Frequently asked questions - HOW to select a web designer

Build vs. Design

Building a site requires expert technical knowledge whereas designing one needs a very creative mind so you may decide to choose a different provider for each principle. While Loos Consulting offeres bot hservices, some companies specializing in web design don't offer any developing process whatsoever. Think of it like building a new home. You wouldn't expect the construction workers to offer an interior design service as well. It requires two entirely different areas of expertise. The same principle is true for creating a website. The developer is the construction worker and the web designer is like the interior designer. However, in the IT world, you'll find many builders who also claim to be interior designers. Always ask to see other websites created by the company or provider and ascertain the process they have for build vs. design. If they have no idea of the difference in concept, walk away. It would be like asking the builder to decorate and furnish your home. Ensure you have a detailed blueprint of exactly what you want as this will determine a more accurate price before work begins. Without this, you could end up paying a lot more than you had anticipated.

Assess Experience

Has the web designer created any sites similar to the one you require? How many qualifications or how much experience do they have? As with any other service in everyday life, you want to hire someone who has the necessary skills and experience to carry out the job to the highest possible standards. If you want to sell products or services through your website, ensure the web designer you choose has sufficient knowledge on creating an e-commerce site complete with the ability to accept secure credit card payments.

Examine their portfolio

Any experienced web designer should have a good portfolio of sites they have created for previous clients and you should always ask to see this. Spend some time looking through these and evaluating them. Are they well designed? Do they appear professional? Is there any particular style that you like? As well as examining the portfolio ask the designer for references from previous clients and follow these up. Contact the customers and ask about their overall experience with the web designer. Were they pleased with the results? Was the site completed in a timely manner? How did the designer respond to their input? Was the website costly and did they get exactly what they paid for? Was there anything they didn't like about the company? Would they recommend the designer? It's important to get definitive answers to these questions to ensure you make the right choice of web designer.

Compare Costs

As already mentioned, the cost of designing a website can vary greatly. There are usually three ways in which a web designer will charge for their services.

· Per Hour. This calculation is based on the actual time spent creating your site. The web designer will have a specific hourly rate and this will be multiplied by the time spent to give a final fee. For example, if the designer charges $50 per hour and it takes 100 hours to design your site, the total due will be $5000.

· Fixed Price. Some web designers will charge a set fee depending on your individual requirements. Once you have established exactly what you want, the web designer will quote you a fixed price to create your site.

· Component Pricing. This generally means charging by the page, so the bigger the site, the more you will have to pay. However, some web designers will charge additional fees for features such as animation or graphics, so ensure you know exactly what is chargeable before agreeing a contract.