Not every project is right for every web design & development firm. While we hope that you choose integritive, we understand that finding the right match for your business is important. More often than we like, clients come to us after starting a project with another company or freelancer and for one reason or another have not been able to finish the work. This kind of setback takes up time, money and potential earnings for your business while also leaving you discouraged and weary of the Internet world. This is why we think picking the right web vendor for your needs is the most important step in the process to a successful website. For these reasons we have put together a list of the 5 most important questions to ask when selecting a web vendor (even if you don’t decide to work with us)!
- Can you show me examples of similar projects?
The easiest way to start narrowing your choices between web vendors is to look at the work they have already done. Look online at their portfolios, read their reviews and look at their client list. While the first step is to decide if the type of design work is a good fit for your businesses aesthetic and vision, the step most people miss is to look at work that is comparable to your own needs. Ask the company to show you projects they have completed successfully with your specific needs.
- What is your process?
The process for building a website can vary from company to company and is extremely important to understand before you get started. Well-organized companies with experience can outline for you the project’s step-by-step process and what will be required from you along the way. While this seems simple enough, it’s a quick way to ascertain whether a company will be reliable in completing your project while also preparing you for what is ahead.
- Tell me about your company…how large is your team?
This is probably the number one question our clients don’t ask. Often they think that the size of a company doesn’t matter or that by hiring a freelancer they will save money and have more direct contact with the designer. Why is this a problem? It’s not that all freelancers are bad or unreliable, we at integritive utilize a team of in-house and contract freelancers that do excellent work, but they come with the backing of an established company that vetted them to be sure they were right for the job. Knowing the size and experience of a company will assure you that your site is in good hands and will be completed on time. Full service digital agencies like integritive mean that your website will be strategically planned with the insight of many different creative departments from design & development to content and marketing.
- Will I be able to make changes to my website myself after it is launched?
Whether you decide you want to manage your website and make edits yourself or pay someone else to, it’s important that you have the capabilities to edit it if you need to. Websites built with Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress or Magento offer user-friendly dashboards to edit content, add photos and pages so you aren’t dependent upon a web developer to make changes for you.
At the end of the day, the purpose of your website is to help grow your business and to have a way to measure the results. Asking a web vendor how they measure results tells you whether or not they have a real strategy to how they build websites and an understanding of what you as a business owner need. If the company can’t answer this or simply says, “to drive traffic” then you know they don’t understand the purpose.
With these 5 questions we hope you can find the web company the best fits your needs even if it’s not integritive!