33 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Web Design Company for Your Business

Written by

Tyler Besse

Published on

Blog
Berkshire MA Website Design Company

There are many different types of web design companies out there, and not all of them will be good for your business. Some may offer great customer service, but their designs might lack in certain areas that can hamper search engine visibility or conversion rates. Others may focus on SEO over aesthetics which means they’ll get you ranked higher by Google (or Bing), but it won’t do much to help with conversions.

Different web design companies specialize in various tasks like fixing up old websites, helping with local rankings, etc., so make sure the company is experienced at doing what they say they’re going to do before committing to anything!

Will our business get a custom-built website or one from a pre-made website template?

One of the first questions you’ll want to ask a web design company is whether or not they will be building your website from scratch, or if they will be using a template.

Most reputable companies will build your website from scratch, as it ensures that your website will be unique and tailored specifically for your business. If a company tries to sell you on a premade template instead, beware – this could mean that they’re trying to cut corners and are not interested in putting in the extra work necessary to create a high-quality website for you.

How long will it take to complete my website design and development?

When you’re talking with potential web design companies, make sure to ask how long the whole process will take. Generally speaking, a custom-built website should only take about 6 to 8 weeks from start to finish – anything shorter than that means they are likely cutting corners.

Do you offer ongoing web maintenance after my site goes live?

Once your website is completed and launched, you’re not done yet! In order to keep it looking fresh, functioning properly, and helping with your business goals, you’ll need to have some sort of web maintenance plan in place.

Not all web design companies offer ongoing maintenance plans, so be sure to ask if this is something they provide. If it’s not, you may want to consider finding a company that does – or outsourcing the work yourself.

Do you follow SEO best practices when building the site?

SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing a website for Google (and other search engines) so that it appears higher in search engine results pages.

Not all web design companies follow SEO best practices when building websites, which means your site may not rank as high as it could be – and this could lead to fewer visitors and less business.

When interviewing potential web design companies, ask them if they are familiar with SEO and whether or not they will be implementing any SEO tactics when building your website. If they don’t know what you’re talking about, it might be time to move on to the next company.

Will you be outsourcing any of the work?

Outsourcing is a common practice among web design companies, and it’s one that you’ll want to be aware of.

Some companies outsource certain parts of the process in order to cut costs – which can end up costing you more money if they aren’t careful. It could also mean lower-quality work or even a website that isn’t mobile-friendly (which can negatively impact your business).

To avoid any issues with outsourcing, make sure to ask each potential company whether or not they will be outsourcing any part of your project before hiring them.

Will my website be responsive and compatible with various sizes of mobile devices?

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to have a website that is responsive – meaning it will adjust itself to fit any screen size, whether it be a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or phone.

If your potential web design company doesn’t offer a responsive design option, you might want to look elsewhere. Over 50% of all internet traffic now comes from mobile devices, so if your website isn’t responsive you’re missing out on a lot of potential business.

How will your company design the website to generate more leads and revenue?

When you’re interviewing a potential web design company, make sure to ask them how they plan on using the website in order to generate more leads and drive revenue for your business.

If they don’t have an answer or seem stumped by this question, it might be time to look elsewhere! You should always hire someone who is able to show you exactly what their work will accomplish from day one – otherwise, how do you know if they are doing a good job?

The purpose and goal of investing in a new website design should always be to generate more revenue for your business.  If the company you’re considering hiring can’t show you how they plan on doing this, move on.

Will I own my website once it’s finished?

One of the most important things to consider when hiring a web design company is who will own the website once it’s completed.

Some companies claim ownership of the website, which means you can’t make any changes or updates without their permission – and if you stop working with them, they could take your website down completely.

To avoid this issue, be sure to ask each potential company whether or not you will own the website once it’s finished. If they say no, move on. You want to work with a company that believes in giving you control over your own website.

What is included in the price?

Since the price of a website can vary greatly depending on who you hire and what services they offer, it’s important to ask each potential company about their pricing before signing any contracts.

Some companies will charge by the page or word count, while others may only include certain features in their packages – so be sure to find out exactly what is included in your package.

You should also make sure that there aren’t any hidden fees associated with working with this particular web design firm.

Do you offer services other than web design?

While most web design companies offer services such as website design, development, and hosting, not all of them do.

If you’re looking for a company that can help you with other aspects of your online marketing efforts, be sure to ask each potential company if they offer any additional services. This could include things like SEO, social media marketing, or even email marketing.

By finding a company that offers a variety of different services, you’ll be able to save time and money by working with one team instead of multiple.

Can my website’s capabilities expand as my business grows?

As your business grows, you’ll likely want to add new features or updates to your website.

If you’re working with a web design company that offers custom website design, they should be able to help you expand the capabilities of your website as needed.

However, if you’re working with a template-based or cookie-cutter website, you may run into some problems down the road. Be sure to ask each potential company how your website can grow and change along with your business.

Business Online Bill Gates Quote

Will you test how well my website functions before it goes live?

One of the worst things that can happen is to launch a new website and find out that it’s not functioning properly.

To avoid this issue, be sure to ask each potential company if they will test your website before it goes live. This means checking for broken links, incorrect fonts, or any other issues that could cause problems for your visitors.

By hiring a company that does quality assurance testing, you’ll be able to rest assured knowing that your website is ready for prime time.

Can I see examples of websites your company has designed in the past?

Every web design company has a slightly different style, so it’s important to find out what each potential company brings to the table.

One of the best ways to do this is by asking for examples of their previous work. By looking at websites that they’ve designed in the past, you’ll be able to see how well your visions align with their capabilities – and make sure that you’re making a good choice before moving forward.

How do you determine keywords for my site?

One of the most important steps in your website’s design is choosing keywords that will help you rank on search engines like Google.

To make sure that you’re making a good choice, be sure to ask each potential company how they determine which words and phrases should be included as part of your site.

You can also ask for some suggestions based on what type of business you have – or simply let them know about any specific problems your customers tend to struggle with when searching online.

Can I see the website as you’re building it?

As your website is being built, you’ll likely want to check in on the progress occasionally.

To make this process as easy as possible, be sure to ask each potential company if you can see the website as they’re building it. By having access to a live preview of your site, you’ll be able to catch any errors or problems that may arise before it’s too late.

Do you offer domain name registration?

If you’re not already registered with a domain name, be sure to ask each potential company if they offer this service.

Domain names are an important part of any website – and by registering through your web design company, you’ll be able to save money on registration fees.

What happens if I don’t like the initial design?

If you’re working with a web design company that uses templates, they should provide you with at least one free revision before starting your site.

However, for more custom websites – or if the initial template doesn’t line up perfectly to your vision – be sure to ask each potential company what happens if you don’t like their first attempt.

What kind of research will you do on our business?

As your website is being built, you’ll likely want to check in on the progress occasionally.

To make this process as easy as possible, be sure to ask each potential company what kind of research they do when putting together a new site for their customers. This can include information like how much traffic you receive online and which keywords are most popular among your current clientele – both of which will help improve search engine ranking down the road!

How many pages will your website have?

Before you work with a new web design company, it’s important to ask how many pages they’ll include on your site.

By knowing the approximate number of pages that will be included, you can figure out if their services are within your budget or not – and see if they’re willing to provide discounts for larger sites.

Will I be able to access my website statistics without contacting you?

One of the best ways to measure your website’s success is by tracking its statistics.

Be sure to ask each potential company if you’ll be able to access these numbers without needing help from their team – and whether or not they offer detailed reports on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. This information can help you see how well your website is performing (and where you may need to make some changes) without having to wait for weeks on end.

Google Analytics Website Design

I already have an established brand, will my website provide a consistent look?

If you’ve already developed an established brand, it’s important that your new website reflect this in a consistent manner.

Be sure to ask each potential company if they’re able to design websites that are visually similar to your current branding – and whether or not they’ll be able to work with any preexisting logos or graphics you may have. This will help ensure that there’s no sudden change in visual style when people visit your site.

How many rounds of edits/revisions are included?

When you’re working with a web design company, it’s important to know what their revision policy entails.

Be sure to ask each potential company how many rounds of revisions they include in the cost of your website – and whether or not any additional edits will require an added fee. This information can help you get a better idea of exactly how much time (and money) is needed to create the perfect site for your business!

How much say will I have in my website design?

While you don’t want to be micromanaging your web design team, it’s important that you have some say in the overall design of your website.

Be sure to ask each potential company how much input you’ll be able to have – and whether or not they’re able to take feedback and make revisions accordingly. This will help ensure that the finished product is exactly what you’re looking for!

Is my website secure?

One of the most important aspects of any website is security.

Be sure to ask each potential company if they’re able to secure your website with an SSL certificate – and whether or not they’ll keep your site up-to-date with the latest security patches. This will help ensure that your customers are safe when visiting your site and that their information is kept confidential at all times.

Do you offer web hosting services?

Another important question to ask is if the web design company offers web hosting services.

This can be a great way to keep everything under one roof, and it may even save you some money in the long run!

Be sure to ask each potential company if they offer this service, as well as what kind of hosting options are available.

Will my current site experience downtime as you update it?

Reputable web design agencies will ensure that your website experiences no downtime during the design process.

Be sure to ask each potential company if they’re able to keep your website up and running during the redesign process. By doing so, you can minimize any business interruptions that may occur! If they claim that the website needs to be down during this process look elsewhere for services.

Do I need to provide written copy for my website?

If you don’t have any written copy ready, a web design company can help with this.

Be sure to ask each potential company if they’re able to work with any preexisting copy you have – and whether or not they’ll be able to create new content for your site. This can help save time, money, and ensure that the messaging on your website is consistent throughout!

Can you review my current website and analyze its performance beforehand?

It’s always a good idea to get an outsider’s perspective on your website.

Be sure to ask each potential company if they’re able to review your current website and analyze its performance beforehand. This can help you get a better idea of what areas need improvement – and it may even reveal some things that you didn’t realize were wrong with your site!

How do you measure results after my site goes live?

A good web design company will be able to track the results of your website after it goes live.

This means that they’ll be able to tell you how many people are visiting your site, where they’re coming from, and what actions (if any) they’re taking on your page. This information can help you gauge the effectiveness of your website – and see if there’s anything that needs to be tweaked or changed!

Are your web designs responsive?

If you’re looking to get the most out of your website, it’s important that they be responsive.

A web design company should be able to design a site in such a way where it looks good on all devices – from mobile phones and tablets to laptops and desktops!

Be sure to ask each potential company if their designs are responsive before you choose them as your service provider. If not, look elsewhere for services!

Can you create a logo for my site?

A good web design company will be able to create a logo for your website.

Be sure to ask each potential company if they’re able to help you create a new logo – or update your existing one. This can help give your site a more professional appearance and make it stand out from the competition!

Can you build an e-commerce site?

If you’re looking to start an online store, a web design company can help build your e-commerce site.

Be sure to ask each potential company if they have experience with creating e-commerce sites – and what kinds of features are available for these particular types of pages! This can help ensure that your website is up-to-date with the latest trends in technology – and give you more opportunities to expand into different markets.

Ecommerce Web Design Pittsfield MA

How much time is devoted to analyzing my business, market, and competitors?

A good web design company will spend time analyzing your business, market, and competitors.

This means that they’ll be able to get a better understanding of who you are as a business – and what kinds of services or products you offer. They may also take a look at your competition to see what’s working well for them – and what areas you could potentially capitalize on!

By doing this research upfront, the agency can develop a website that’s tailored specifically to your needs.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right web design company for your business is essential to your online marketing efforts.

By asking the right questions, you can ensure that you’re choosing a provider who has the experience and expertise necessary to create a website that will help your business succeed. Be sure to keep these questions in mind when interviewing potential companies – and good luck!

Contact Us

Recent Articles

View All