Choosing
the Right Website Designer
by: Janice Byer, CCVA, MVA
You've made up your mind. You want to have a website
to represent your business. The next decision to be
made . . . who should you hire to develop your site?
There are many people capable of building their own
personal sites. They can put cute little comments
and pictures of their pets or kids up for you to enjoy.
But, when it comes to having a website that will be
a form of marketing for your business, you want someone
with experience. Someone who has an understanding
of the Internet and what is the best way to boost
the exposure of a website.
They must have a clear knowledge of a variety of contributing
factors to your sites' success. Such factors include
how best to market your site, the options and limitations
of graphics, how to create a site that is effective
within search engines, knowledge of the drawbacks
of different browsers, and the understanding of the
coding required for your site.
It is crucial that your designer understands you,
your company and what you want to accomplish with
your website. To determine this, you need to answer
a few questions first.
What do you want on your website? What is the desired
outcome of your site? Is your designer open to your
ideas and provides input and suggestions for improvement?
Have you checked out your competition or other websites
to get ideas of what is the 'norm' for a successful
site? The more information you have prior to starting
a website, the more accurately you can communicate
with your designer and get the desired outcome that
produces the best results.
Creating a website can be an overwhelming experience.
You need to ensure that your designer is easy to talk
to and keeps you updated on your sites' progress.
If you have questions . . . ask! After all this is
your site and you have a right to know how it is coming
along and in terms that you can understand.
You also need to check out websites that your designer
has made in the past. Check to see that the graphics
load quickly, that it is easy to navigate between
the pages, and that overall you like their style.
Finally, the cost! This is a very important factor
for small business owners when deciding on a website
designer. Larger companies will charge more and can
probably make your site very elaborate. If you need
a site filled with all the bells and whistles, you
will be paying for it. If you simply need a site that
is a background of your company and the products or
services that you provide, the cost will be considerably
lower and you can use a smaller company or independent
designer.
Your website is going to be a 24-hour advertisement
for your company. Skimping on any of the above listed
factors will have an effect on the final result of
your website and the outcome that you want from it.
Do your research and you can join other successful
businesses who are using the Internet to boost their
exposure and their revenue.
About The Author
Janice Byer is the founder of Docu-Type Administrative
& Web Design Services (http://www.docutype.net),
a professional Virtual Assistance and Website Design
company, specializing in helping small business owners
get ahead. She is a certified Canadian Virtual Assistant
and Master Virtual Assistant and winner of the Most
Successful Start Up 2000 and Home Based Business of
the Year 2000 Awards
jbyer@docutype.net
Back
to Web Development Articles 1
