Looking for a Web Designer?
Looking for a web designer is a bit of a mine field. It seems every man and his dog is a web designer so where do you start? I'm going to insist that you choose me, every web designer (or would be web designer) will try to convince you to choose them for obvious reasons. There are however some important things to consider before you sign your contract with the designer or design company.
How much do you want to pay?
You already know the answer! But beware, while little Billy down the lane could be the next Eric Meyer and do you a fantastic site for 50 quid, chances are he's not and you'll end up with a sub standard site that you feel obliged to keep or at the very least you'll have to go through it all again and pay a reasonable rate. You do get what you pay for.
Is there actually a contract?
We won't work for you if there is no contract in place. It's important to have what you are paying for written down in black and white or you risk not getting it, falling out with your designer or web design company or spending more than you budgeted for. With us, we'll get an agreement written up and signed by both parties so we know exactly what we are doing for you as part of the package. This is not a set document but tailored to our mutual needs
Do you know what you want?
Chances are you do, but don't be sure that what you want, is exactly what is required of a modern web page. For example, over use of Flash, music or flashing images will be just serving to annoy most web site visitors and will be largely ignored by search engines. Here's the secret... Content content content. If you are not quite sure what I'm talking about, visit www.webpagesthatsuck.com for an idea on what you shouldn't have as a web site.
Web pages are essentially just documents, good documents are good to read, get to the point and stay in your memory. By the same token, the presentation of the page on the modern web (that's our bit) can give credit to the content. Web fashions change but a well presented document in a well presented web page will last forever.
It's a good idea to look at you competitors’ web sites and those belonging to similar disciplines and then wanting a better web site for yourself. It's fair to expect that from you designer. Looking at a portfolio of work can help but remember that most pages are made to a price. If your competitors’ sites are large and rich with bespoke graphics or art work, and you want that too, chances are you'll have to pay for it.
We like to quote based on existing web sites (ours or otherwise) so we know what's required. Judging a designers skills on the first (or last) web page that they have done is not really a fair test of their abilities. Give me the lower end of our price range and you'll get a good functional, well presented and worthwhile website to be proud of, give me the high end and you'll get a blinder, although the time to completion will be longer.
What are the timescales?
If you are in hurry and need a site up this Friday because of that conference, show or the advert you put in that magazine, we can get something up that can keep your kudos intact while we work on the final product. We will not put 'Under Construction' anywhere on your site, you know how annoying it is when you click a link and you get that, very 1990's.
We usually like to enjoy a few weeks of discussions establishing what's required, writing up the contract and offering examples of work and then a few more weeks to do the actual site. This all depends on the standard of site that you require of course
Ready to talk? Then lets... Get in Contact
