Your online presence is more important than ever, so if your website is looking out of date it might be time for a website redesign. If you don’t already have a web design agency you’re happy with, how do you choose the right firm to help update your site?
Determine what type of website you need.
This may sound like a given, but not all websites are the same.
Google is a website. But it’s powered by a multibillion-dollar infrastructure with several data centers around the globe. Facebook and Amazon? Ditto.
While those may be extreme examples, it’s important to distinguish differences in what makes up a website and its functionality, which is to say what you need the website to do for your visitors and your business.
Are you going to sell widgets? Well, you’re going to need an e-commerce website and it’s unlikely your buddy’s cousin is going to be well-suited for this project.
E-commerce brings several logistical and technological challenges. The company you hire should have experience working in this space and have an e-commerce solution that will scale with the growth of your business — and provide support for the inevitable glitches that occur along the way.
For many small businesses offering professional services, the main objectives of a website are to build trust, educate, inform, and convert visitors into leads. While there are hundreds of web development companies that can handily accomplish this task, there are several variables to consider like the type of content management system and where the site will be hosted. These factors can have a significant impact on the website’s everyday management and down the road when, not if, the site is redesigned.
Determine your compatibility.
When you hire a web development company, you are hiring a technology partner. This partner will likely be part of your business for many years, given you are happy with their service.
And that’s the rub.
Spending a little extra time on the front side can save your business a lot of money and more importantly, a lot of time. Moving a website from one provider to another can be costly and time-consuming.
Get to know who you are hiring for this long-term relationship. While the quality and efficacy of their work is surely a consideration, find out what they value, how they work, and how they treat their staff.
And while credibility and trust are also important traits, it’s also kind of nice if you like them.
Determine the level of support do you need.
Support comes in several forms, like help with setting up email or helping someone reset a password. With website support, you’ll likely need changes to your site on a regular basis. It’s not uncommon to realize a feature or element was left unconsidered prior to launch. And more importantly, a website is not, nor should be static.
A good development company is going to provide you with the tools to add updated content, add new pages, and articles, and make minor updates. For new features, it’s likely you’ll need to rely on your technology partner. Most web development companies provide some level of ongoing support, but it’s always a good idea to find out what level, turnaround time, and which members of the staff will be doing this type of work.
This leaves us to the question, why Engage Web designs?
Create an Engaging Website
Aesthetics are everything when building a website. Remember, your website is the face of your online brand. If your website is unattractive and low-quality, customers will associate this view with your products or services. A beautiful website makes a powerful first impression and will give customers confidence in your business.
We make it user-friendly
In addition to visually appealing web pages, the layout of your site also needs to make sense. An intuitive website will help customers find more information about your products and services. You also need to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. According to Statista, mobile devices account for approximately 50% of website traffic. If your site isn’t accessible to mobile devices, you’re missing a lot of potential sales.
Boost your SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) improves the searchability of your online brand. Optimize your website with the right keywords, alt text, image titles, and more. When you improve SEO, you’ll start seeing more visitors to your website.
Engage Web Designs offers web design services that will boost your online presence in no time.
Get a free quote today to learn how Engage can help further your business.
