Hiring an agency to build a website for your brand will be a major expense. With such investments, you want to be sure to research and pick the right agency that will meet your needs and your budget.
It can be overwhelming when choosing a web agency. There are thousands of website agencies out there competing for your business.
There may even be more than one near where you live. But which one can help take your web presence to the next level?
In this article, we are sharing what you need to do before you start searching and what factors the right web agency should have.
Understand Exactly What You Need
To find the right web agency, you need to understand exactly what you want for your website. There are website agencies that do general work, but there are a lot of agencies that specialize in certain types of websites.
Another factor to determine before searching for website agencies is your budget. You don’t want to find a company that you like only to realize you can’t afford their services.
Other costs to factor in the budget is hosting and on-going support.
Knowing what you’re looking for will filter out a lot of options and get you in front of agencies that can cater to your needs.
Where to Find a Web Agency
There is no shortage of website agencies these days, so they’re very easy to find. The best way to scope them out is to do an online search.
You can find an agency that is near you, or you can choose any agency no matter their location. These days, a lot of web work can be done remotely.
When you have a list of different agencies to consider, be sure to look for reviews to determine their quality of service.
Afterwards, check out their websites to see if they do good work similar to the type of website you want. Then see if they can do it within your budget.
See Their Work
When getting in contact with the agency, you want to talk about their experience and look at their website portfolio.
Make sure they can build the type of website you want. If you want to have large features or complex, interactive pages, be sure to ask if they have the skillset to do so.
Portfolios are proof of skills. Anyone can say they have the skills to code and build websites, but if they're the real deal, they can prove it to you.
They should be open to sharing with you examples of previous work they have done.
Ask About Communication
Building a website is a big project for your business and the last thing you want is to not to hear back from your agency for weeks.
Communication is key. Ask them about communication and how they will handle keeping you up to date with status reports.
They need to keep you updated through the whole process. They should act professional and respond to your calls, texts or emails within a reasonable 24 hours as any other business would.
If they are showing signs of poor communication when you are first contacting them and asking for a quote, take it as a red flag.
Talk Deadlines and Expectations
You need to be upfront about any deadlines and expectations you have. If you have a certain deadline in mind, tell it to them immediately.
They may not be able to take on your project if their plates are already full.
If they are okay with your deadline, talk about your expectations. What do you envision for the website? Do you have any examples of websites that you love?
Ask your agency if they can meet the expectations.
They Should Be Proactive
To be proactive means to stay on top of things. A proactive website agency will be on the alert to detect issues early, fix bugs quickly and address your concerns promptly.
When you have a proactive team working quickly for you, it shows that they value you as a customer, and they take pride to produce and deliver quality work.
Being proactive shows their expertise and that they know what they are doing.
Interview Them Like an Employee
When contacting these agencies, interview them as if you are hiring them as an employee. Ask all the questions that we have talked about above. Then ask them about their feelings towards their work.
Some questions you could ask are:
● What is your favourite website that you have worked on, and why?
● What makes a good client relationship?
● What makes you better than the competition?
Think of interview questions to get a feel on how they perceive and feel about their work.
Check References
The last thing you want to look for in a web agency is references. You will want to get in touch with previous clients to ask about their experience with the web agency.
Consider ruling out any agency that doesn’t provide references or makes excuses.
When connecting with their references, ask them about their budget, if deadlines were met, if communication was on point, what challenges were faced and if they would recommend the agency.
Keep these references in mind when making a decision.
Looking For the Right Web Agency?
Looking for the right website agency to help take your business to the next level can be a daunting task. Building a website is a big project and you need to find the team that will get it done right on time for a price you can afford.
You can find agencies anywhere, but the trick is to filter out the ones that aren’t meant for you and narrowing your search to the best ones to pick from.
You can filter your search by looking at their portfolios, interviewing them, and checking references.
You want the agency that is proactive and focused on customer satisfaction.
When you take everything above into account, be sure to go with your gut instincts if you still can’t decide.