There are so many choices when it comes to web design companies,
so how do you know which is the best for you?
Obviously there are lots of considerations, so we offer you this handy guide
of what to consider in your review for a web design company.
Is Their Design Style Your Style?
Check out the look of the web design company’s website.
If their website looks like a template, that’s likely what you’ll be getting for yours.
We believe if you’re better than your competitors, your website should be better – and more memorable – than theirs. Custom websites create that difference. See our website section here.
When comparing web design company’s websites, people focus on which is the most memorable. Then think about your prospects viewing a bunch of websites (along with yours): will yours be the one that stands out?
Do They Have a Marketing Perspective?
How can you tell if you’re working with a marketing-focused web design firm?
Check out the web design firm’s website. If the homepage is all about them, they’re not a marketing-focused organization. That’s because a prospect doesn’t care about you (or us) – until they know how you (or we) make their lives better, easier, or solve their problem. They just want to know “What’s in it for me?”
Do They Respect Your Audiences Time?
We’re all members of The Short Attention Span Society, so highlight what you bring to the table ASAP.
People make judgements in a matter of seconds. Some studies suggest that takes place in one second, though we prefer to say 5 seconds. How do you get their attention? Video goes a long way to telling how you help them.
We create educational and engaging videos for your homepage that tell your story quickly. Check out videos we’ve done for American Heritage Homes, The MBIE Transit Agency, Romanelli & Hughes, RustBelt Offroad and Shadow Six Racing.
How Do Dogs Fit Into the Equation?
Dogs are master marketers: they make it seem like it’s all about YOU.
Dogs bring an emotional aspect to life. How is that relevant to a website and marketing? Because people often decide by emotion first, then logic. So if you’re not addressing the emotional side, you’re missing out on a percentage of your audience.
Need proof? Why do people buy Mercedes and Porches instead of Hondas and Nissans? BMWs and Land Rovers cost more than Fords and KIAs, but they make people feel better about themselves.
Do They Offer Search Engine Optimization?
SEO is based around the exciting world of keyword research. It’s critical to being found organically on Google.
SEO is a specialty not all web design companies offer. And there’s many different levels of SEO expertise. Ask for documented success of their SEO efforts.
There’s also Search Engine Marketing (SEM), which is different than SEO. What’s the difference?
- SEO is what happens ON your website to make it show up well in Google’s organic results, and
- SEM is what happens OFF your website, like getting backlinks to your website, social media and running both Google Search and Display Ads.
See our SEO and SEM section here.
Do They Write Content That’s SEO-Optimized?
No one knows your services and products as well as you. Because of that, you’d think you, or someone in your company, would be the best person to be writing content for your website.
But writing for the web is very different than writing for print, so we often tell clients to think twice about writing copy for their own website.
We’ll work closely with you to take the wealth of knowledge you posses, and turn it into meaningful content that works for your audience, and with Google’s algorithms.
Are They Keeping Up With Google’s Algorithms?
It’s Google’s world, we’re just living in it, so if you’re wondering how to make your website play well with Google, read on.
Of course, there’s many of factors that platy a part in ranking well in Google’s searches. Two to ask about (read about other SEO factors here) are:
- Ask if they know which version of your website is the version of your website Google uses to determine how worthy it is of ranking well. (Answer: “Mobile first indexing” is the default algorithm Google uses.)
- Ask what goes into their on-page SEO. It’s more than you’d think. See what goes into an SEO-optimized page in this video we put together.
Ask Them “Why is Blogging so Critical?”
Because blogging IS new business development. Sharing your knowledge through blogs that are engaging and educational is part of an SEO strategy to help drive prospects to your website.
And rule #1 is: Don’t talk about yourself. That’s because no one cares about you (or us) until they know how you can help them. Share your wealth of knowledge about how your products or services make their business, or lives, better.
Blogging is the best way to regularly update your website. And the more you update it, the more Google re-indexes it, keeping it relevant in their search results. And the better you show up in search results, the easier it is for people to find you. Read more about the benefits of content creation here.
Ask About The Training On Your New Website.
Do they include a video tutorial for how to add blogs?
Since blogging is one of the things you’ll likely do most often on your new website, ask if they’ll provide a detailed video tutorial for how to do that.
Of course, we give you a run through for how to use your website. However, we also give you a video tutorial for how to add blogs to your website. If you don’t work with your website often, it can be easy to forget how to do that.
In addition, if you turn over the bogging to someone who wasn’t in the in initial training session, that video will be critical.
Can They Coordinate Your Social Media?
Social Media can be a integral part of getting people to your website.
Ask a few key questions:
- Do they have platform-specific knowledge and do they stay current with algorithm changes and trends?
- Do they invest in analytics and monitoring tools which allow them to scale efforts up, or down, based on actionable insights?
- Can they target your audiences based on demographics?
- Do they have protocols for handling negative comments that might result in potential PR issues?
- Can they demonstrate your return on investment?
Working with an established web design comppany gives you access to designers, copywriters, and video producers who specialize in social media-optimized content.
With Web Design, like Cars, Clothes, and Haircuts: You Get What You Pay For.
If a memorable, marketing-focused website gets you additional clients, it’s well-worth the investment.
A great website, with serious SEO, helps prospects find you, instead of you finding them. And when that happens, your sales efforts are so much more rewarding.
Reaching more prospects lets you spend more time doing the things you love, instead of networking. (Not that we have anything against networking: that could be targeted marketing, too.) But wouldn’t you rather spend time with friends and your favorite activities, than doing sales?
Let’s start a conversation and see how we might be able to help with your marketing. Contact us today.