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Over 300 websitesOnline sales via our sites in excess
of £20m 60 years collective knowledge
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT WEB DESIGN AGENCY?
The Why?1. Aims and objectives2. Choosing the right person3. Considering a RFP4. The brief5. Selection and pitch process
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Aims and ObjectivesWhat are you looking to achieve? - Increase leads and sales? Target a new audience? Re-brand? Or are you just unhappy with your current website?
Take the time to have worthwhile internal meetings
Research your customers and prospects
Build demographics and customer personas.
Putting in the time now to define your path and ultimate destination is time very well spent.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PERSON
Choose the right person
Don’t delegate the decision maker role.
Think of your business goals and involve all those that would benefit from your chosen web agencies work in the process.
This is likely to be your own marketing staff, sales team and those responsible for business growth.
CONSIDER A RFP
Consider a RFPA Request for Proposal (RFP) is certainly worth considering, particularly if you’re are looking for a web design agency to work with on an ongoing basis, or to save you time procuring one off services as you need them.
Put simply an RFP contains a short background about your company, the kind of work you do and how long you’ve been business.
At this point it should revert back to step one to outline your aims and objectives for your new website, the challenges you face and opportunities you’re trying to take advantage on.
THE BRIEF
The BriefAs part of your RFP, you will now move into the brief. Your design requirements, functionality requests etc.
This information should be as clear as possible and we recommend approaching no more than 3 companies to pitch. Approaching too many will not only be difficult to manage internally, but if an agency knows they are one of six others and are putting a lot of time to developing a bespoke proposal for you, some will just walk away.
It is also beneficial at this stage to outline realistic deadlines for project delivery, including timelines, your contact details for any questions the agency may have and a clear and transparent indication of your budget.
SELECTION OR PITCH PROCESS?
Selection or Pitch Process?There will be some occasions when you don’t need to run a full pitch process. This can be very time consuming for you and the agency involved.
For smaller projects approaching a highly recommended agency you have good chemistry with and that have a clear understand the brief may well be a better option.
WHO DO I CHOOSE?
Who Do I Choose?1. Look at their expertise
2. Do they outsource?
3. Are they a real agency?
4. Be forensic
5. Ask for recommendations
LOOK AT THEIR EXPERTISE
Look at their expertiseHow do they market themselves? What is there own website like? Is their blog up to date? Do they have testimonials, references, examples of their work and case studies?
Review their content streams, do they dress up as experts on social media by simple re-sharing others good work, or do they have their own opinion?
DO THEY OUTSOURCE?
Do They Outsource?It’s important to clarify here that good and indeed great freelancers have their place and many do a fantastic job. It is after all how many agencies are born and grow.
However, you need to know the people you ultimately decide to appoint are the ones doing the work! You bought into their expertise and confidence to deliver, not those of their supplier.
If they’re outsourcing a percentage of your project time too, they may well be putting a financial mark up on to you.
ARE THEY A REAL AGENCY?
Are They a Real Agency?
It’s very easy to appear to not be what you seem on line. Are they a network of independents with a virtual office and a pretty website?
Go and meet them at their place of business, get a feeling for them and their culture. Do they instill you with confidence that they can deliver?
BE FORENSIC
Be ForensicWith 20000 agencies out there, many come and many go; some very quickly indeed!
Look at their financials and how long they’ve been trading. This is not a dirty practice; you’re investing for the long haul and want your web design agency to be with you the whole way.
ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONSNow I’m not saying take to social media necessarily, ask for anything in Twitter or LinkedIn and the wolves descend. Connections of connections can comment on your posts so be wary just who is doing the name dropping, do you really know these people?
Talk to your suppliers and business contacts, who are they using now or used in the past? Did they actually get results from these particular web design companies?
Chemistry is great, but without the results to back it up, it shouldn’t rule your decision making process.
You’re Hired!
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