How to Choose a Web Design Agency: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Updated: Nov 14, 2024
- 10 min
UX/UI expert
Your website’s design can significantly impact the first impression that visitors have of your business.
Studies show that 94% of first impressions are based on visual appeal. Therefore, it’s essential to have a website that captures attention quickly and has an aesthetically pleasing design.
When you’re searching for a web design agency, it’s crucial to prioritize visual appeal.
However, with so many design agencies available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Not every agency will be suitable for every client, so it’s important to do your homework and be selective in finding the right match.
We’ve crafted a guide that simplifies the process of choosing a web design agency to meet your needs and goals.
Wondering do I need a website for my business? Find out why the answer is almost always yes.
Looking to improve your app’s design? Check out the best practices in our detailed app design process article.
Transform your ideas into reality with our expert web developers and designers — contact us today!
Before Selecting an Agency
First, Set Your Goals
The answer to how to choose a web design agency lies mainly in your goals. With an average user taking only 0.05 milliseconds to decide, you cannot leave it on the design agency.
Have a vision for your product – mainly the look and function.
For instance, you want static content. Getting into too many technicalities is useless. Or maybe you want an integrated Content Management System (CMS) or have selected payment options and security levels.
Discover examples of good web design that set high standards for aesthetics and usability.
What to have or not have should be clear to you first before the design company takes over the task.
Be a little more informed and read about your end goal. See how your potential partner adds his expertise to the picture you have created. And don’t forget to share your additional design or branding needs, such as a new logo or new imagery.
This is even more important when software is built from scratch.
Example 1: Build a Web App with User-Friendly UX
Poor performance, low accessibility, and design failures can ruin the user experience. A sure shot way to overcome this problem is to build a web app with user-friendly UX.
So, how to choose a website design company that focuses on user-friendliness? It’s simple. Make sure they include the following elements in the app design process.
| What to do? | Why? |
| Use similar patterns | The user need not learn a new pattern each time they move to a new device.
Use colors, icons, and placing just like in some popular apps around. Make the workflow easy to learn and grasp. |
| Group related elements | Users should find them easily.
For example, place profile, settings, log out, switch accounts closer together. |
| Limit features | Every new feature is a new way to confuse the user. Think before adding further complexity. Ask yourself, “Is it required?” |
| Plan project blueprint | Making alterations in later stages is difficult.
So, plan everything ahead. |
| Focus on target users | Design it for your user base.
Just think of it, if the Git interface were designed for non-tech people, it would have created chaos. So, isn’t it better how it is? |
Example 2: Build Inbound Marketing with a Corporate Website
An effective inbound marketing strategy allows content discovery which drives customers to the corporate website and converts them. (Check our development guide about average cost of website design for small business)
As it is, 60 % of marketers feel that inbound marketing is their best bet for quality leads.
You can achieve these funnel goals with some elements in the design, information architecture, and website development.
You will overcome your worries about how to choose a website design company if you implement the following strategies.
| Build buyer persona | Vital to understand who are your target audience:
|
| Set objectives | Identify your goal and set a deadline.
Assess your website. Look for parameters such as:
All these KPIs decide your revenue and sales (a big reason to set website objectives). Thinking of improving your marketing strategy? Use our CPC calculator to estimate ad costs and maximize your marketing spend. |
| Outline marketing triggers | Identify the pain points of the customers. Offer relevant content, when in need.
Understand the triggers, create content accordingly. Know barriers of action and offer solutions accordingly. |
| Align your efforts with Buyer’s Journey | Some statistics to understand the buyer’s journey:
19% of buyers talk to a salesperson in the awareness stage. It rises to 60% in the consideration stage. Streamline your business efforts accordingly. |
| Blogging | A blogging strategy with a focus on conversions attracts the targeted audience. Hubspot states companies that increase blogging rates from 3-5/month to 6-8/month gain double the leads. |
| Design lead nurturing process | Automate lead generating process. Use automated emails, retargeted advertising.
Deliver the content via a funnel. |
| Build a team | You will require experts in inbound marketing, design, data analysis/web analytics, SEO, PPC, SMM, project management, blogging, and copywriting. |
Here is our own story.
After marketing for many clients, we at SpdLoad decided to do the same for us. We knew that software development is an expensive niche, we decided to start with SEO.
How did we implement it? We decided to share our expertise in a story form, and most of it has worked for us so far. Check the entire process here.
Example 3: Redesign Existing Website or Product?
As a criterion, you should redesign your app every 2-3 years. But how often should you go for a revamp that has no specific answer? As long as it is profitable, you should.
Remember 75% of web credibility is due to website design.
Ask yourself:
- Is the website design helping you build authority?
- Is the website user-friendly?
- Does it carry the latest design features and trends?
- Is it helping you deliver business objectives?
- Looking at other websites, do you feel it is outdated?
Answers to the above helped us redesign our website, spdload.com. The team followed the same procedure as the clients: research the market, define pain points, and thus aced the solution. It helped us to significantly improve website UX.
Also, when you are thinking of how to choose a web design company, consider the procedure. The extent of reworking establishes the website redesigning cost.
Your Goals Dictate the Criteria for Selecting an Agency
I have different requirements than ABC. How to choose a web design agency then? Analyze the capabilities of the UX and marketing department first.
Example 1: You Need a Strong UX Department
Your number one requirement is a solid and powerful UX department.
But, before that, please understand that UX comprises three parts: User Experience (UX) design, User Interface (UI) design, and UX research.
An effective UX team comprises of primarily the following:
- Interaction designer
- UX Copywriting
- Information Architect
- Content Strategist
- Visual design/Illustrations
- Design OPS
- Audio Designer
And the team only grows bigger and bigger with the developers entering the picture. So, share all information (even the minutest) with the developers right from the word go.
Now the question comes forth, “how to choose a website design company with such gems?”
Of all the online platforms, here is a list of our top 3.
| Behance | “Curated Galleries” is the place to look for different designers across the creative field. |
| Dribbble | Explore this platform for designers who get inspired and hired. |
Example 2: You Need a Strong Marketing Department
The sole purpose of a marketing team is to drive customer action. Besides, there are other important roles too. So, pay attention to building your marketing department.
Make sure they are capable of:
- Voicing your business story.
- Making customers into brand advocates.
- Promoting products and more.
Remember, the role of marketing manifolds many times in the case of startups.
Explore our web design services
Now, who all should comprise the team? To begin with, it depends on your niche and your company. But, mostly, it should include the following:
- Marketing Head
- Team Leads
- Project Managers
- Designers
- Content strategists
- Writers
- Analysts
- PR Specialist
- Digital Marketing
In addition, advanced marketing may require the following:
| Demand generation | Build demand for your product or a product category. |
| Automation specialists | Use advanced platforms such as Autopilot and Salesforce. |
| Marketing operations | A combination of resource allocation and project management is needed to manage data, technology, and resources. |
Now, as we know what you need to look for while choosing a design agency, it is time to know how to verify the chosen company.
How to Select a Web Design Agency
We have arrived at the last part of our quest. We now have an idea of how to choose a web design company. But before hiring, there are a few penultimate things you must perform to verify.
Criterion 1: Review Their Portfolio
| Look everywhere | If you decide to outsource your web design, glance over their portfolio.
Most agencies have a dedicated website with a portfolio section where you can see their previous work. You can check Google, listings, social media, etc. It helps evaluate their skills, capabilities, and also limitations. While assessing, look for the following:
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| What are important things? | You may doubt how to choose a website design company only based on their portfolio. No, we are not saying that.
Apart from the portfolio, there are other things vital for picking a design company.
Rightly so. Can you choose a web design company that has an outdated design for its website? We know an attractive design is what intrigues a user compelling him to explore more. Outdated designs lead to the loss of a number of customers and their engagement. Color simulation should hold the attention. Make sure it reflects their business ethos. Don’t forget that the first impression is the last. The beautiful design makes it an instant attention seeker, yet looks so unique and in sync with time. A modern website design makes a website look professional and clean and helps you stay neck-to-neck with your competition. One can see one of the finest illustrations of modern design in Jingqi Fans’ online portfolio. While the asymmetric design makes it fresh and engaging, the minimal design and white space showcase his project images and thus serve the website’s purpose.
How to choose a web design company by scrutinizing their website? It is simple. Look how they are presenting their content. How have they laid out the case studies, or the landing pages, or the product (whatever is applicable)? Then, have a closer look at the design. Does it hold your attention? It should be user-friendly, attractive, with good UX. The hierarchical arrangement of the pages should make some sense. In short, the information hierarchy from the main menu to the subcategories and subpages should be smooth and understandable.
Would you ever like to work with a company that stresses more on their working style instead of how you would want it? Decide otherwise. Check their approach to deliver as per the client’s demand. Your concern about how to choose a website design company will find some peace here. A study by Deloitte and Touche found out that companies with a customer-centric approach earned 60% more than the companies that did not. Companies that are customer-centered focus more on delivering a positive customer experience at all stages of making sales. However, it is not limited to the experience felt by the customers. Look at Adobe. The company offers a great work ethos making it one of the best places to work and encourages feedback from customers who visit them. |
Criterion 2: Check Client Testimonials
Choose an app development partner after checking their social proof. The proof can include reviews and testimonials. This is believed that the comment is coming from a real person outside of close personal or professional relationships.
Thus hold great significance. Also, these proofs should contain names and addresses.
Some other types of social proofs include case studies, social media, trust icons, data with numbers. Yet another innovative social proofs visible these days include:
- Storytelling social proof
- Implied social proof
- Activity social proof
Lastly, the more the number, the better it is, and the more trustworthy the website is. You may even ask for direct contacts.
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Key Criterion: Interview Them
Note that several outsourcing companies are owned by a single person. They then outsource the content further. Sometimes, it is a group of freelancers who bid for the work.
Keeping in mind the above scenarios, it is always good to ask the team for a meetup. This will introduce you to the people who will handle your work.
You can observe their communication and coordination with each other and you. Their availability and remote locations, etc.
This will give a clear idea of their working style while clearing all your doubts.
This guide lists the best countries to outsource software development, based on cost and expertise.
Looking for a Top-Notch Web Design Firm?
Whether you’re a startup looking to validate an idea or a founder developing a new SaaS product, we can help turn your vision into reality.
Contact us to discuss how our web design and development services can make your digital dreams take flight.
For more guidance on the website development process, browse our library of detailed development guides:
