So, you’ve decided you need a new website design or have one you’d like to improve, but you need to figure out where to start due to the thousands of results in that Google search that invariably brought you to this article. There is a wealth of choices and opportunities out there, but it’s here that fools rush in, hesitaters stumble, and procrastinators do what they do best: either do nothing or be late.
You need a reliable source, a voice you can trust to guide you through researching and selecting the best option for your business. This article aims to be that voice, helping you make informed decisions about where to invest your resources and some pitfalls to look out for before committing your hard-earned cash.
Let’s focus on five key elements: Choice, Trust, Knowledge, Cost, and Time. These are not just random concepts but the signposts guiding you through your website development journey. Understanding their significance will equip you with the tools to navigate this process confidently.
Everyone likes choice, but who do you turn to when it comes to marketing and website design? You could use platforms that enable you to get a website design live, or when you’re not confident, you can ask someone else to take care of it for you, like a freelancer or an agency.
The point here is that you can attack your project any way you see fit, but with choice can come too many options and more decisions. Selecting the correct option will come down to trust and accessibility. If you choose an agency or freelancer, you need to ask if they are the right fit for your business. Do they have a strong reputation, or are they a new kid on the block?
At this point, business owners will swing towards a decision where their comfort zone is highest, which is only sometimes the correct decision. Selecting a large agency means you’re buying on reputation, which invariably comes with a cost, which we will discuss later. Additionally, some might ignore the freelancer because they are too small or too new.
Much of this decision comes back to your business goals and priorities. When selecting who to work with vs. doing it yourself, it’s important to weigh up your knowledge of a topic. If you have some website or marketing experience, then a do-it-yourself approach initially can be an affordable and effective option.
If you are learning everything from scratch, conducting your research is essential. Ask yourself:
• Can I build a website myself?
• What type of website design do I need?
• How do I purchase a domain for my website?
• Do I have the correct terms and conditions in place?
• What’s Google Analytics 4?
• What platform should I use for my website design? Wix, Shopify or WordPress.
• How can I protect my customer’s data?
With so much to consider, you must settle on the cost and what you can afford during this decision. Cost can often blindside business owners if they focus only on getting a site live ASAP.
Too many businesses usually invest in the website design, select an agency, commit to long-term heavy contracts, or commit thousands of pounds, but you must remember one thing. Getting a site live isn’t enough, and this is where any supplier worth their salt or who has the values you should look for will assess your website needs and business goals before putting an invoice in front of you.
If you’re a small business with a £1000 budget for their website design, many marketing professionals will happily provide a service for this. Still, if that’s your total budget, you must not forget that you might need copywriting, SEO, social media and other marketing channels. The old-age phrase of “build it and they will come” isn’t something you can trust, so consider everything before you start, as you will need an additional budget to support people knowing your website exists.
When purchasing a new website design, asking about ownership and access rights is very important. If you wish to try a new agency or supplier and exit a contract, often the supplier retains ownership of your online presence, and you can start from scratch and lose your investment. What’s important here is how specialist or extensive your project is, as this will impact the type of supplier or agency you work with.
Always look for ownership or monthly fee structures and ask what you receive for your money. If you receive a lot of fluff and bluff and are confused, they probably are not the right partner for you. Equally, if the fee structure has a fixed dynamic for unclear reasons or an ongoing fee that goes beyond a year without clear reasons, it’s a red flag and brings you back to the need for knowledge and trust.
Finally, it’s critical that you consider time, which is precisely your time and project delivery time. Do you have the time to do the work yourself, get buried in the weeds, and will it impact your ability to deliver for your business’s customers?
Never unthinkingly pass a project off to a supplier and cross your fingers, but find the balance so you don’t become an obstacle for the supplier to deliver your project successfully.
Then there is the time element for delivery and setting deadlines. Always ask yourself when you need a project delivered and then ask yourself why. The most crucial aspect is that you get things right unless the deadline is for a particular and essential reason. Remember that phrase from childhood when your Grandpa would say, “More haste, less speed?” Never prioritise delivery targets over output quality, and with this in mind, plan ahead with the supplier and your team.
For more information visit:
Web Design | Aurum Mediaworks Websites Designed with Wix
https://www.aurummediaworks.com
London, United Kingdom
Aurum Mediaworks provide website design services for small and medium-sized businesses. We listen to your needs, understand your business and can deliver fast turnaround websites. Additional support with site content, copywriting, SEO fundamentals and prices to fit your budget. Long-term fixed contracts are not required.
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