Ask Design Agencies these Questions before Hiring Them
Hiring a design agency is a big decision, and making the wrong choice could have long-term negative effects on your business. It requires a significant investment of time, money, and trust. In the beginning, your choices may seem endless, and narrowing it down to just a few may seem almost impossible.
Because we understand the importance of working with the right design agency, we’ve put together a list of questions we recommend asking potential design agencies before you bring them on board. Here are 7 key questions to help you choose the best design agency for your business:
1. What Are Your Capabilities?
Let’s say you need an eCommerce website. You’ll need to hire an agency that is competent in eCommerce web design and development. If that’s not an area of an agency’s expertise, you can cross them off the list. Or, if your business needs a learning management solution, and an agency doesn’t have experience designing in this sector, then again, you can cross them off the list.
Some agencies don’t offer certain services for a reason. They may specialize in specific areas, and choose to focus on perfecting their skills rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
Ask for a full list of capabilities, and then ask them if they can specifically do what you need them to do. There’s no better time to be as direct as possible. You don’t want to find out 2 months into the project that they don’t have the expertise or resources to produce the results you want.
2. Can You Prove Your Results?
In addition to getting general references and testimonials, as well as samples of websites they’ve designed, it’s important to ask for case studies that show specific results they’ve achieved for existing and former customers. While the aesthetics of the website are important, the overall design functionality and the results it produces are what matters most.
Web design is about more than just delivering a pretty website. It’s about the quality of the overall user experience. Make sure the agency you work with is able to produce both.
Ask agencies to describe – even if only on a high level – their strategies for improving your website’s performance. How will they do it? They aren’t going to give away all of their secrets, but they should at least give you an overview of how they’ll go about delivering the results you want.
3. How Much Will It Cost & What is Included in the Price?
At the end of the day, price does matter. Though it isn’t the most important factor, you have a budget that you need to stick to. Most agencies are willing to work with businesses to come up with a customized plan that meets your needs, and your budget. If an agency can’t provide you with some level of services within your budget, then you can cross them off the list.
A design agency should be transparent about their pricing. It may be difficult to lay it all out on their website, but upon request, they should be able to give you a close estimate based on your design needs. Be sure to ask for the cost of individual services vs. package deals, and to clarify what is included in any pricing they give you. It’s important to understand the overall value of working with one agency over another, vs. just looking at the price tag. Just because it’s cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a better deal.
Are you searching for website design agencies in Boston?
SMILE media is a Boston-based digital marketing agency with experience in web design and development, along with a variety of other internet publishing services. Contact us today to find out how we can help your business grow.
