Should you hire a web designer for your business?

If you are a business owner, you have probably heard that having a website is important but you don’t have the time to build one. There are free website builders out there but do those work? You want to see results and business growth so you have probably asked yourself “should I hire a web designer?”

The answer is yes.

Working with a web designer takes a lot of stress off of you and your business. Web design is a craft and one that takes a lot of attention to detail. Anyone can throw a website up on the internet but not everyone can create one that generates results.

This is where working with a web professional comes in. You need someone who has extensive knowledge of developing a website that gets results for your business.

Here are some of the skills your web designer should be fluent in:

• Creating a website that is mobile friendly, draws user attention, drives people to your business, and gets your information across clearly.
• Optimizing your website for search engines so you are in front of the eyes of anyone searching for your products and services.
• Getting your business active on social media and tying your website and social media profiles together.
• Creating compelling content for your pages that educate people about you and encourage them to buy from you.

Those are only a few of the areas that a web professional should be fluent in and they are all monumental tasks on their own. The benefits of hiring a professional web design company far outweigh the price tag if the company can get you the results you want.

Benefits of Hiring a Web Designer

You will have more time to focus on your business operations. If you are a brick and mortar business and have a million other things to worry about aside from your website, a web designer could be extremely helpful. You can get the online presence you’re looking for without spending the time it takes to achieve it.

Your web professional can help guide you through buying decisions online. If you have been thinking about advertising online, a web professional can help you make the best decisions and get the biggest return on your investment. They should be able to guide you in the right direction so you can effectively target the marketing you’re after and get results.

A web designer will be able to implement all of the small details into your website that directly affects your success online. There are many aspects to a successful website and hiring an expert will ensure that your website is the best it can be.

Hiring a designer with search engine optimization skills will ensure that your website shows up in front of potential customers. They can research competitors and find ways to position your brand in a way that drives more leads to you.

There are many other benefits to hiring a professional designer but these are the biggest ones. Ensuring that the job is done right is a huge reason to hire a professional. Your website is like your digital storefront, you want to invest in it and build it the proper way.

You’re probably wondering, can’t I just use a website builder like Squarespace or Wix?

The introduction of platforms like Wix and Squarespace makes it easy for you to throw a website up on the internet but these often have very little benefits. There are so many Wix websites on the internet that don’t work on mobile devices. Mobile responsive websites are critical for online success and your web designer will know this.

When you use a website builder, you don’t have the expertise of a web designer. You have a tool to make a pretty website but no information about what makes that website work for your business. A website builder is only a tool and it takes skill and talent to wield them correctly.

Another problem with these DIY site builders is the fact that you have to host your website with them. You do not have the option to optimize your server for speed and SEO so you’re stuck with their speeds. A slow website that isn’t optimized will negatively impact the user experience on your website.

You need to work with someone who can build your website professionally and implement the marketing tactics and web knowledge that is going to drive clientele to your doorstep.

How much does it cost to hire a web designer?

This is the biggest question that every business owner asks and it’s a valid question. It is also a question that can’t be answered in a single blog post. There are tons of factors that go in to design cost and every company calculates it differently.

Here are some common factors that go into pricing web design services:

• How many features do you want to be included? Do you want a blog, an online store, or a reservation system for clients to use, etc.?
• How many pages need to be designed? Do you want a single page website with all the information on the home page or do you want a variety of pages?
• What kind of digital marketing strategies are being implemented?

Your web designer should ask you questions about your goals, what a successful outcome looks like to you, and what kind of marketing initiates you want to pursue. Most times, they will take this information and create a custom quote for your business.

Some companies offer web management services as well that cover updates to the website, software updates, and monitoring. These services are usually billed monthly. Most companies will work with you to make sure the pricing works for your company.

If content updates aren’t covered under a monthly charge, there will usually be an hourly charge for work when you request something to be changed.

Questions to ask a web designer before hiring them.

Here is a list of questions to ask your web designer before you hire them to build your website. You should ensure that your designer will work for you and accomplish your goals. The best way to qualify them is to ask questions.

1. How does the design process work?
2. Do you have a portfolio I can see?
3. Do you have any testimonials I can read or past clients I can speak to?
4. How will website maintenance work once the project is complete?
5. What marketing initiatives do you implement to ensure a good ROI?

Be sure to qualify your web designer and ensure that they are a good fit for your business. Not all web design companies are the same. Some of them specialize in specific niches while others do more broad work. Just be sure that whoever you work with is committed to building your business and meeting your goals.

BEWARE: If your web designer doesn’t ask questions about your business or try to learn about your goals, steer clear. The basis of marketing is learning and researching the business, nailing down a target market, and developing a strategy to achieve your goals. If your web designer never asks about your goals, chances are you will end up with a brochure website that gets no results.

Conclusion

Hiring a web professional to build your online presence is a great idea if you are looking to do the job correctly the first time. A web designer can walk you through the many steps involved in building a successful online presence.

Be sure to look at the benefits of hiring a professional, prepare to invest, and qualify your potential web designer to see if they will get the job done to your standards.

If you are looking for a web design professional who can take your business to the next level, Noctem Media is here to help. Learn more about our website services.