There are a multitude of different things to look for when on the hunt for a new website. Whether it’s for your business or own use. Here are 5 things to look for when seeking a potential web design / development agency.
What does their website build process look like?
There are so many ways as to which you can build a website. Fully custom coded, drag n drop page builders and much more. Looking at how an agency builds their websites can tell you a lot about their style and give you a taste of what you can be in for with your own website.
If you are looking for a fully custom web solution, then an agency that specialises in fully custom coded websites may be the best fit. However if you are looking for a clean, 10 page business website to showcase the services you offer, then an agency that specialises in building with platforms with page builders may be a better and more cost effective fit for you and your business
Do they build with a CMS in mind for easy website management?
Something that is often overlooked is the manageability of a website. A lot of web design / development companies will build you a great looking website but often it’s not developed with a CMS (Content Management System) in mind, or they will give you very little access to modify, add or remove things from your site.
If self-management or modifying your own website is not high on your agenda, then that’s ok, but if you are wanting those capabilities then having your site created with a CMS is incredibly important.
For example, if you run a cake making business and are producing a different selection of cakes a week, you may want to be able to display these options on your website as part of a portfolio. Having a site with a CMS, will give you the ability to do this with ease.
Do they have a portfolio of live websites?
One of the first things you should be looking for in a web design / development agency is whether or not they have a portfolio of LIVE websites. Not just a portfolio of some work they have done, but live websites that you can go visit and navigate around. The proof is in the pudding, if a company says they do something, then they should be doing it?
Being able to look through a live portfolio also gives you a great sense as to what kind of work they can put out for you as a potential client. You can see whether or not they will be a good fit.
What do their previous clients say?
Social proof or client testimonials are one of the easiest ways to determine whether or not a company is good, bad or even the right fit for you. Client testimonials and social proof are incredibly important when it comes to choosing a web design / development agency.
If the agency you are looking to go with doesn’t have the best testimonials then maybe it’s not the agency for you. This goes both ways, you can learn a lot about a company by reading what others have to say about them.
What else do they offer?
There are many different components that go into a website. It’s far from just a bunch of code resembling some pages on the internet. Digging a bit deeper into some of the other areas of a website, we have hosting, website performance, SEO, maintenance and more.
You can easily slap up a website on the internet and say job done, but 99.9% of the time that is never enough. For example, if a website takes longer than 3 seconds to load, a potential customer or client is more likely to exit your website and go somewhere else. That could end up costing you in lost revenue.
It is important that the web design / development agency you choose offers things such as website hosting, basic optimisation, routine maintenance and has great communication & contactability.
At frankworks, all of our client sites undergo regular maintenance to ensure they are secure and performing well. At launch, we set up basic site and seo optimisation, to ensure your website catches attention within Google Search. Furthermore, we offer additional services such as excellent website hosting, upgraded website security and more!
If you are in the market for a new website, then flick us a call or fill out the contact form and we can have a chat!
