Choosing the Right Web Design Agency

Throughout the United States, there are more than 13,000 advertising and marketing agencies. So as you're looking for an agency to design your new website, you have a lot of choices.

As you're vetting potential partners, it's important that you make the right decision. But how can you make sure you're choosing the right web design agency for you?

We've created this guide outlining what you need to do to make the right choice. Keep reading to learn more.

Start by Making a List of Your Goals, Wants, and Needs

First and foremost, start by clearly defining your goals and needs when it comes to your website. As you establish these criteria, you'll have a much easier time selecting the correct partner for you.

There are all types of agencies out there and there many different kinds of website styles available. So by starting with the end in mind, you'll set yourself up for success.

Here are some of the goals you would want to accomplish with your site:

• Sell products directly through your website
• Generate leads that your sales team can later contact
• Allow users to fill out forms asking questions or connecting with your support team
• Establish chat sessions with potential or current customers
• Provide a service like online learning or entertainment

You may also have a list of wants and needs for your site. These could include the following:

• Be easily editable using a CMS
• Sync with your CRM like Salesforce, Hubspot, or Infusionsoft
• Security features like an SSL certificate
• The ability to quickly translate content for customers overseas
• Simple integration with your marketing automation software
• A fully functioning blog section with pre-design blog post templates

It's also a good idea to list these things in order of priority. What are must-haves and what are nice-to-haves? Once you have this established, you'll know exactly what you're looking for in a partner.

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Check Out Their Portfolio of Websites

As you're looking into various potential partners, you should check out their past work. Doing so will give you an idea of the breadth and depth of their experience.

This is also a good idea because anyone can claim to have lots of experience. But when you actually can see it in a portfolio, it's a different story.

Also ask to see sites that are currently live. While screenshots of websites will give you an insight into design, a live site will let you test functionality as well.

Why does this matter? This way, you'll be able to see that their sites don't just look good, but that they work well too.

Most agencies will have a portfolio section readily available on their website. If you want to see more of their work, don't be afraid to ask. They should easily be able to provide additional examples.

They Design with a CMS in Mind

Next, find a web design agency that designs with a content management system (CMS) in mind. A CMS is a platform like WordPress, Magneto, or Drupal that allows non-developers to easily access and edit their website.

When a web designer builds a site for a CMS, this means that you as the business owner or marketer will be able to make changes in the future without having to code or contact your web developer.

Want to change the hero image on the home page? Easy.

Have a new product to release that needs its own page? Simple.

So as you're looking at various web design agencies, ask them if they can design for a CMS. It will save you a lot of trouble.

They Know Responsive Design

It's simple. More than 50% of internet traffic comes from mobile devices. Because of this, it's imperative that your website works on all types of devices.

Desktop, tablet, and every size of smartphone–they're all important. But how in the world will you be able to design a site that functions well on all of these screen sizes?

Experienced web designers know that responsive web design is the answer.

Basically, when you use a responsive builder, your website will automatically resize to fit every single screen size. No need to code tons of different versions. It does the work for you.

It does take some work on the backend to set things up properly, but once that's done it's easy moving forward.

However, since this is still a new technology, not all web designers are proficient in responsive design. Save yourself some headache by finding one who is.

Figure out Who Will Be Working on Your Account

Last but not least, as you're looking for a web design agency to work with, check out Solid Digital. Make sure you find out who will be working on your account.

In the agency world, it's common to meet with executives and top-level managers during the sales process. But these usually aren't the people who will actually design your site.

As you're deciding between your top options, ask to meet the people who will be doing the design work for you. This will help you see their design style. You'll also have a better idea of their personality so you can see if you work well together.

How to Choose the Right Web Design Agency

Now that you've read all about picking a web design agency, it's time to get started. Decide on your goals and priorities and go from there.

Soon, you'll enjoy a beautiful site that functions well, helping you achieve the results you want.

Want to learn more about digital marketing? Check out my blog.