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Originally Posted On: https://techjournal.org/consider-when-choosing-a-website-builder/

 

Your website’s design has a 75% influence on your company’s credibility. If your website is slow, old, and outdated, consumers might think you’re behind the times, too. You might miss the chance to generate leads and sales as a result.

Don’t let an old website impact your ROI! Instead, consider choosing a website builder to improve your site this year. Their experience and expertise could help you impress customers.

You can stand out from the competition, improve the online user experience, and start generating more sales!

Not sure who to hire? Here are the 10 factors to consider while vetting your options for web designers.

With these tips, you can find a designer who has the website building experience and expertise you need. Their services can help you impress your target audience with ease. Instead of falling behind in your industry, you can get leagues ahead of the competition.

Set your business up for success. Start your search for a website builder with these tips today.

1. Establish Your Goals

Before making your list of options for web designers, take a second to consider your underlying goals. What do you hope to accomplish by updating your website?

For example, you might want to:

• Generate brand awareness and recognition
• Improve your search engine rankings
• Generate more form submissions or online sales
• Create an eCommerce site
• Build brand trust and loyalty
• Establish your credibility in the industry
• Improve page load times
• Get mobile-optimized

Making a list of your goals will help you find the right designer to accomplish those goals. Otherwise, the designer you choose might lack the website building experience you need. They might not offer the specific services you’re searching for, either.

Once you establish your goals, ask each designer how they plan to meet those needs and expectations. If they can’t customize a plan based on your distinct needs, choose someone else.

2. Experience and Expertise

As you vet your options for web designers, consider their professional experience.

Ask each designer how long they’ve worked in the industry. Determine how many websites they’ve worked on over the years, too. Try to find someone with years of hands-on experience.

A professional with years of website building experience will have an easier time accomplishing your goals. These professionals are less likely to make mistakes, too. Otherwise, the mistakes they make could waste your valuable time and money.

As you search for someone with website building experience, consider the companies they’ve worked for in the past.

Ask if they’ve helped a business within your industry recently. These designers might have a better understanding of your customers and industry. They might have an easier time accomplishing your goals, too.

Otherwise, ask each designer if they have any specialties.

For example, you might want to choose a designer who can add micro-animations across your site. Maybe you’d prefer to hire someone with years of eCommerce website building experience.

Choose a web design team that suits your distinct needs.

3. The Right Services

Ask each website designer on your list about the additional services they offer, too.

For example, website design is only one-half of the equation. Ask each designer if they also offer web development services. Website development can ensure your website is easy to use.

When reviewing the services each designer offers, don’t forget to consider your unique goals.

Do you want to improve your search engine rankings this year? Ask each designer if they offer search engine optimization (SEO) services. Optimizing your website for SEO can help you rank higher on search engine result pages.

A higher search engine ranking will help more people find your website. Then, you can generate more website traffic. You might have an easier time generating leads and sales as a result.

In fact, nearly half of all Google searches are for local searches. About 72% of people visit a local store after an online search. About 70% of all website traffic is directed through Google, too.

Make sure the designer you choose has the services you need to accomplish your goals.

4. A Planned Process

 

When choosing a website builder, it’s not enough to find someone who offers the right services. You need to make sure you’re choosing someone who is efficient, too.

Ask each designer about their process. If they don’t make a plan ahead of time, they might waste your time. Instead, look for someone who measures twice and cuts once.

Their efficiency could save you valuable time and money. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep making edits to their original design.

You might want to ask how the website builder plans on ensuring a positive user experience (UX).

About 88% of online shoppers refuse to return to a site after a bad online experience. About 70% of online businesses fail due to bad usability.

Even so, only 55% of companies bother to conduct UX testing.

A positive user experience across your site ensures your website is easy to navigate and use. As a result, visitors are more likely to linger and explore. Your dwell times and clickthrough rates could rise as a result.

Otherwise, people will leave feeling frustrated, causing a high bounce rate. A high bounce rate could hurt your search engine rankings and pay-per-click advertising. You could struggle to reach new customers and market your business online.

Instead, consider choosing a website builder with UX website building experience. For a positive UX, they should consider:

• Page load times
• White space
• The navigation bar
• Forms and call to action buttons
• Mobile optimization
• Security

Improving the UX on your site could boost conversion rates by up to 400%. Your search engine rankings could improve as well. You’ll have an easier time generating brand awareness and website traffic as a result.

5. A Strong Reputation

Before choosing a website builder, take the time to evaluate their reputation. Ask each designer for references and reviews. Try to speak with two or three of their recent clients.

Ask each client about their experience working with the designer. Did they encounter any issues? Were they satisfied with the services they received?

You can also find reviews online. Reading online reviews can help you learn from clients who were once in your shoes. If the designer has a strong professional reputation, you can feel a little more confident in their abilities.

If they have a number of complaints filed against them, you’ll know to take your business elsewhere.

Reading online reviews can help you avoid making a costly mistake when choosing a website designer.

6. Relevant Case Studies

If you want to make sure the designer you choose can accomplish your goals, ask for case studies.

Case studies can indicate a website builder’s ability to meet your needs and expectations. For example, were they able to help a client generate more website traffic? Did they improve the client’s page load times?

Set a key performance indicator (KPI) for each goal on your list. Then, ask the builder if they’ve measured similar KPIs in the past.

If they don’t have any case studies, that’s okay. Reading online reviews could help you determine their ability to accomplish specific goals, too.

7. An Eye-Catching Portfolio

Ask each web designer if you can see proof of their previous website building experience. Take the time to review some of their recent projects. Exploring the websites they’ve worked on will provide you with proof of their abilities.

Does their work meet your needs and expectations? If they don’t meet your standards, choose a different designer.

Make note of the design elements you like and dislike. You might find a little inspiration for your own site during this step.

8. Availability

Make sure to ask each website builder when they’re able to get started on your site.

How many websites are they currently working on? If they’re too busy, they might struggle to meet your deadline. If they can’t meet your deadline, choose someone else.

Waiting too long to update your website could impact your ability to meet other marketing goals.

Instead, choose someone with availability based on your schedule.

9. The Right Price

As you vet your options for web designers, ask at least three designers for a quote. Determine how they calculate their estimates, too. Ask for an itemized list of their services.

Look for a designer who can meet your website building budget and needs.

10. Revisions

 

Before choosing a website builder, review each professional’s contract. Don’t sign on the dotted line until you understand the specifics of their contract.

For example, are you able to make revisions once they’re done working on your website? Determine how many edits you can make, too.

If they’re unwilling to make changes, choose someone else. Remember, you should choose a designer who can meet your needs and goals. Otherwise, they’re only interested in taking your money.

Select the Best: 10 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Website Builder

Don’t rush when choosing a website builder. Instead, choose a professional who has the hands-on experience and services you need. They’ll help accomplish your goals, setting your business up for lasting success.

With their help, you can wow anyone who visits your website.

Searching for more tips? You’ve come to the right place.

Explore our latest guides today for more helpful advice.