Why hire a Web Design Company?

You probably know someone who might be able to do you a cheap deal on a website. Perhaps you're going down the DIY route, or maybe you've searched Google for "Cheap Websites" and found a service that will auto generate one for next-to-nothing.

There is definitely one advantage to doing this - that's right - we won't lie to you. In the short-term it is usually VERY cheap to do this. Despite this one advantage, there are a myriad of problems you could face by going down this route.

Every business is expected to have a website, even a basic one. But your website can be a powerful tool for driving interest, leads and ultimately sales. Don't let your business's website be a wasted opportunity.

A good website designer and website development company know their stuff, and we discuss these points in more detail below. They should:

• Know all the laws involved for UK business websites
• Understand the best techniques and standards for website development
• Provide unique and stunning web design concepts
• Be able to drive relevant visitors to your website from around the web
• Work to timescales and be dedicated to the project
• Ensure your site is tested and works with different web browsers
• Be available to provide support when your business needs it

Perhaps best of all - a professional might not cost as much as you think!

Would you get your friend to rewire the electrics in your house?

Probably not. Aside from the potential illegalities of such an activity, most people would answer no to this question simply because a professional electrician knows what they're doing. They can correctly advise and do the job properly. And you know if there were a problem, they'll be available to you.

The same is true with website development. The principal reason for hiring a professional to create your new website is because they know what they're doing and will be there to support you and your business. Using an experienced website company really is the only option for your business. So let's look into more detail as to why this is the case.

It could be cheaper than you think

Never avoid getting a free quote. There's no commitment, and until you compare how much your investment might cost, you may assume a website company will simply be expensive.

A basic site with a few well designed pages can cost very little. When a prospective customer is searching online for businesses in your industry, two things are paramount:

1. Amongst your competitors, they find your website
2. When they land on your homepage, your websites' first impression must not deter them

It's more important to have a great looking site that people can find, than a mediocre "that'll do" website that turns customers away if they find it. Even customers interested in your business can be easily discouraged if they go to your website for information and are unimpressed.

Remember: As your business grows, so can your website. You don't have to start with something feature-laden, but you owe it to your business to have a website that will compliment your company and engage your customers.

Legalities

Many relevant business laws apply as much online as they do in the real world for UK-based companies and websites.

Do you know the legal requirements for a business website? Most part-time web designers would not know the strict rules and regulations governing what businesses must do on their sites. What do they know about the Disability Discrimination Act? Most business owners are aware that their business has to be accessible to disabled people, and the same is true of websites. If this is not adhered to then the site can legally be taken down. Are you or your friend aware of a privacy policy, or the terms of use for the website? How about the required information displayed by all businesses on a website? If these are not adhered to correctly, then you (not your designer) are breaking the law!

Photographs are another good example. Most people don't realise that you can't just use any old photo you find online. You have to pay to have a license for it, either that or have produced the artwork or photos yourself in which case it is licensed to you. It is theft and breach of copyright to simply take a photo online without paying the author the correct licensing fees.

Search Engine Optimisation

A business website is a massive wasted opportunity if potential customers can't find your site.

Do you or your friend know how to get your content worded in the correct manor so your site stands the best chance of getting hits from search engines? What about the structure and design of the site? Has it been designed and developed in a search engine friendly way? There's not much point in a website which no one can find! The web is highly competitive and you want your investment to work as hard as possible to make you money. It's as simple as a high street shop - if your shop window looks uninviting, people will move on. You want traffic to help drive your business.

Design Concepts

How your website looks to your customers might not be how it looks to search engines

Ask your friend on their views on the whole tables vs table-less design debate and the affect that can have on search engines crawling your site. This is not to mention the limits using tables can bring to your whole design. Tables were created to display tabular data yet many amateurs will use them for layout. Ask your friend to make sure they use proper XHTML and CSS without tables for layout, and decide for yourself based on their response. Due to the limitations of using automation software to build a website cheaply, many of them also produce tabulated code.

Do you want a website design which anyone else can get by buying a template, using automation software, or getting a friend to do it who doesn't have the artistic skill-set to produce something truly unique for your business? Your website is just like your company stationary, or your other marketing material - it's generally the first thing anyone sees when they do their research on your company. If it doesn't look great, if it doesn't work smoothly, if it doesn't work in their browser, they might well move on thinking "They don't look very professional".

But it's so cheap, and they said it could be done in a week!

Even if you don't think there's a time pressure now, if a project drags on for six months or a year, customers are passing you by.

So you got a student to do a website for you for a hundred quid or so? Sounds like a bargain - and they want to practise for their studies etc - seems like a win-win! How motivated are they? How many other responsibilities do they have? Is a cheap price really enough motivation for them to put in the hours/days and sometimes weeks worth of work it can take to build a truly great website? In most cases they'll be working for a fraction of minimum wage, and we all know you get what you pay for!

We've heard many times of people going down this route, and then contacting us after they have a semi-working site a couple of years later, wishing they had just done it right in the first place. A professional website design company does this for a living, it is in our interests as much as yours to get the work done, correctly, and professionally. Not only do we actually want to get paid to finish the job, we also have a sense of pride and enjoyment from choosing to be in this business full time.

What happens after your site is finished?

Most people don't realise that a website probably needs taking care of, standards change, new browsers come out, design principals change. Search engines prefer sites which are dynamic in nature, so that means content changes, or additions, and getting that wrong could have disastrous consequences to the workings of your website. Advanced search engine optimisation can take a long time to tweak to perfection. A professional website design company can offer you proper after care service, support, and maintenance to match any budget. This ensures you have peace of mind over your investment.

Ask the questions:

Can your 'one man band' deliver the following...

Are they a developer or a designer? Can they really do both?

The best designers will have knowledge of web development, but they won't be developers. Almost no developers have an eye or the skills for design. A professional website design company like Ajay Solutions involve professionals in both web design and website development.

Are they aware of UK and European laws for business websites? You or your business could be liable!

This is a vital requirement. If a customer complains, you or your company could be taken to court, fined, or your website could be taken offline. This extends to privacy, terms and data protection, but also beyond your website, to email and other electronic services. Please take it seriously.

Will your website get noticed? Just being online is not enough.

If your chap doesn't have experience of SEO, you may find your investment wasted. Potential customers will float on by when surfing for your competitors. SEO is not an afterthought - for the best results, it's important to consider it from the outset.

With no written agreement or contract, will there be progress? Will the project even get completed?

Be very aware that students and part-timers have other commitments. It's very easy to start well, and then hear "I'm sorry, I just haven't had the time..."

If your bargain site does get completed, what will happen next? Who will update it when things change?

We ensure our clients can work with their site and with us to maintain all the work from the initial investment. Don't waste the website development cost on an unmaintained site. You will lose search engine ranking, and fall behind as new browsers are released and tweaks are required.

Your business website is an investment that deserves a company you can rely on.

Perhaps it's better to start as you mean to go on, with a reliable website company, and a well delivered project. Perhaps it won't cost as much as you think. Contact us now for a free quote with no obligation. We'll be very happy to discuss your project with you, and help your business benefit from being online!

Conclusion

This article began with one advantage to cheap website design; "In the short-term it is usually VERY cheap to do this". This is still true, however the words "short-term" are important, because in the medium and long-term it will most definitely have cost you and your business, in the wasted opportunities and money you may have been charged for something you're not all that happy with. You may end up thinking "It'll do I guess. At least I have some kind of website now". Don't worry though, as we are always happy to help, so get in touch with a professional website design company and if your budget is tight we will work with you to provide options that suit your needs.