Brand Management

The layout and design of a website play a critical role in the success of any online business. It’s what customers first see when they visit your site. Unfortunately, some business owners tend to overlook the importance of web designers. They end up designing their own sites thinking they’re saving money. Don’t make this kind of mistake. A poorly designed website, where customers cannot find what they want, can only lead to the failure of your business. On the other hand, a professional and functional web design can go a long way in increasing your customers’ satisfaction and business sales. Here are some useful tips to help you find the right web designer.

 Choose a Designer With Comprehensive Skills

You’ll be able to get the best value for your money from a web designer who has comprehensive web building skills. Other than web design, the person should also be skilled in web programming, graphic design and search engine optimization. With graphic design skills, he’ll be able to organize the layout of your site, enhance photos, create graphics and generally ensure that the site content is user-friendly and visually pleasing. Web programming skills will enable him to create scripts and special applications that will make your website interactive. In addition, SEO skills will enable the designer optimize your site for search engines. What you’ll have in the end is a professional site that’s able to communicate effectively with your targeted audience.

 Evaluate the Designer’s Portfolio

Professional web designer are proud to showcase the portfolios of their creations, and will happily give you a list of their previous customers. Therefore, be careful with people who claim they are professional designers, but have no decent portfolio to show for it. The best way to get a good sense of their work is by looking keenly at other websites they’ve created. For instance, if you’d like to have an e-commerce site, look specifically at different online shops they’ve created, to find out if their design styles and layout, are in line with the way you view your brand. Be sure to ask them if they personally created the applications and graphics on the websites. With careful evaluation, you’ll certainly be able to find a designer with superior skills.

 Consider The Software The Designer Uses

You can trust a web designer who codes a website manually via a plain text editor. This indicates that that he has a firm grasp of PHP codes, HTML, or Cascading Style Sheets. However, it’s also important that he knows how to use advanced graphic and web editors, such as Photoshop and Dreamweaver. Using these applications shows his professionalism and commitment to building websites with the best tools. In addition, if you plan to use Wordpress, Joomla, or other content management systems, be sure to check the sites he has created using these platforms.

 Ask For Recommendations From The People You Trust

You cannot overestimate the value of a good recommendation. Speak with the people you know well and trust, such as colleagues, friends, and family members, and ask them to recommend for you a good designer that they worked with before. Find out everything you need to know about him, for instance, his contacts, how much he charges, how long he takes, ongoing web support etc. If you think he is the right guy for the job, call him up, and arrange for an interview.

 Is He Professional?

Let’s face it; the internet is full of people who call themselves web designers. So, how do you ensure that the person you’re about to hire is an expert? A professional web designer should have good technical knowledge and sound marketing experience. He should also be creative and up to date on the latest web building practices.

 Is He Easier To Work With?

The best websites are attained through collaboration. Therefore, you should look for a designer whom you’re personally compatible with, since you’ll be working together for some time. Look for someone who responds quickly to phone calls and emails, and is open to having a conversation. True professionals take their jobs seriously, and are easier to work with. They’ll never disappear with your money before delivering a website that you’re satisfied with. Overall, finding the right web design professional isn’t difficult. All you have to do is to carefully evaluate a designer’s skills and experience to ensure that he’s capable of creating the best site that will generate profits for your business.