By Gainesville Web Designer, Sharon Julien

When it comes to the world wide web, there’s no shortage of of web designers, but which one is right for your needs?  Here’s a few things to think about and some questions to ask when finding the right designer for you.

1. How long has the web designer been in business?

While things are changing every day on the web, there’s no replacement for experience.  The longer your designer has been working the web, the more knowledge they can bring to bear on your project.  Keep in mind that even 5 years is a long time in this business, because there’s always something new!  That said, I’ve been a web designer in Gainesville, Florida for over 11 years now and still going strong.  Even though I no longer need to code everything by hand (thanks, WordPress!), I constantly use my fluency with HTML to tweak code and customize a site.

2. Do you like their design style?

Most web designers have a unique style all their own.  Don’t expect them to do something completely out of their range if you don’t see something similar in their portfolio.  It’s like asking a painter to do a sculpture of you, when that’s clearly not their medium.  Also, if you don’t like how the designer renders websites in their portfolio, you certainly won’t like what they do for your site.  Pick someone whose work you love!  It’s worth the money to get it right the first time.

If they don’t have a portfolio—warning!  They may be inexperienced.  Ask to see at least 5 to 10 sites they have developed.

3. How much time will it take to complete the website?

Make sure your designer can deliver your website when you need it.  Depending on the scope of your project, good design can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months or more.  I usually give an estimate of 4 to 6 weeks to allow for development time as well as client approvals.  The first week is typically all design oriented.  I do research, sketches and image gathering.  Then, I create the look of the site and submit it for client review.  The second week is reserved for making edits to the initial design.  The third and fourth week are for programming to put the design into WordPress and install needed plug-ins, as well as for tweaking the code.  The fifth and sixth week are for content and final edits.  Then the site goes live.

4. What are their rates?

Asking the question, “How much does a website cost?” is like asking, “How much is a red car?”  Well, it depends on what you want.  Are you looking for an efficient model that will just get you where you need to go?  Or do you need a luxury model with all the options?

My rates begin at $850 for a 5 to 10-page site created in WordPress, including your domain and hosting for one year, that allows you to update your own site if you like.  You can add a starter Search Engine Optimization package for $225 and moderated content building for $50 per month.  I also include stock photography for your images (unless you want specific images, in which case I recommend a stock photo site where you can buy them for $1 to $3 each) and a feedback form for your contact page.

Keep in mind that designers often price their sites according to their level of experience, how complex the programming is, how extensive the site is, and the quality of their design. You get what you pay for!  I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had clients come to me after spending a few hundred dollars (or even over a thousand) and say that they just weren’t happy with the site they got.  Make sure you interview your designer thoroughly before you spend your hard-earned cash—and get your site done right the first time!

 5. How do you know they will get you results?

Check their search engine positions. When you’ve narrowed your search down to at least three website design firms you could be curious about using to build your website, look at how their own site ranks on Google. The most effective way to try this is have a look at what keywords they have in the title bar at the top of your browser and then type these into Google. You must do this for a couple of the keyword terms and phrases that you find on one or two pages of their site.  If they are on the first page of search results, that’s a good sign!  If not, be wary.  A web designer that knows how to do successful SEO should have good rankings themselves.

I’m happy to say that I have several top-ten rankings on Google, and I’ve helped my clients do the same.  Contact me to get screenshots of actual Google search results for my site and client sites, and see how successful your own site could be.

Looking for a web designer in Gainesville?  I also serve Florida and have clients all across the U.S.  Get a free quote for your website today.