Choosing whether or not to hire a web design company might be tough. Prices vary greatly, many people are unclear of what constitutes a great website, and it’s difficult to know what expectations to have for the final product as well as what it will accomplish to produce revenue. This piece was written to help you understand what it takes to hire a NJ digital marketing agency and how to make the best option for your business. I’ve seen several people waste money on expensive website design services that don’t work. And, whether you decide to join us or not, I’d like to help you plan and weigh your options. There are no entrance restrictions in the world of web design. As a result, numerous individuals, freelancers, and even some agencies got involved to profit while providing minimal value to their clients. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s a low-cost website, say under$5,000, it won’t generate revenue. That is exactly the point. It is an investment rather than an expense. By showing your features and benefits, a superb website develops trust and inspires confidence in your visitors. There are a few things you should know when looking for a web designer.   What web design platform do they use? There are numerous web design platforms to pick from these days. And they have considerable differences in terms of performance and functionality. There are total shambles like Wix and Godaddy website builders, then marginally better platforms like Squarespace and Weebly, and lastly high-tier platforms with the most flexibility that can be configured for outstanding speed like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. Shopify is also a great option for E-Commerce websites. Then some websites are personalized and constructed from the ground up, which are the most expensive and often overkill for the majority of business website needs. Inquire about the web designer’s preferred platform. This will give you a good idea of their whereabouts. If you talk to a web designer who extols the merits of Wix, run. WordPress will be used by the majority of users because it is the most popular platform and offers the most functionality. The bulk of our sites are built with WordPress, Shopify, and our own CMS.   What is included in the price of website design and development? This is a serious problem. Many freelancers and web design businesses, based on my years of experience and competitive analysis, start low and then charge more for everything. As a result, what appears to be a terrific value ends up costing a lot more because you’re charged for things like contact forms and social network integration that should be included. It is vital to understand EXACTLY what is included, what is an upcharge, and the amount of the upcharge. I’ve seen businesses charge outrageous costs for creating a contact form, which can take only a few minutes but can cost up to $500. Why? It doesn’t take $500 to set up, but they start low to get you in, then make up the difference by overcharging on products you’re likely to need. If a web design firm isn’t clear about what’s included and how much add-ons cost, that’s a significant red flag, and you shouldn’t work with them.   Do they provide recommendations or simply design what you tell them to? You’ll need an experienced web designer. Choosing one who simply develops what you want them to grow without providing suggestions will not produce the best results. Are you an expert in the marketing field? Are you an expert in search engine optimization? Is it better to hire a professional copywriter or a conversion rate optimization expert? Why would you want to hire someone who does not take the time to come up with new ideas to increase your website’s performance and conversion?   Who will be in charge of the creation of your website? Is it handled in-house or outsourced? If done in-house, is it delegated to an intern or built by a seasoned pro? This is a common occurrence with web design firms. Did you know that the majority of web design firms outsource lesser work to foreign designers for a fraction of the cost? There are even courses available that show how web design firms can charge $5,000 to $10,000 for a website design and then outsource it for a few hundred dollars. In my perspective, this is deceptive and dishonest. Another issue is that when you have a small business web design project, which is usually less than $10,000 depending on the agency, it is assigned to an intern with minimal management. So you think you’ll be working with an experienced professional web designer on your website, but you’ll be working with an inexperienced novice. That’s what happens when you’re a small fish in a big pond, and no one ever tells you. Radiant Elephant only takes on a limited number of clients at a time because I, the owner, personally work on every website we develop to ensure you get the best website and value for your money.   What to look for when evaluating a web design company. Their web design portfolio Examine a potential web design firm’s portfolio carefully. Is the work appealing, does it instill trust, does it load quickly, is it easy to navigate, and does it make sense to a visitor interested in the product or service?   Consult with past clients who have had their websites designed. Speaking with a client or two is the best way to get a sense of what it’s like to work with a web design agency. Reputable web design firms will have a few clients who have agreed to communicate with future clients. Inquire about the method, including how well the company navigated it, how responsive to emails and phone calls they were, and whether the product was delivered on time.   Will you hire a graphic designer or a web designer? While I have nothing against graphic designers, hiring one to build your company’s website is almost always a bad decision. Designers are neither marketers, SEO experts, or web developers. Sure, they may produce something appealing, but appealing does not always translate to conversions.   Making a Mobile Website It astounds me how many new websites I see that aren’t mobile-friendly were designed by freelancers or even agencies. Some even go so far as to make it one of their surcharges. Having a mobile responsive website is no longer a luxury; it is a need. More than half of all web traffic is generated by mobile devices. If your website isn’t designed with mobile devices in mind, you’ll lose a lot of business and make your brand look bad. Employing a web design agency that specializes in mobile-first designs is the optimal solution. For example, I always begin with a simple but effective mobile design and then gradually add bells and whistles as screen sizes rise, resulting in a more immersive digital experience on the desktop. A distinction must also be established between a mobile responsive website and a mobile website. It is responsive in that it adapts to changing viewport sizes. It’s a website that transforms based on breakpoints. A mobile website, on the other hand, is a distinct website that is activated when someone accesses it via their phone. This is a shoddy method that reveals the lack of a contemporary, best-practices-based plan by a firm or freelancer.   Things to consider when hiring a web designer As an experienced professional web designer, I’ve observed what the most difficult components of building a site for a client are. The organization is one of the most crucial things. My retainer was paid seven years ago, but I never received the materials I needed to get started. When it comes to meeting deadlines, this is frequently the most difficult obstacle. When you hire a web designer, make sure you have the following elements on hand.   Website information If you’re not hiring someone to write your content, you should have something ready to go. Content creation is the most typical cause of project delays. While a reputable site design and marketing business will most likely modify your content for marketing and SEO purposes, having a solid base is essential. Determine which sites you want to include; you may wind up adding more, but this is an excellent starting point. Consider writing 1,000-1,300 words for your home, about, FAQ, and service or product pages, except product pages, which should be around 800 words. Check that all of your content has been spell-checked and is ready to submit.   Photographs If you want to add personalized images to your website, make sure they’re organized and ready to upload to a service like Dropbox. If you’re submitting images, make sure they’re at the highest resolution possible. If you send a 400-pixel-wide image as the header image, it will look bad and cause the project to be delayed because you will need to either find the correct file or hire someone to retake it.   Your competitors’ websites One of the best things you can do is make a list of your competitors’ websites and note what you like and dislike about them. This will help your web designer understand the style you wish to build.   Logo If you don’t currently have a logo or branding, look for a company that can help you create one. When it comes to your logo, you don’t want to skimp. An excellent logo should cost at least $1,000. If you have a professionally designed logo, make a high-resolution transparent.png version ready to send.