What Should I Look for When Hiring a Web Design Company?
Quick Summary
When hiring a web design company, you want to consider a few factors, including:
- Design process
- Portfolio
- Website platforms
- Reviews
- Website strategy
- Mobile-friendly design
- Website ownership
These should help you determine if the company is the right fit for your needs.
The Process
You want to know what to expect and how involved you'll need to be. Generally, a website design process will include a consultation/design discussion, information gathering, design, editing/feedback, and publishing.
For example, here is our process at
Hummingbird Media:
- Intake questionnaire
- Kick-off call and design discussion.
- Content guide
- Homepage design
- Client feedback
- Remaining pages designed.
- Client feedback
- Final edits
- Website transferred and connected to the domain.
- Video tutorial recorded and sent.
Ideally, you want to work with a designer who has an established process that gives you plenty of opportunities to give feedback so you love the finished result. If the website designer needs written content or photos from you, providing them early will help the project stay on track.
Website Portfolio
Perhaps one of the most helpful things to consider is their past work. Many website designers share their past work online. For example, you can view Hummingbird Media’s portfolio on our website design page. If they don't have a website portfolio, ask them to send examples of their past work. If they’ve designed a website in the same or a similar industry, that can also work in your favor.
Website Platforms
If you have a specific website platform, such as Wix, that you want your website built on, make sure the designer can accommodate it. Every website platform is different, so website design companies often work on a few preferred platforms.
For example, while Hummingbird Media works on many different website platforms, we often recommend Duda because it’s user-friendly and easy for clients to manage once the design is complete.
Client Reviews
Client reviews are also an effective way to learn about the website design company. You may find reviews on their Facebook, Google Business Profile, and/or website. Look for reviews with specific information about client experience and the process. Vague reviews that say things like “great designer” may be positive, but they aren’t very helpful when you’re trying to see if you would be a good fit.
If you can’t find any reviews, you may ask the website design company if they have any references you can reach out to.
Strategy
You don’t just want a stunning website; you want one that gets you leads. During the initial consultation, ask about their strategy. Do they keep your customers in mind when creating the website structure, calls to action, and flow?
For example, at
Hummingbird Media, we ensure every website has several clear calls to action, lead forms, and a logical structure that makes it easy for customers to find the information they need. We also build our content guide around each client, helping them write content that will connect with their ideal customers.
Mobile-Friendly Design
On average, about 53.7% of users visit websites on their phones. This makes mobile-friendly design crucial. Ask the website design team how they handle mobile-friendly design. You can also view some of their past work on your phone to see how they approach mobile website design.
Mobile-friendly design considerations may include font size and alignment, layout, images, and more. For example, in the graphic above, you can see the difference between the mobile hero banner and the desktop version.
On mobile, a picture is followed by a blue section with the title and buttons. On desktop, the text and buttons overlay the image.
To create the same overlay on mobile, the image would have to stretch to fit the buttons and text. Because the photo is landscape, this would make it blurry and pixelated. Thus, a vertically stacked design was the better choice for mobile.
This kind of design choice is intentional and helps create a more user-friendly experience.
Website Ownership
Not every website design company handles website ownership the same. Some companies host your website and charge a monthly fee. Other companies, like Hummingbird Media, transfer the website to you after the design is complete, so you own it and pay hosting fees directly to the website platform.
Hosting fees are the monthly or yearly costs a website platform (such as Wix, Duda, or WordPress) charges to keep your website live on their platform. This differs from what you pay monthly or yearly for your
domain, the unique name of your website/URL (yourwebsite.com). Common domain providers include
GoDaddy and
Namecheap.
When Is It Helpful for A Website Design Company to Host My Website?
If you need frequent website updates and edits, it may make more sense to choose a website design company that includes edits in its monthly hosting fee. However, if you only need occasional edits or plan to make them yourself, it may make more sense to choose a company that transfers the website to you.
For example, at
Hummingbird Media, our clients pay a flat price for their website and then pay the hosting fee directly to the website platform. If they need edits later, we charge an hourly rate. This is a cost-effective approach for people who don't require frequent website edits. For clients whose
social media,
Meta and Google ads, and
SEO we manage, we will make website updates as needed to support our marketing efforts.
Schedule a Consultation
Getting a new website should be exciting, not stressful. Take the time to choose a company you can trust that understands your goals.
If you own a local service-based business in Arkansas and need a new website,
our team at Hummingbird Media would love to help. View our
portfolio and request a website design consultation on our
website. No matter who you choose to design your website, we hope it serves you well and brings your business a new season of growth!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a web design company?
Cost varies by company and project size. Companies often base prices on the number of pages and the website's complexity. For example, an e-commerce website typically costs more than a regular website.
If you'd like to get an estimate for your website project, please contact us for a free website consultation.
How long does it take to design a website?
Some companies build websites in weeks; others may require months. Project size and complexity affect design time. At Hummingbird Media, we can build a standard website (3-5 pages) in 1-2 weeks. Larger websites may take 4+ weeks.
What should I have ready before hiring a web design company?
We recommend having your branding, professional photos, and an idea of which pages you need before hiring a company. We recommend professional photos rather than stock photos to make your website feel more personal and authentic. At Hummingbird Media, our in-house photographer/videographer can take professional photos as an additional service.
Should I hire a local website design company?
Not everyone needs a local website designer but some may have a better experience choosing local. Local may be the right choice if:
- Your business is local
- You need someone who understands your market
- You want to be able to meet in person
- You need photography
If you own a service-based business in central Arkansas, our team would love to help.
Can I make edits to my website after it's published?
If you pay a monthly fee to your website design company, they will likely make edits for you. If you choose a company that gives you full ownership of the website, you will have full access to make whatever changes you need. At Hummingbird Media, we also provide a video tutorial to make simple edits easy.
If you don't feel confident about making the edits, it may be better to reach out to the website design company, rather than risk losing part of the design. We offer edits at an hourly rate for our website design clients.
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