If you are a small business owner, choosing your website design carefully is essential. This is a crucial choice because a good website can bring you a lot of business, but a bad one can drive away customers.
Since this choice and your website are at the heart of your successful business, choosing the right design, plugins, and functionality like the WooCommerce banner is very important.
Who will do the hard work of des
igning your website?
How to choose a web designer? before we talk about how to choose a web designer, we are going to talk about what is web design so that you might understand the work of a web designer even better.
What Exactly Is Web Design? What’s the job of a web designer?
Web design is one of the most important job roles in the IT world because web design is the conceptualisation of all the creative elements of a website.
Web design means deciding how the website looks as well as how the website performs. That is exactly the job of a web designer.
Web designers are professionals who are there to plan how the website is going to look and they are the people who are able to integrate different visual elements of a website into a function in a package.
A web designer can create a new website from scratch and create all the individual elements of a website or they can even upgrade any old website they want.
A web designer is a specialist who understands colour and layout as well as things like fonts and graphics and understands how to utilise them to create a functioning website.
They must understand things like the performance and the speed of the website and they must also think from the perspective of the user to see whether the website is easy to use.
It is a multifaceted job and it is very important. But sometimes people confuse web designers with web developers. There is a difference and let us understand what the difference is.
So, How Is It Different from Web Developers? Web Designers Vs Web Developers
The simplest way to describe the difference between web designers and web developers is that whatever you see on the website when you visit the website is the department of the web designer.
The web designer takes care of the user experience (UX) by designing the user interface (UI). They choose the font and the colour on the website and they fit everything together to create the wireframe of the website.
Now, you can’t hang a picture without a frame. There is a lot to a website that you cannot see and that is where we come to the job of the web developer.
The web developer works in the back and takes care of the programming part of things. They do the back end as well as the front end of the development.
They create the structure for the website to stick to and they do the testing and make sure that the website actually works.
Both jobs are important because when you visit the website you are seeing the work of the web designer but you are feeling the work of the web developer.
If you want to know more about their differences then we would love to create a whole new blog for that.
Here Are the Reasons for Hiring a Web Designer
It Will Save You Time
You might be a business owner and you need a website urgently for your business. You might probably know how to design a website but since you are a business owner you have other important things to do.
You just can’t be sitting and thinking about the visual elements of your website when you have to think of business expansion and investments and other important things.
That is where a web designer will save you time and eventually money. This is because a web designer only has one job to do and it is to create a functional website that looks nice.
You can then share your inputs and what you think about the design and whether you like it or not.
You Might Not Be Experienced
One of the most important things to consider is experience because it takes real experience to create a website and design it.
The work of a web designer is very specialised and needs specialised skills and experience and an understanding of colour theory.
It is technically possible to learn that but why would you go through the hassle of learning something that you might need only once?
That is why if you do not have experience in building websites as a professional career then you should probably leave it to the professionals.
They understand how to create different elements and how to make sure those elements are perfect for your website.
Web Design Is About Results
Creating a website design is not just about the appearance but it is about results and if you do not get results then it is not a successful design.
That is why the job of a web designer is much more than creating a beautiful website because they have to think about making your potential clients return to your website.
This is very important in this day and age because nearly every eCommerce website offers the same prices for the same products so the one differentiating factor is going to be the user experience.
It is about how you place call-to-action (CTA) buttons and how helpful the interface is for everyone.
That is where a web designer is important as a web designer will do those things to create a design that is actually effective for your business.
They will know how to create a website that stands out from the competition and generates profits and is a good return on investment (ROI).
Below Are Some Important Tips on Choosing the Right Web Designer for Your Web Development Project
Do Your Homework
First, you need to do thorough research, and we are not only talking about web design companies that you like.
It is not just about what to look for in a web designer, it is about everything design-related in the company.
When you look at their file, paying close attention to what’s more than the picture they show you is essential. Make sure you visit the site itself.
Check the footer and make sure this company maintains the company’s website.
There are a lot of established agencies but only a few are going to be the right web design agency for you.
Pay special attention to page loading speed, as page speed is an essential factor in SEO and is highly dependent on good web design.
If you like how their work looks, make a statement about the faces you wish you didn’t see and ask them if they can. You can be the first to want this show.
Choose The Type of Web Designer
After you do your homework, you will be able to understand your needs but then you have to choose the kind of web designer you want. There are primarily three kinds of choices for you.
Freelancer – You can choose a freelancer from a freelancer website but they will be the worst choice you can make because they are mostly amateurs.
They have probably never worked for a mega project and they work alone which means your deadlines will be very long and they will not be able to satisfy you.
Design Agency– A design agency is a far better choice but they are a limited services agency which means they only do website design.
They will be able to provide you with templates and that will be just that because there will be no coordination with web developers to find out if the design actually works or is functional.
Full-Service Web Design and Development Agency– This is going to be the best option for you because a full-service web development and web design agency will not only create the website design for you but they have the capability to create the website as well.
They are going to do proper coordination with their development team to make sure which design works for your business and they will also be able to create the entire website for you all under a single roof.
Check Their Portfolio and Industry Knowledge
One of the most important things that you should check before you hire a website designer a simply their design portfolio.
You should look at all the work they have done in the industry and you should ask them for samples of their work.
You can ask them to create something for you and you can also compare it to their portfolio to see if they are actually experts at it.
You must also ask yourself questions and try to find the answers to those questions about their level of skill and expertise.
In addition to design skills, it is essential to know that your design is being updated with other aspects of web design – SEO best practices, email marketing integration, etc.
Check if they are a newer designer or if their designs have been used to build websites. Research is the key here.
Put Together a List of Candidates
After you individually check the portfolio of the web designers you like you should put together a list and do a little bit more digging.
One of the best ways to verify a web designer or agency is to ask their clients for their testimonials and to also read client testimonials.
If you can get hold of their clients then it is the best way to make sure of the quality of the service they provide.
You must also make sure they are a full-service web design agency because you should not be running around for every individual service related to your website when you can get it done from a single destination.
Choose A Package That Goes with Your Budget
One of the most important things to consider before you choose a web designer is to set a budget for your website design.
If you understand your needs and do a proper analysis of your needs then you will be able to come up with a budget that aligns with your business.
You must then look at the list of the web designers that you have chosen and check out their packages to see the most appropriate package that falls within your budget.
A full-service web design agency can provide your organization with a great package and it will be a win-win situation.
However, it is imperative to study the products carefully. Various packages and specifications will always help you choose the one that suits you best.
However, it would be best if you understood the company’s programs well to get a clear description of their offers, discounts, and different package prices.
Also, choosing the best price is what you need to do when choosing the right web designers for your business.
Do They Speak the Same Language?
When we say language, we do not mean literally the language but we mean that they should understand what you have in mind for your website.
The vibes should match and they should understand you and your website design needs and this is very important.
Once the site is up and running, you must make a few changes as it logs in and you see people using it. Be sure to use systems like rankings, conversions, unique visitors, time on site, and analytics to report improvements.
Changes in accuracy will cost you a little more if needed. But now more than ever, it’s essential that you choose a website that you can relate to effectively.
If it is difficult for you to communicate your website design, then making changes to the site will waste your energy and your wallet. That is why they should be able to understand you.
With a web designer who understands you, you will not have to ask for a lot of changes to be made.
Ask A Lot of Questions
It seems obvious, but you want the web designer/developer to know the best practices and methods for creating websites that are easy to find and user-friendly.
When it comes to web design, there are skills that every designer should have, but most importantly, they should add to the list.
Technology is not permanent. Google Analytics is not enough and the algorithm is not permanent. The knowledge of the creator does not have to be fixed.
Make sure they have the resolve to create user-friendly, mobile responsive graphic designs.
The only way to do this is to ask them a lot of questions and in order to do that you should do a little bit of research and study yourself.
If they are able to answer your questions then they are a very good candidate for you.
Verify Their Credentials with References
You should always make sure to ask for references before hiring someone. This will give you an idea about their quality of work.
Website design is a business where you don’t have to worry about formal information.
While you wouldn’t dream of going to a doctor who doesn’t have a medical degree and license, most web designers don’t have a formal education in web design.
So, while you don’t have to ask if you have a master’s in Computer Science, you can look for other papers to prove their experience and connections in the industry.
Collaborations and Affiliated Programs
Selecting a company that works with others is always essential. Unless you get a full-service web design and development IT agency.
If the agency partners with companies from different digital niches such as advertising and digital marketing, you are all ready to create a website that can be used for your business.
You can reach your customers directly by using a variety of marketing methods. However, you should check if the company partners with other key organizations.
This is important if your web design company is not a full-service company.
Go For Detail-Orientated People
Almost everyone is unhappy with the design of their website at some point towards the end of a project.
Even if you have spent a lot of time and money sorting all the final data beforehand, the final process of any project is complicated because you have so much small data that needs to be sorted.
If you love and trust your website design, this last step will be much easier, preferably if your online brand manages information and forces you to make choices rather than fill it in.
Learn About Their Market Position
The best and most direct way to find out about an agency’s market name is to look at its reviews. The evidence reflects the past experiences of clients and their experience of using services. Estimates and approvals provide a complete picture of project performance.
And apparently, the quality of work has come.
You should not miss the opportunity to hire an agency if they have received good reviews. There are a lot of scammers on the internet these days.
However, it is better if you carefully research the agency’s name in the market.
Commitment To Timeline
Especially if your project has a specific launch date that you need to meet, it’s essential to know and consider the designer’s deadlines – for design creation and any re-creation estimates.
Some webmasters can complete a project in a few weeks, while others take longer.
There may also be waiting lists for new samples from well-known brands.
Despite careful planning, time isn’t as important as the other significant factors mentioned (you’d be better off waiting a few weeks for the website to get better); it’s just something to look out for if you have a specific difficulty limit.
This Is Where You Can Find the Best Web Designer
Freelance Platforms
One of the places you can find web designers are going to be freelance websites and hiring websites.
However, we would advise you not to do so because you will generally get amateurs on freelance websites.
This is because no professional web designer works alone and if they are really good then they are already part of a full-service web design agency.
Search On Google
This is probably going to be the second option for you if you do not want to go on freelance websites.
You are probably going to search Google and click on the first link but that would not be the best thing to do.
This is because it is possible to artificially rank websites but that does not really translate to a good web design agency.
So, where do you get a proper full-service web design agency with years of industry experience and award-winning design records? Well, we are here to help you.
We are Think To Share IT Solutions and we are one of the most prominent web design agencies in India and we are also the pioneers of some of the best web design and development innovations you can think of.
We have designed numerous websites for multiple types of industries from educational websites to healthcare websites as well as hospitality website and e-commerce websites.
This is just the tip of the iceberg because we have done nearly every kind of website design as well as development. We not only create website wireframes but we create live websites and much more.
We are the complete full-service web design and development agency in India and we also provide every other kind of IT service such as software and mobile app development as well.
But there is so much more we do and we welcome you to visit our website to check out everything we do.
Common Web Design FAQs
What is a good price for web design?
While it will not be fair to discuss prices because this industry is not standardized and there are no standard prices, we will still help you understand the factors that determine the prices for website designs.
One of the biggest factors is going to be the location because a website in India will cost a lot less than a website in the US.
Then there is going to be the factor of the type of website because a gaming website will cost 100 times more than a simple website about a cake shop.
That is why you should do your own market research and find out the common prices relevant to your industry and then negotiate with your web designer.
what major should I choose to be a web designer?
There are two schools of thought behind this and one school of thought is going to be that you do not need any degree to be the best web design specialist.
But since you asked for what kind of major you need to do, let us tell you a few courses and majors that to help you become a web designer. This is the second school of thought.
You would definitely need a graphic design degree that will help you understand aesthetics and design philosophy. It is also very important that you hold a computer science degree or any IT degree.
You should also get a web design and development degree and this is important because this is the specialisation that will actually allow you to become a web designer.
If you want to do more, there are of course Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) courses and degrees that you can look for.
And then you can support them with digital marketing degrees and courses and a general marketing course also goes a long way.
How many hours does it take to design a website?
A simple website can be done and over within 2 – 3 days of design work and you can usually count that as 20 hours or more.
If we are looking at a business website that is a little bit more complex than a simple website then you can think of it as a week’s worth of work. That usually stands between 60 to 120 hours. Provided we are not counting the hours based on a single web designer but a professional web design agency.
If you take something a bit more complex like a high-volume moving eCommerce website then it will be 120 hours and above.
Then there are even more complex websites and things like gaming websites which might take months to create.
It all depends on the manpower you have and the complexity of the website.