Key Points to consider when choosing a web designer

By Robin Porter

A few years ago the web looked very different. There was little in the way of dynamic content, except a bit of Flash aniamtion, that most people steered clear of due to the drain on bandwidth. Back then, quality of design was a side issue.

Nowadays, things are a lot different ? we are in the web 2.0 era, and rapidly approaching web 3.0. Since web designing is quite a profitable business, it was inevitable for so-called designers to appear everywhere. Thanks to already-built designs and how-to guides, almost anybody that knows what web design is, can make a website . The problem appears when we discuss quality.

You're looking for a web designer because you want a professional look for your business to increase customers - therefore you need to avoid those designers who are still learnign their craft. You have to make sure your designer can deliver the key aspects that are essential - a useful, appealing website that loads quickly. Visitors are very fickly - if your website doesn't tick all the right boxes, they'll leave your site in a matter of nanoseconds and be off to one of your competitors.

Usability is also an important consideration - if a visitor finds it hard to find what they are looking for, they will become frustrated and leave. This means a professional, established web designer is vital. Cutting corners on cost here is going to be false economy - it is much more important to find a designer who understands what your business needs. Here is what you should consider when choosing a web designer for your business:

? Open-minded ? It is very important that your web designer is open-minded. Obviously, you hired a web designer because you cannot do the job yourself, but that does not mean your opinions do not count. See if he listens to all your ideas and at this point, he should try to incorporate only the best of them. Allow him to explain why one idea or another does not fit the whole plan, and allow him to come with his own ideas too. Rather than making it a one-mind plan, why not put two minds at work.

* Good and quick - It doesn't matter how long the deadline is, you always want to make sure progress is being made towards completion. Request he completes the work in stages (and details how long each stage will take). Review each stage as you go, to make sure he is completing everything as you want it.

* Is he focused on usability? As discussed earlier, you need a website for your business that your customers can use easily - rather than something that is glittery and flashy at the expense of usability. Ensure your designer understands this - if he insists on using too many "bells and whistles" then walk away.

Finding the perfect web designer is near impossible, however checking his past works before agreeing to the deal will tell you a lot about the way he works. Of course, you will find out more after you start working with him, however keep in mind if there is something that simply does not make him a good web designer for you, end the deal as soon as possible.

About the Author:

Robin Porter is CEO of Arpey Internet : a professional uk web design company that specialises in building web sites that attract customers, and in particular focuses on web design london