It’s not all about price, though the price is a big part. Here are 10 questions you should be asking your web design agency before commissioning the next redesign or new site build.
What is the typical budget range for your projects?
This is going to establish right off the bat whether or not the agency is right for your pocket. Find out as well what the breakdown of payments is and whether payments are tied to project milestones. Payment by instalments is far easier on your cashflow.
What is the typical turnaround time for your projects?
This will help you to understand what the timeline usually looks like for a project of your type. If it’s very long, that usually implies quite a lengthy, drawn out process and could involve you quite a lot. A very short turnaround time could indicate the agency isn’t getting much work or that you aren’t going to be involved much in the process.
When can you start my project?
Most agencies should be able to give you a clear expectation of when your project can start, based on their current and projected workload. It’s not likely to be immediate, though, so plan ahead.
What do you need from me before we start?
You’ll want a good idea of what you’ll need to produce for the project. It’s not all down to the agency, as you may need to obtain marketing materials, photographs, graphics, testimonials, fresh website copy and a whole host of other assets. Get an indication of when these will be required, too, as you will need to plan time to gather everything.
Do your clients see a return on investment?
Find out whether you are able to speak with any previous clients to find out what the redesign or new design has done for their business. Agencies should have a list of referees that they can provide, often in your own industry.
Does the price include making the site mobile friendly?
Not only do you want your site to be mobile friendly, but truly responsive to the requirements of all devices, including tablets and high resolution desktop systems. Ask if the design will include wireframing and retina-ready graphics, though you should expect to pay more for this. As a rule of thumb, it is fair to say that the development costs virtually double when considering responsive work.
Do you custom design or use templates?
A templated solution, while not always appropriate, need not be ruled out, especially if time or budget is a major consideration. Custom design work doesn’t come cheap, so you should expect to pay handsomely for this service, which will require a great deal of input from you in refining the design drafts to suit your requirements.
Who will own the website design when it’s paid for?
You should find out about intellectual property rights and how they will be managed. Often you won’t have full ownership of the finished product until fully paid up.
Do you offer maintenance, training or post-launch support?
Especially if you are purchasing a content management system or ecommerce platform, such software is going to require the same kind of attention as a desktop system, so consider how you will manage the system, update the software, and perform backups.
Who is the contact person and who is doing the work?
You ought to have a main point of contact to communicate with, either an account or project manager. This point of reference should be able to update you on the progress of the project and advise you what’s required and when. You might also find out whether the work is being done in-house or being outsourced, though that rarely has a bearing on the finished product.
Edward Solomon has over 30 years’ experience in project management, technical education, computer networking, web design and development and is a Digital Business Consultant for PENNInk Productions Ltd.
