Higher Power Web - Questioning your Web Designer.

So you have decided to build a website? A simple search for "web designers" on Google will show you that there are thousands upon thousands of web design companies out there. It seems like anyone with the latest edition of Adobe Photoshop calls themselves a web designer. So how do you tell the difference? Why is one better than the other?

The best way to pick a web design company is to have a look at their portfolios. If work they have done in the past appeals to you then why not request a quote on your project? There are very few design firms out there that don’t give a free quote. Now what if they don’t have a portfolio for you to see? Seems a little fishy doesn’t it? These companies may be new and don’t have anything worth showing. I would suggest you approach them with caution.

Some things you want to look for in their work:

• Image quality. Clarity, size, colors.
• Do all of the links lead somewhere?
• Does everything work as it is supposed to?
• Can you resize your window and maintain page format?
• Try looking at the page in Netscape and Internet Explorer. Does the page function properly in both?
• Does the site flow well? Is the layout logical and easy to follow?
• Is navigation easy to find and use?
• Do all of the websites have the same look or feel? Some companies fall into the trap of establishing a good design and sticking with it over and over. This works in the beginning but what happens when that design becomes overused or dated?
• Do they all use the same technology? My first thought would be that these guys do not know how to use anything else. Many web design firms rely Flash to build their websites and ignore HTML or PHP. This screams a lack of experience.

After you have decided upon a company there are a few questions you should ask up front.

1. How long will it take? A quick turn around may mean low quality or "cookie cutter" where they are reusing templates that they have already done. A long wait and you begin to wonder what the hold up is.
2. What do I get for my money? Don't be scared to ask for freebies. Many companies have things that they can add onto your website free of charge. You will never know until you ask.
3. What happens when my site is done? Find out if there is a maintenance package included with the site (see point 2) will they provide you with updates or will you have to do them yourself. If you are not comfortable updating your site many companies offer maintenance (for a fee).

Hopefully this article has been of interest to you and I hope you will contact us for your next web related project.

Cheers,

The Higher Power Team