Table of Contents
Have your content together
There are many important factors to take into consideration when working with a Web Designer. First and foremost, a major issue every designer has encountered, at one point or another, is waiting to receive site content from a client.
Writing a letter without pencil and paper is hard, and so is designing and formatting a site when you have no idea how long pages will be, what information will go on each page, where links need to be, etc. If you can provide a Web Designer with all the content that needs to be on your website when you initially contact them, there is a great chance they will be excited to work with you!
This may seem a bit weird, but from my personal experience, there is nothing more frustrating in the Web Design / Development business than waiting for a client to deliver content. Many companies operate using project milestones, and it’s hard to gauge if you can take on a new project when you have several waiting to be filled with content.
Personally, when a client has their content together, it shows me that they are serious about getting their site up-and-running. Whether the site is for a non-profit, a small business, or an off-the-wall organization, I know that it will create a better experience for both parties.
Don’t skimp on your budget
Obviously the standard small business doesn’t have 10k to spend on a website, but almost every Web Design company has a minimum budget that they will work with. With everything in life, you get what you pay for. If you want a professional website, hire a professional. Sure, you probably have a friend that has made websites for fun every now and then, but the web is a huge and constantly evolving marketplace. To be successful, choose someone who is up-to-date with current practices and technologies.
Respect must be mutual
If a Web Designer shows you no respect when you contact them, chances are they won’t respect you when you hire them. By the same token, if you come off as disrespectful, do you think a web designer will take you (and your website) as seriously as you do? This is a very base level point, but respect is essential not to find a web designer, but to find theright web designer to work with.
Provide Samples
It is much easier to find “the look” you’re going for with a couple sources of reference material. Browse the web and send the designer a couple sites to draw inspiration from. This small amount of effort on your part can help the designer tremendously when in the design phase of your site. Avoid cliche terms such as make it amazing, make it pop, I’ll know it when I see it, keep it the same but make it different, etc. These terms are reallynot constructive in any way, shape, or form. Instead, mention what you like, what you think could be improved, or provide more reference images!