|
How To Select A Web Design Company?
Author: Wesley Groves, BA, MHA
I often tell fellow staff members that I would not want to be responsible for finding a company to develop a Web Application, Intranet or even just to design a simple site. The right selection is critical to the success of your business strategy, yet the search engines are cluttered with companies that say they can provide the services you seek. How many of them really can deliver what you need?
You will encounter various levels of technical skill, experience and design creativity. It is difficult to determine if a provider is capable of building your Intranet, custom application or Web site. We have been in this industry for over seven years and have discovered that providing specific types of information to clients is beneficial in their decision making process. Obtaining this information or holding prospective providers to this standard can help assure that your selection is the right one.
|
|
|
First of all, does the provider's Web site look good? If not, leave. If so, then compare their site to the sites in their portfolio. Is their site or the sites in their portfolio significantly better than the other? Do they all look the same? If any of these questions bring to mind any concerns, the provider may not have multiple designers on staff to ensure creativity and uniqueness.
Second, check their portfolio. Do they provide a significant number of projects for review? Do the projects seem complex or simple? Program applications are hard to judge from the surface, but when a provider can show a fair number of applications that exhibit a variety of function you can make some assumption as to the qualifications of the programming teams.
Beware of companies that list only names in their portfolio; especially if they are all Fortune 500 or familiar company names. It is next to impossible to verify their vendor status with large companies and therefore a provider can claim to have worked for anyone. If they do not provide a contact number or reference from the large companies they claim to work for, I would be very cautious about selecting this provider.
Third, does the provider offer a flat rate quote? If you provide the appropriate information, an experienced company should be able to provide you an accurate estimate of the time necessary to complete your project and subsequently a fixed price quote for their services.
The final and most important thing to do when selecting a provider is to check their references. Past clients provide the best source of information of what can be expected in dealing with their team.
Keep in mind that you cannot use the price to assess whether the provider is qualified or not. The variations in pricing within this industry are extreme. Just because you pay a lot doesn't necessarily mean you get the best product. Likewise, a low price isn't necessarily a bargain. Typically, if you get a series of quotes, Anabasis Solutions will come in around the middle to high middle and yet the value of the service often exceeds any of the offers received. But don't take my word for it, check our references.
"What Service Are You Looking For?"
"We Want You To Be Our Client"
We need to know some detail about your needs. So, let's get started. Send us an email or give us a call @ 1.888.648.9616 or 713.963.3663. We are here to answer your questions and discuss your goals.
|
|
|
|
