Choosing a Small Business Web Design Provider - 5 Easy Questions

You've heard the horror stories about people who have chosen the wrong small business web design company.
It can be a relative or schoolmate, the local guy from your neighbourhood or a even web business with a solid reputation.
Many times your web site build begins well and things go from bad to worse as the cost sky rockets or your web guy focuses on other projects and does not call you back. They lose interest in small business web design and go overseas. Or it turns out they know how to write html code but nothing about business or marketing.

Ask the following questions of your small business web design firm to ensure you get a website that performs well.

1. How good is your after sales service?
Always ask for evidence of how good your web designers' after sales service is. Many small business web design companies focus solely on the initial project of building your web site. But they are not set up to help you build your business after the web site is built.

What happens to your business if there is a problem with your web site or you need something updated urgently and your web designer does not respond?
For many businesses your web site is a critical component. If your website goes down it can be as bad as closing your doors.

Great web designers want to have a long association with your business. They'll constantly suggest ways to improve your web site and your business.

To identify a good web design company, don't just ask them if their after sales service is good. They'll obviously say yes.
Instead ask them what happens after your web site goes live. By asking this you find out if they will be proactive or simply ignore you.

2. Will the design of my web site look fantastic and fit my brand perfectly?
A successful web site gives a great first impression and is consistently branded.
Branding is a crucial part of your businesses image and far too many websites have brands that under perform.

As a visitor arrives at your website the first impression they form about you and their level of familiarity with your brand develop in a split second. This establishes how credible your visitor perceives you to be and can significantly influence whether you convince them.

Good branding means your web site, business card, letterhead, vehicles and sign-age should all look the same. Every time a prospect sees your brand you get an opportunity to enhance their confidence and familiarity with your business.
If visitors don’t recognise your brand because it looks different to the last time they saw it, you have to start building that trust all over again.

So never let the all important first few seconds be wasted having to reacquaint your prospect with your brand. Your brand must be consistent across everything that has your logo on it.

Review websites that were built by the web company you are considering and evaluate how consistent they are with shop fronts, car signs, business cards and what ever else has their branded on it.
You can learn all you need from a simple comparison.

3. Do you provide a sales copy writing service?
Well written sales copy instantly shows your best customers they are in the right place. It makes it easy for them to find the information they are looking for and it answers all their questions.
It creates a personal connection with your best prospects, guides them through your web site and compels them to call you.

If you don't take care of this important step, the number of visitors to your web site may not matter, because none of them are persuaded to call you.

Once again, review the list of websites that have been built by your potential web partner. Do they consistently have a convincing message or do they put you to sleep?

4. Will I need a degree to update my website?
With the right CMS (content management system) your web site will be easy to update and does not require a PhD to use it. And it eliminates the risk of you accidentally breaking your web site.

It's easy to change what you need to change and you can do so at your convenience. And over time you save a lot of money because you’re not paying your web designer to make every change.

Before you make your decision be sure to request a guided tour of the content management system that your web company is offering.
You can afford to discover you've chosen the wrong system after it's too late to change your mind.

5. What sort of results do your customers get?
Many details must be done well to build an effective web site. Creating html code, optimizing for Google, Facebook marketing or developing email campaigns. It's very difficult for somebody who new to web design to properly evaluate every aspect.

Far simpler, is to ask for proof of customer success.
Any web designer worth their salt will guide you through a process and identify what methods will get you the best results. So check out the websites they have developed and the successes that they are helping their clients to achieve.
While a web designer can not be responsible for the success of their clients, having a large number of successful clients is a good sign.

When I help a client evaluate their requirements for a web site, I make no assumptions.
And don't you make any assumptions either. So figure out the most important question before you choose a web company:
Affordable web design: MUST I Build a Website To Promote My Business?

To your prosperous marketing,
Phil Donaldson
Anyware Web Design


Watch the video: Small business website - MUST I Build a Website To Promote My Business?