At work I’m faced with a decision to choose a web design company, to redesign our web site, which is quite archaic now. Some time ago, when faced with a similar task to look for web hosting firm I’ve looked at top rankings of hosting directories. So I chose the top host which later proved to be worse then we expected. At the same time for our family web site my daughter found http://veghost.com - a cheaper host which proved to be much better. So the question is how to choose a good web design company? I wouldn’t like to pay more money for worse services again.
What are the focus points to look at when choosing a web design company?
How to make sure that service is not overpriced?
Thanks for your help.

Well everest,

You can look at the portfolios of the design company and if you like most of what you see, that may provide some indications that the syle used by the company may suit your taste. So, no harm shopping around.

For example, for my case, I will never opt for framed sites (if possible), no flash intro. and just loves black background with lots of colors. My preferences may not be suitable for all types of projects, and because I have to sacrifice my ideals for practicality ... there's always a sense of "disatisfaction".

There are many ways to judge if a design is good or not, but what is the focus? Remember that personal preferences are different. If the design company had developed something for you that doesn't seem to serve the purpose of your site and please most of your readers, then they have not done a good job.

Can you post the URL of the site that did not meet your expectation so that we can take a look?

Shen

Hi everest,

As I am sure you are well aware there are many issues to consider when employing a web design company that is right for you. Whilst the visual appeal of the site is very important, it is not the only thing to be considered when deciding if a design is good or not. In terms of design, you need to consider cross browser compatability, page load times, aesthetic appeal and most importantly, does the website do what it is intended to do for you, the client. A good web design company should be able to deliver all of these things and also be able to show a range of design styles that fit the website in question. If all their websites are variations on a theme, then the one they design for you is most likely going to be another clone with slightly different colours.

In order to do this, you need to look at websites created by the companies you are considering against all these criteria.

If you are running a business or providing a service then website accessibility becomes a BIG issue as it is now required in varying degrees by UK and USA law. A decent company will be able to talk knowledgeably about these issues and the options that are available to you in order to make your site meet the minimum requirements, as well as offer advice on how you might like to exceed those requirements without adding too significantly to the cost.

Check out testimonials and references about the level of service offered by the company. It can do no harm to fire off a few e-mails to previous clients of the company to see if they were satisified with the service they received. If these people reply, it will be beneficial to you, if they don't then it has only cost you few minutes of your time.

These are just a few pointers that I hope you find useful. At this point I should really plug my own little freelance design agency, but I won't - not yet anyway

Good luck

Ian.

Some newbie tips on finding and hiring good web design companies:

1. Shop around. Don't just go to the first directory you find and plump for the first design company you see. Be aware of web design directories too - the one's you usually see on the homepage are paid advertisers and not necessarily the best!

2. A portfolio is a must! Not all design companies publish a portfolio to their website's (although most do) so ask for examples if you don't see any!

3. Ask how long they've been in business. A company with at least 1-2 years experience who can provide references and examples are a much safer bet then a company who's only been around for a few months! Check out the whois records for the domain to double check.

4. Can you contact them by phone? If not, stay clear! The last thing you need is, should things go wrong, no real way of contacting someone for help!

5. Agree terms before you start work. Agree with your designer a time framework for the work to be completed in. Don't part with all the cash all at once! A professional will ask for a reasonable deposit followed by either payment on completion or a second payment after phase 2 is complete, a thrid after phase 3 is complete etc etc. Make sure everything is in writing before going ahead.

6. Don't go for the cheapest - that doesn't mean you should go for the most expensive either! There's always someone willing to do a website for just a few bucks, but the cheapest option is almost always the worst. In fact, it's best to always get a few quotes from different companies.

7. Make sure they can provide what you're looking for. Can they provide you with a database driven site? Do they know anything about PHP, ASP, Flash or whatever you had in mind? Make sure the company can deliver the goods in other words . . .

Hope that helps!

Chris

How do I know that price offer to me is good? How to avoid paying too much for web design?