Hiring the right web design agency is the first step to building a successful online presence for your business. In the absence of a reliable, professional and experienced website design agency, your online presence is off to a poor start. So take the time to carry out your due diligence when hiring an agency for your Melbourne business.
In this post, we look at the top 5 mistakes that many businesses make when choosing a web design agency. Steer clear of these mistakes and you are assured of a good start. Let’s start!
Choosing the Cheapest Web Design Quote
These are tough times, we agree! The pandemic-induced lockdowns have set many businesses back financially. However, your website is the last place to cut corners.
After all, your website is the first place many of your prospects visit to know more about your business and your products/services. By hiring a web design agency in Melbourne based on the cheapest quote, you may end up with a website that’s slow, buggy and lacks essential functionality.
People judge a business by the aesthetic appeal of a website. So if your website fails to impress in the first few seconds, you will lose visitors. If your website is not user-friendly, you will have a hard time keeping visitors engaged, which is essential when you want to convert visitors into leads or sales.
You get what you pay for. A website is an investment so don’t simply choose an agency based on the lowest quote but look at their experience and expertise before you make your mind.
Paying Too Much
This is the other end of the spectrum. While paying too little will not get you the website you need, paying too much does not mean you will get the best work. Not every business needs a website that costs $40,000. And a high quote doesn’t implicitly mean that it’ll be an out-of-the-world website.
The fact is that some web design agencies quote inflated prices to seem like they are better than their competitors. They think that a premium price will make them look highly experienced and skilled while the opposite is true.
Paying it all Upfront
This is another huge mistake that many business owners in Australia make. Would you trust a web design agency that asks you to pay in full before they even deliver any work?
Professional web design agencies request a deposit. The agency and the client then agree to a payment plan that runs until the site is live. Avoid hiring a website designer who asks for full payment before beginning the project.
Not Researching the Agency
This is a huge mistake that you must avoid at all costs. Be sure to check the credentials of every website design agency you are considering for your project. This means getting involved in some detective work.
Carry out a background check of the agency to know all about their history. Find answers to some critical questions: are they a legitimate web design agency? Are there any online reviews about the company?
Take a look at their portfolio to understand the quality of their work. Contact their past clients to know more about their professionalism, experience and customer service.
Put in the time to get to know the agency you are considering. Gain as much insight you possibly can. This will help you to avoid scams and fraud while steering clear of agencies with poor work ethics and subpar design.
Too Much Technical Speak
I have realised that a lot of clients don’t know much about website design, and that’s the very reason they are searching for an agency.
But some web design agencies use jargon and technical language when presenting their proposal. In such cases, clients may end up agreeing to something they do not clearly understand. But they must pay for those services because their web designer has asked them to.
However, what if all that tech-speak means paying for features and services you don’t really need?
If the web designer you are talking to is trying to confuse you with jargon and technical words, break free and search for an agency that can explain things in plain English.
Need help building a website for your business? Contact Walker Digital today!
