
Now, you may be unable to judge the scope of designer and developer skills from the portfolios. Still, it's a great place to start. You can make a list of the things you don't see, and you can ask them if those are things they can do or not.
Make Sure They Are Conversational
Every digital solutions provider you talk to will ask for an initial meeting to discuss the goals, what you want the layout to be like, what you want the site to do, and your budget. Now, this is standard procedure.
However, there are a few things you can look for in that meeting to determine whether or not they are right for you and your business.
First, see if they acknowledge your expertise. Remember, you know what you are selling and how to market to your audience for the maximum impact.
See if they appreciate your knowledge and whether or not they are looking to collaborate with you rather than steamrolling over your ideas. If that's what's happening, they are not suitable for you.
Now, you don't want the opposite either. You do not need a "yes man" web designer and developer who won't contribute anything valuable to your project. Always remember that it's a collaboration, and everyone has to contribute to bringing your project to life.
It would be best if you worked with designers and developers who can take your idea and improve it. It would be best if you had several conversations with your web development and design team.
Remember that your opinions, experiences, and observations are the foundations of your website's uniqueness. Your designer's job is to elevate those ideas even more!
Check Out All Their Services
Websites are only half the story. They are part of your brand going digital. To make them work, you will need copywriters, SEO experts, and marketers.
If you are fortunate enough to already have that infrastructure in place, you will only need web development and design services. However, not everyone can, especially small businesses.
When choosing a web development and design company, choose one that also offers these solutions. That way, you can develop a comprehensive plan for your brand from the start.
Remember, a website without digital marketing is like having a Ferrari without wheels; you can turn it on, but it won't take you anywhere. Your website is the end goal for 99% of your marketing efforts.
When a marketing team backs the design and development team, you can rest assured that it will be the engine behind driving your business. So, whenever you talk to a digital solutions provider, ask them about all the services they provide.
Can they help you with content, SEO, and branding? From my experience, having a complete digital solutions package ensures everything you do works coherently together.
Make Sure They Are Tech-Savvy
While it may seem like a no-brainer, you need a web designer and developer who knows the current trends and best practices to make a website seen and user-friendly. These are the core skills of being a web designer and developer.
However, the best web designers and developers constantly improve and add to their skills. The digital landscape is continuously changing, and so are the algorithms that govern it, so developers and designers cannot stagnate in their knowledge.
Whenever you are talking to designers and developers, check their designs and see if they are responsive or not. In this decade, the most important thing to remember is that people go online from several different devices. So, ensuring your website works well on all devices is vital to online success.
They should also know about content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Drupal, or Magento. Without utilizing a CMS, you will need a developer every time you need to make a change or update something.
Do not go for web developers who only offer static HTML sites as services. Along with making the websites, your web designer and developing company should know about user-experience design.
The layout should be intuitive and create powerful calls to action. Also, they update and ensure all the coding, themes, and plug-ins are running before and after the site launch.
Only Work With People You Like
While having the right portfolio and knowledge is essential, the most important thing when choosing a web designer and developer is that you like them.
Remember that creating the perfect site is about collaboration, which is only possible if you like the people you work with. So make sure you find people you want to work with. That way, you will be getting the most out of them.
Extra Tip: Copywriting
You can find web designers who can help you with texts, but it's always better to do it yourself or have a professional do it. It's one of the reasons I always offer my clients web design and development services with copywriting solutions.
Copywriting is vital to making a website successful, as it's the tool to hook people in. Make sure you have copywriting solutions ready to fill the website. Here are some simple tips on how you can fill up your website:
- Find and understand your audience.
- Create headlines that promise to solve a problem the audience has.
- Talk to your audience about their challenges openly.
- Make them an offer that will solve their challenges.
- Share customer testimonials to let your audience know your credibility.
- Always encourage them by putting in calls to action.
Always Listen To Your Gut
Now, this isn't technical advice, but it's not something you should ignore at all. Your intuition can be one of the most powerful tools for success; as an entrepreneur, you already know that. As a service provider, I know that I have had many clients reject my services because of a gut feeling.
On the other hand, I have plenty of clients who chose my services over more prominent firms just because they felt in their gut that I was the right choice for them. I know that you cannot win them all, and not every client is right for you, and that's true for the clients as well.
So, follow your gut and choose the developers and designers you feel good about. And that's about it. Hopefully, now you know how to select web developers and designers for small businesses.
Remember that it's an entire process that you need to follow diligently. If you do, finding the right web designer for your business will be easy.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you still have doubts about finding an exemplary development service. We can then discuss the best possible solution for getting you a killer website.
You can reach out to me on my social media with your questions or drop them in the comments below, and I will answer them all for you. That's about it for today. I'll come back with something new about the digital world soon. Until then, see ya!
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