Sometimes, when you embark on a project, you have a lot of questions about the process, and you might not be sure what you’ll encounter.
Working with a
web designer or web design company can be like that, too. You might have questions about the timeline, payment, ideas, or simply the process of getting your website where you want it to be.
Let’s talk about what you can-and should-expect when you hire a web designer to help represent your business online.
Figuring Out Your Business
Let’s be honest: it’s not possible to work effectively on someone’s website without understanding what the site is about, including what the company does, what products or services it offers, and what makes the company tick.
You can anticipate that your web designer will want to conduct some form of discovery. Early in the project, the web design company will often interview you to determine what you’re looking for, but some firms go further.
You might receive a written questionnaire asking you to answer questions about your business. These may cover information found in your business plan as well as less formal details about your customers, competitors, processes, personality, and long-term goals.
The company might also request other pieces of “information collateral,” such as internal documents,
brand guidelines, existing marketing materials, photography, or examples of websites you like. This information helps the designer develop the right
website strategy and digital experience for your organization.
If you’re concerned about the privacy or security of sensitive information, you can ask for a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. The web design company is gathering this material so it can better understand what your business is about, how it operates, and ultimately, how it should be represented online.
Timelines and Deadlines
You should expect your web designer to keep you informed about timelines for deliverables, reviews, approvals, and important project milestones.
A website project may include several smaller task timelines within the overall project schedule. Because not every technical or creative consideration can be predicted in advance, the company may proceed in stages.
Discovery, content preparation, design, development, testing, revisions, and launch may each have their own schedule. Some stages also depend on the client supplying content, feedback, login credentials, photographs, or approvals by an agreed-upon deadline.
A professional web designer should be clear and direct about the schedule, explain when something affects the timeline, and let you know what is needed to keep the project moving forward.
Communication and Clarity
Another thing you can expect from a good web design firm is expertise in managing client communications.
The proper communication cadence usually includes regular check-ins to address decisions, approvals, and questions without creating a constant barrage of messages that takes too much time away from your work or family life.
This communication should provide value to both the client and the web design team. It should help the project move forward smoothly rather than mire it in unnecessary details or endless revisions in pursuit of elusive perfection.
Clear communication also means understanding who is responsible for each part of the project, how feedback should be submitted, and who has final approval. Establishing those expectations early can prevent contradictory instructions and unnecessary delays.
Problem-Solving
To a reasonable extent, you should be able to trust that your web design company can address the common obstacles that arise when building and maintaining an online presence. After all, this is its area of specialization.
You should feel comfortable approaching the firm with questions about
website hosting, security, mobile usability, accessibility,
content strategy and copywriting,
search engine optimization, or
paid advertising.
The company may not always have an immediate answer to every question. However, a good digital partner will investigate the issue, explain the available options, and help you make an informed decision.
Preparing for a Successful Partnership
A successful website project is a collaboration. Your web designer brings experience in design, development,
user experience, and digital strategy, while you bring essential knowledge about your business, customers, services, and goals.
The process works best when both sides communicate clearly, provide requested materials on time, remain open to professional recommendations, and keep the project’s larger business objectives in mind.
Talk to WebSubstance about getting your business website where it needs to be. Your online presence may require a comprehensive redesign, or it may simply need a few strategic improvements.
Either way, we have you covered. Our team combines
professional web design, content development, search engine optimization, paid advertising, and broader digital strategy to help businesses strengthen their online presence.
Contact WebSubstance to discuss your website project.
