Hiring A Web Design Agency
This could well be one of the most important business decisions that you make in your corporate life. Reason, if you make a mistake, it could prove to be disastrous.
Here are some hard questions to ask?
- How many years has the company been in business?
Experience in designing for Middle East market is important. Protect your investment by ensuring that a 'fly-by-night' operator does not leave your virtual presence hanging in cyber space.
- How many customers does the company have?
Begin by checking if the company has an impressive web presence and a corporate brochure of its own. If it has less then a dozen clients, it is probably still getting its act together! Check out the local Yellow Pages.
- How many web designers and programmers does the company employ in-house?
Incase, the company outsources design or programming activities, you are likely to face inordinate delays and communication problems. Check for updated technology skill sets.
- Where is the company's office?
You will be surprised by the fact that many operators operate from virtual offices. There are no Trade Licences! LLC or Establishment? Go for a brick and mortar company with a local presence.
- Is the company profitable?
It becomes important to ask this question to ensure continuity of services.
- Does the company implement 'Best Practices'?
An extremely important factor to consider before you discover that your web site does not show up right in different computers/platforms/screen resolutions/.....
- Has the company won any awards for the sites that they have designed?
While not a 'must', its nice to know that you are working with an award winning company. After all, your web site is your face to the world.
- Does the company provide all internet services under one roof?
If you have to go to 3 different vendors for establishing, maintaining and promoting your web site, it is not such a good idea! Check for 24/7 online support.
- Is the company cost effective and does it deliver on time?
It should not cost an 'arm and a leg' to get a presence on the web. And since it is not rocket science it should not take more than a couple of weeks to set-you up and by the same token updates should be done, same/next business day.
- How easy was it to find the company, online and in the real world?
If the company's own site is not very easy to find, there is a good chance yours will be harder!
If you want to be absolutely sure of taking the right decision, do take a few minutes to speak with a few existing clients of the prospective vendor, before you sign the advance cheque!
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