Most of us know at least one person getting started in web design who says they can do your site for next to nothing. Just about anyone with some basic skills can call themselves a web designer. It may be your little sister, your cousin, or a friend of a friend. What may seem like a good deal can actually mean big trouble for your business. The old maxim “You get what you pay for” is every bit as true as it always was. If you “hire” someone you know because they will do the work cheaply, you’re not going to be happy with the outcome. Sadly, this is one of the most common and dangerous mistakes people make when taking their business online.
Money is always a problem when you’re getting started, and you know how important it is to be careful with it. Very few businesses can afford to drop $30,000 on a web site, but just about everyone can afford to hire a professional in web design with the skills and experience to do the job right. You may not want to have to budget to hire a web designer, but in the long run, it will be well worth it. While your little sister might be good at building web pages that look nice, the odds are just as good that she won’t have the skills you need, and you can’t afford to give her time to learn on your business.
Making it work
Proper functionality is crucial. If your website doesn’t function properly, you will lose prospects quickly. A Calgary web design professional will know how to make your site work well while incorporating current web technology. You should meet with your designer and discuss your site’s functional requirements. A good designer will know how to design a site that includes all the features that customers expect from a professional website. If your site includes a store or any kind of payment system, it needs to be fast and secure. If your web designer can’t build a site to meet your needs, it’s worthless, and it’s hurting your reputation.
Making it easy
Creating a positive user experience is a key to bringing people back to your website. If your developer can’t do this, you don’t want to work with them. Customers expect a site that’s easy to navigate and search. A professionally designed site should be so easy to navigate that a child can do it. In fact, that’s a good test. If a child can’t do it, your designer’s blown it.
Making it look good
Your website is how your brand is represented to the world via the Internet. When planning your site with a professional in Calgary web design you should discuss how you want to be perceived. It’s all about how others perceive you, not how you perceive your business. What kind of first impressions will your website generate?
Making it current
Your web designer needs to make your site easy to update. If you’re not updating it on a weekly or even daily basis, why should people return? Evolving your website is just as important as adding new information. As your business evolves, so should your site. A Calgary web design professional must be able to accommodate your need to improve and enhance your site over time.
Making it visible
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial to your site’s success. Your developer has to know how to get you to the front of search engines. In these days when Google (and others) are always tweaking their search algorithms, a designer must be able to keep up. It’s the designer’s job to lay a solid foundation, so your site not only looks good, but it also performs well in the top search engines. After all, if you aren’t generating new business online, why are you even there?
While it may seem like a good idea to save on the development of your business’s website by hiring someone you know, it can turn out to have a very serious negative impact on your business. Taking the time and money to seek out a true professional in Calgary web design will ensure that your website will be visible, easy to use, and will maximize sales for years to come.
