Building your website can be rewarding, but it might take you away from your business’s core functions. Most companies partner with experienced web designers to create their websites. How you work with your chosen designer determines the quality of their results. Here’s how to get the most out of your web design agency.
Choose the Right Agency
The web design company you’ll hire determines if you’ll get a responsive, reliable, and customized site. Take time to consider various web designers and what they offer.
Look at different companies’ portfolios and experience in your industry. Choose one whose portfolio matches the vision you have for your website.
Consider a company’s communication from the beginning. Website building is a collaborative process, so you need a company that keeps you in the loop.
Plan Your Project
Create a brief containing ideas on the kind of website you want. Your brief can include details on the number of pages for your site and the kind of e-commerce functions and features you need. This will save time, as your agency won’t have to consult you on these details.
Consider your target market and what appeals to them so your agency can include it on your site. Your brief should also contain font, image, and color ideas.
You can add some website examples to give your agency an idea of what you want. This keeps you on the same page and increases the chances of getting your ideal website.
Sign a Contract
For a smooth web designing experience, sign a contract with your web designer. A valid contract serves as a record of commitments for both parties. It mitigates the risks of misunderstandings and conflicts for mutually successful results.
Here are some of the key features the contract should contain:
- Project goals
- Timeline
- Each party’s responsibilities
- Deliverables
- Budget
- Payment Agreement
- Website’s ownership details
- Termination Agreement
Be as specific as possible in your contract, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Outline the contract with your agency. This limits surprises and eliminates the hassle of following up with your designer.
Recognize Their Expertise
You’ve chosen your web design agency because of their experience. Trust they know what they’re doing and give them room for creativity.
Expect some tweaks to your brief, as designers have the knowledge you don’t. They have their reasons for choosing specific colors, fonts, and layouts. Listen to these reasons instead of asking them to follow your brief to the letter. Their ideas are based on years of experience building websites, so they know what might work for your site.
Collaborate
While you give your agency room to work, you need to be involved in a few things. Here’s what to do to help your web designer deliver quality work:
- Submit your brief copy in time
- Review designs
- Provide all necessary resources like images on time
- Take part in site testing
Collaboration throughout the process makes work easier for the web design company. It gets your website off the ground faster.
Give Feedback
Business owners might confuse nit-picking with offering feedback. The former affects your relationship with your agency but the latter fuels productivity. Don’t be afraid to provide constructive feedback. Here are ways to ensure your agency receives the feedback positively;
Be Constructive
Saying you hate a particular design or color won’t get you what you want. Instead, consider why you dislike each element and communicate with your designer. Discussing the why allows the designer to come up with more suitable features.
Listen to their reasons for choosing their elements. They may have reasons you could have overlooked.
Give Positive Feedback
Communicating what you like lets your agency know they’re on the right track. This eliminates indecisiveness and fastens the website-building process.
Be Decisive
Constant additions and changes take time to implement. They can derail your project and demotivate your web designer. Don’t be too quick to change your mind once the project starts.
Planning and not asking for too many opinions can help avoid indecisiveness. Decide on your site’s elements and features with your agency and stick to the plan until the project ends. Only request changes if you’re sure they’ll improve your site’s usability.
Follow These Tips When Working With a Web Design Agency
How fast your website gets off the ground depends on how you work with your web design agency. Set yourself up for quality results from the beginning by choosing the right agency. Then, create a plan, and ensure you communicate with the agency.
Give them room to showcase their expertise, but not so much that you’re not involved in the project. Web designing is a collaborative effort requiring your input and your agency’s expertise.
