Featured article

What Questions Should I Ask a Web Design Company?

Good web design is essential for a business to do well online. This is because first impressions matter and good web design builds trust in a brand. In fact, it is estimated that 48% of internet users consider a well-designed website the number one factor in assessing how credible a business is. 

In addition, good web design is important because

• Visitors are more likely to abandon a website if the content difficult to read or the layout is unattractive
• Most visitors will give up on a webpage that takes longer than 2 seconds to load
• Mobile devices account for 2 out of every 3 minutes spent online so a website must perform well on both desktop and mobile platforms
• Good design can improve rankings in search results

However, even within Edinburgh, there are a host of web design companies offering different website packages and different services for wildly different prices. How do you decide which one is qualified to take on the huge responsibility of designing your online shop front?

Data Computer Services is an experienced web design company in Edinburgh and we understand the confusion that businesses face trying to make this decision. To help we have compiled a list of questions to ask potential web design companies in order to gauge their level of expertise and experience, find out what services they offer and understand what you get for your money.

Essential Web Design Questions

1. Can I see examples of websites you have designed for other companies?

By looking at other websites you will be able to get a flavour of the variety of design styles that the company can offer. You can also check out how well their websites perform i.e. how fast they load and how easy it is to find and navigate to other pages

2. Do you offer cost per page or fixed cost packages?

It is important that you know what you are paying for. Fixed cost packages work particularly well for businesses that have a fixed budget they need to keep within. Always ask for a breakdown of what is included in the price.

3. Are photographs included in the price?

Actual photos are usually preferable but sometimes good quality stock photos are necessary. If this is the case you will need to know if these are included in the price or not

4. Will my website be designed for SEO optimisation?

Websites need to be found by customers using search engines like Google. This means that they have to be coded with SEO in mind e.g. images optimised so that web pages load quickly, relevant keywords visible in content. Check if this is something that your web design company can offer.

5. Will my website design work well on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices?

With more and more people accessing the internet on smartphones and tablets a responsive website design is essential. In fact, 40% of people say they will choose a different search result if the first one is not mobile friendly.

6. Do you have an office?

Many web designers have full-time jobs elsewhere and do web design in their spare time. This may not be a problem for you but if you want the reassurance of a company you can contact and speak to during normal working hours, choose a company with proper premises you can visit.

7. Is everything done ‘in house’?

Building a professional website takes a lot of different skills. A large complex website may require a team of people working on it whereas a simple website may be completed by a single individual. Either way, it is important to know how skilled the company you have chosen is. Find out if they have their own ‘in-house’ designers & coders or if they will need to outsource some of the work to third parties. Outsourcing is not a problem in itself but it can lead to delays which mean that your website takes longer to complete.

8. Will you be able to support my website when it is live?

Websites need to be maintained. Website themes, plugins and WordPress need to be updated on a regular basis. This is necessary in order to apply new functionality and to install the latest security patches which will stop your website being hacked. Check if this is something your web design company offers and if so how much it will cost.

9. Will you be available to update the content on my website?

As the owner of a website, there will come a time when you want to update the content, add new content or make other changes to your site. Find out if your web design company will provide this service and also the cost of making changes to your website e.g. updating content, adding a new image, adding an extra page, changing the menu or footer etc.

10. Do you offer domain name registration?

All websites need a domain name before they can go live. Find out if your web design company can check if the name you want for your site is available and if they can register it. Some companies like DATA Computer Services also provide a domain name parking service for customers who want to register domains they may want to use in the future

11. Do you provide website hosting services?

Your new website needs to be stored on a hosting server. This is a service that most web design companies now offer. Even if you already have a hosting provider it might be worth checking out what services and prices your potential new web-design company can offer. They may be able to offer a better deal than the one you currently have.

Data Computer Services provides a wide range of IT services for businesses throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians. We offer a bespoke web design service, website hosting and a domain name registration and management service. We understand that getting a new website is a big investment for a business and our aim is to make it as smooth and stress-free as possible.