How to Select My Web Design Firm

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when choosing who to work with in developing my internet business.

Ask yourself these questions.

• What does the designer's company site look like?
• Are the designers that developed it still with the company?
• Did they out-source their own site?
• What do the sites in their portfolio look like?
• Is the team that developed the sites I like still with the company?
• Are they available for my project?
• Is this a company I can trust?
• How long have they been in business?
• Will they be available should I have future changes to make to the project?
• Can I have references?
• Do they have project management experience with projects similar in size to mine?
• Do we agree on the scope and budget of the project?
• Are they listening to what I want? Or are they telling me what I want?
• Do they have the design skills I am looking for?
• Do they have the technical ability to develop my site?
• Do they have the technical ability to maintain the site and give continuing support?
• Am I personally going to be able to work with them?
• Do they have a clear methodology?
• Do they have team members available to do all of the work that I need including photography, sound, animation or programming?
• Can they work with my legacy systems, the files or data I already have?
• Can they develop a site that can grow as my business grows?
• Do they understand my business?
• Can they bring traffic to my web site?
• Do they understand Search Engine indexing?
• Are they enthusiastic about my project?
• Are they available to work on my site and launch by my deadline?

Your company is entitled to:

• Accurate estimates
• Open, regular communication
• A written contract
• A written schedule that will be adhered to
• Immediate notification of any potential delays or problems
• Pay only for authorized work
• A written log of hours and tasks, if paying by the hour
• Monitor the project as it develops
• Rapid turnaround
• Security and privacy precautions
• Work as described in the contract

design42 is entitled to:

• Information to base our estimate on
• A written contract
• A deposit
• Receive the images, text or whatever your company is providing within the time frame we have scheduled
• Written authorization for changes in authorized work
• Timely response to questions