Getting Started
OK, you’re ready to find an agency to redesign your website. What’s the first thing you do; Google it, right? Not this time. For a decision as important as this, you need to do some upfront work to ensure you know what to search for and to prepare for the pre-qualifying conversations that will happen next. To start, you will need to do some research to identify the criteria you’re looking for in your new website and website partner. You may also want to recommend that some of your colleagues who will be decision makers during this process do the same. Doing this upfront will inform your search before it even begins, and save you time and money in the long run. To help with the process of choosing a web design company, we’ve compiled a write up on the five steps you can take to ensure you stay on track.
- Research – The best way to find out what you need or want on your website is by looking at other websites. Take the time to review sites you like from a design and user experience perspective, in and outside of your industry. Get an idea for the style of site you like; Do you prefer large images or video, did the site have a feature you liked, such as a social media feed or an interactive game?
- Use Your Network – Now is the time to use that professional network you’ve built up. Talk to your colleagues and peers to get referrals, contact existing resources. Find out what you should be looking for in a web design company from people who have gone through the process.
- Initial Agency Search – You may also want to identify agencies specializing in your industry with branding and website design and development experience. This step will yield lots of options, but narrow your list to no more than five agencies before proceeding as having too many options is neither efficient nor effective.
- Website Structure – Do you want your site built in a platform that allows you and your team to make content changes in-house? Or, are you looking for your web partner to manage your website and any changes on your behalf?
- Roles and Responsibilities – Do you prefer to work hands-on or hands-off? Will your team create and supply all of the content and imagery for your new website or do you prefer for your website partner to handle acquiring those assets for you? Have you identified a team member who will be the point person for the agency to work with during the website design and development process?
- Are There Guidelines? Do you have established brand standards? These branding guidelines might include your brand positioning, brand voice, colors, fonts, imagery, iconography, etc. that make up the elements of your brand. If so, this would be something you would mention and provide to your agency partner upfront so your website can be consistent with your overall brand image.
- Do You Have a Customer Profile? The most effective websites are built with the end customer, not the client, in mind. Do you have a defined target market for your brand? Are you able to provide not only demographic customer information such as age, sex, and HHI, but also psychographic information, such as personality characteristics, interests, and motivations? Have you established the customer journey process, meaning the steps your customer goes through when interacting with your company? Do you know how long on average this process takes? Any information you have would be helpful for your website designer.
- Do You Have a Functionality Wish List? What functionality do you want incorporated into your new website? Do you need a donation platform, ecommerce functionality with an online store, an event calendar with registration ability, password protected areas, etc.? Categorize these into “needs” and “wants” and know what is mandatory for your new website and what would be nice to have. Knowing these functionalities from the start will help your website design company better define the scope of your ideal site.
- Budget – Is there a set budget you are working with? Knowing this upfront will help your website partner determine what platform and structure is best for you, and will avoid wasting your time vetting partners that might be unrealistically out of budget.
The Big Takeaway
While this may seem like a lot of steps, they are all crucial in selecting the right web design company to build your new website. Trust us, it will cost you more in the long run if you engage the wrong partner and have to stop and restart your website design all over again. By following this strategic five-step approach, you can be confident your agency website partner will be in sync with your branding goals and create a dynamic website that can evolve with your brand and delivers an exceptional user experience to your customers.
