Web design is big business and this is true to the point that there are in fact no end of agencies out there for you to choose from for buying these services. All over the UK, there are no end of firms for you to choose from. With this in mind – it can make you want to ask the question; who do I hire? The best thing to do is look at their portfolio, what work they have done and look too at who they have worked for and with. It is also a good thing to take your time and see what their wider service offering is too.
Check their portfolio and look for a web design agency that doesn’t rely heavily on old design cliches but comes up with new and original ideas for their websites. Look at this to see if they really do design or if they are selling re-used templates time and time again. If they do the latter, that is not a web design service.
As a service – an overview
When you hear the term web design your mind may immediately jump to mood boards, illustrations, and colour swatches, and while a web designer does create and control the aesthetics of a site – a key principle of successful web design – their multifaceted role includes so much more. A combination of functional and aesthetic elements, web design is what controls the look of a website as well as the site’s structure and the users’ experience of it.
It is the art of effectively planning and arranging content to meet the needs of the user while ensuring the site provides an efficient and aesthetically pleasing experience from start to finish. Smart and creative web design can turn the use of your website into an informative and enjoyable experience for your audience, leading them to trust and invest in your business and keep them coming back for more. It is a specialist, comprehensive service that supports your business online and is a key component of a successful business strategy in the competitive, digital world we now live in.
Assess your wider goals and objectives too
Are you a small business looking for a simple site that details your service and trading information, or a large company looking to launch an e-commerce platform that will potentially serve hundreds of thousands of consumers worldwide? How many pages will you need and what sort of content do you want to display? Will you be selling products directly from your site? If so, how many? Do you need a booking platform? A blog? A portfolio?
At the beginning of the process, it’s worth grabbing your notepad and writing down exactly what your business is and what you feel it requires to be successful. This could be an e-commerce platform, a blog, video content, or any other element that will ultimately add value to your website. Just write down anything that comes to mind, and don’t be afraid to ask questions when discussing these with the agency. If they’ve worked with a client in the same industry, they will likely have some tried and tested suggestions and will be able to show you working examples.
