Accessibility

One of life’s greatest frustrations is having something go wrong, and not being able to contact the one who can fix the problem. You need a website designer who you can talk to, live and in real time. Email messages are ok for a lot of the little day to day things, but it’s very important that you can actually talk to the real person when you feel the need. This speaks as well to the benefits of using a local person if such is available, which affords you the luxury of face?to?face meetings.

Good Communication

You don’t know much about website design, but you’re no dummy either. You are the client, which makes you the boss. You want someone to listen carefully to your needs and views. On the other hand, you don’t want someone who is afraid to tactfully point out areas where your ideas might not be a good way to proceed. He should after all, be an expert in these matters, but a successful relationship is always based on good and 2way communication.

Industry Respect

This may not seem to be as easy as it really is. Basically, it means that there are a number of people out there who know this guy and have had good experiences in dealing with him. Testimonials from other clients are powerful, but be careful. Sometimes these testimonials are asked from “wowed” individuals who are in awe of their new site, but may be feeling somewhat different after a few months or years after a number of bad experiences. Always check the websites referred to in the testimonials or visit the sites shown in the portfolio to see if they are still active. Check at the bottom of the page to see if another webdesigner is now looking after the site. It happens!

It’s not a bad idea to actually contact the company who they are using as a reference. You may get some very helpful information which they are often only too happy to provide.

Willing to Train

Many website designers these days are what I like to call, “Snatch and Grab” artists. It’s easy to put a site together, upload it, make it live then bill the customer and move on. A website is rarely a “finished product” as products, prices, services and a host of other criteria change frequently. You need someone who will stay with you and work with you through the good and the not so good times.

Provides Options

Not everything is carved in stone, nor does it always have to follow a prescribed path. Especially if it comes to dollars and cents, your designer of choice should be able to provide some alternatives. Particularly in this economic climate, a good designer will often be able to provide much or all of his services on a monthly basis. Makes is a lot easier on the pocket book in the long run.