What To Look For In Examining Web Designer Portfolios

By Stephen Grisham, Sr.

In today's marketplace, you can't be a serious business owner without establishing an web presence. It can be a full service web site to sell your wares or services, or a product information page designed to direct customers to your store or office, and making that choice is critical.

The first step is finding a web designer who is talented, experienced and, most importantly, affordable. Choosing a design to represent your brand is important in planning for your success. Knowing what the professional you hire can do is key.

Most businesses will require their web design professionals to develop portfolios that showcase their acumen in developing web pages. These portfolios can be highly detailed and involve artistic designs that may be beyond the scope of our expertise. How can you sift through concepts and get at what the professional is really capable of?

Initially, you should look for what real world examples of their work that the prospective designer can show you. Demos are good, but real functions and design are always good to see. Business owners who can see pages in action may be more willing to work with a designer.

Secondly, you should look for a designer who has the ability to do a professional web design without having to delegate to other employees to get your business's work complete. A professional who will have the creative control on a project all the way through is important to a business, as it ensures a quality product.

The whole point of a good web site is being something that will work for you, saving you time and money in pursuit of more business. Clean designs work to ensure that updating and maintaining the look and function of the page after the site goes live is easy to do. Good designs can ultimately make updating and maintenance a breeze.

Finally, make sure your site meets your specifications, not theirs. Many designers will take their vision to your project without considering your needs. finding that balance between will be key to your continuing relationship and the effectiveness of your website.

Ultimately, every business will have their own specialized needs, so you should establish your needs before you start dealing with web designers. But, if you keep these tips in mind, you can easily have a great experience setting up a website with your business' success in mind.

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