Employing a website designer might be a difficult choice. Prices vary widely, many people are unaware of what truly constitutes a great website, and it’s difficult to know what expectations to have for both the finished product and its ability to generate cash. I decided to write this article to educate you on the process of choosing a best New Jersey web design company and how to make the best option possible for your business. I’ve witnessed several people spend large sums of money on ineffective and costly website design services. And regardless of whether you choose to travel with us or not, I want to assist you in preparing for and evaluating your alternatives. As I indicated in the post “How Much Does NJ Web Design Cost,” I explore the distinction between an inexperienced “web designer” and a true professional. Web design is an industry with no entrance requirements. As a result, many individuals, freelancers, and even some organizations enter the field to earn money without giving true value to their clients. A decent rule of thumb is that if the website is inexpensive, meaning less than $5,000, it will not generate revenue. Which is precisely the point. This is not a cost, but an investment. A website should highlight your advantages and benefits, and a well-designed website fosters trust and confidence in your visitors. Here are some critical points to consider before beginning your search for a web designer. Which web development platform do they utilize? Nowadays, there is no scarcity of web design platforms. And they differ significantly in terms of performance and function. There are total low-tier garbage platforms such as Wix and Godaddy website builder, somewhat better platforms like Squarespace and Weebly, and high-tier platforms with the most flexibility and the ability to be tuned for exceptional performance such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. Additionally, for E-Commerce-focused websites, Shopify is a viable solution. Finally, some websites are custom, built from the ground up, which are the most expensive and often overkill for the majority of business website needs. Inquire about the platform on which the web designer will construct. This will give you a good idea of their whereabouts. If you speak with a web designer who extols the virtues of Wix, flee. The majority will use WordPress as their platform of choice because of its popularity and usefulness. We build the majority of our websites using WordPress, Shopify, and our content management system. What is included in the website design and development price? This is a significant issue. According to my years of expertise and competitive analysis, a large number of freelancers and web design businesses enter at a low cost and later charge for everything. Thus, what may appear to be a good deal ends up costing significantly more because you are paid for features that should be included, such as contact forms and social network integration. It is critical to discuss EXACTLY what is included, what is an additional charge, and how much the additional price is. I’ve seen organizations charge absurdly exorbitant fees for setting up a contact form, which can be accomplished in a matter of minutes, but others charge upwards of $500. Why? It does not take the $500 worth of time to set up, but they start low to gain your business and then make up the difference by overcharging for items they know you’ll need. If a web design company is opaque about what is included and how much add-ons cost, this is a significant red flag and you should generally avoid working with them. Do they make recommendations or do they simply design what you instruct them to? You want a skilled web designer. Choosing one that merely creates what you tell them to create without making recommendations will not produce the best outcomes. Are you a marketing professional? Are you a search engine optimization expert? A specialist in conversion rate optimization or a professional copywriter? Then why would you want to hire someone who does not spend time brainstorming ways to improve your website’s performance and conversion rate? Who will construct your website? Is it carried out in-house or is it outsourced? If built in-house, is it delegated to an intern or is it built by an experienced professional? This is a common occurrence with web design firms. Did you know that the majority of web design firms outsource smaller jobs to low-cost international designers? There are even courses available that demonstrate how web design businesses may sell websites for $5,000-$10,000 and then outsource them for a few hundred dollars. This, I believe, is quite deceptive and dishonest. The other issue is that when a small business web design job, often under $10,000 depending on the firm, is assigned to an intern with little monitoring. Thus, you may believe you’re getting an experienced professional web designer to work on your website when, in fact, you’re getting an unskilled newbie. That is the result of being a small fish in a large pond, and they will never tell you. Companies like Radiant Elephant only accept a limited number of clients at a time because I, the owner, personally work on each website we design to ensure you receive the finest quality website and the most value for your money. What to look for when assessing a web design firm. Their portfolio of web design Consider the portfolio of a prospective web design business. Does the work look beautiful, inspire trust, load quickly, and make sense to a visitor interested in the product or service? Consult with previous web design clients The easiest way to get a sense of how a web design company operates is to speak with a client or two. Reputable web design firms will have a few clients willing to interact with prospective clients. Inquire about the process, the company’s navigation of it, their responsiveness to emails and phone calls, and their ability to deliver the goods on time. Are you going to hire a graphic designer or a web designer? While I have nothing against graphic designers, employing one to build up your business website is typically not the best course of action. Graphic designers are not marketers, SEOs, or developers. While they may design something attractive, attractive does not always equate to conversions. Design of Mobile Websites It’s mind-boggling how many newer websites I see built by freelancers or even some companies that aren’t mobile responsive. And some dare to include that in their upcharges. Having a mobile-responsive website is no longer a luxury; it is a need. Mobile devices account for more than half of all web traffic. If your website is not mobile-friendly, you will lose a lot of business and make your brand seem terrible. The best approach is to engage a mobile-first web design company. For example, I always start with a straightforward yet powerful mobile design and then add bells and whistles as screen sizes increase to offer a more immersive digital experience on the desktop. Additionally, there is a distinction between a mobile responsive website and a mobile website. Responsive design refers to a website that adapts to multiple viewport widths. It is a single webpage that changes in response to breakpoints. Whereas a mobile website is a distinct website that is activated when someone visits from a mobile device. This is a careless way to handle it and demonstrates a corporation or freelancer’s lack of a modern, best-practices-compliant strategy. What to do before hiring a web designer As a seasoned professional web designer, I’ve seen firsthand the difficulties inherent in developing a site for a customer. And the organization is one of the most critical factors. I truly have a client that paid my retainer seven years ago but never provided me with the necessary materials to begin work. This is also the primary source of delay when it comes to achieving deadlines. The following is a checklist of the items you should have prepared before hiring a web designer. Content on a website If you are not hiring people to write your material, you should have this prepared, or nearly prepared. The primary reason projects are delayed is due to content generation. And, while a reputable site design and marketing firm would almost certainly change your content for marketing and SEO purposes, having a solid foundation is critical. Determine the pages you want; you may end up adding more, but this is a good place to start. Consider your home, about, FAQ, and service or product pages and aim for 1,000-1,300 words for each, except product pages, which should be approximately 800 words. Prepare the content so that it is completely spell-checked and ready to send. Photographs for the website If you’re going to use unique photos on your website, make sure they’re organized and ready to upload to a service like Dropbox. When sending images, ensure that they are at the highest resolution possible. If you send a 400-pixel-wide image as the header image, it will look terrible and will delay the project as you will need to either locate the correct file or engage someone to retake it. Websites of Your Competitors Making a list of rivals’ websites and noting what you like and dislike about them is one of the best things you can do. This will assist your website designer in comprehending the style you’re attempting to achieve. Logo If you lack a strong logo or branding, seek out a provider that offers these services as an add-on. You do not want to skimp on your logo. An excellent logo should cost at least $1,000. If you do have a professionally created logo, ensure that you have a high-resolution transparent.png version queued up for transmission.