Knowing how to hire a quality web design at a good price can be tremendously difficult when you lack knowledge of this field.
In this guide I put forward a good number of factors to keep in mind so you can save without sacrificing quality in web design.
1. Clearly define your project
As a web designer I know first-hand that this point has a direct impact on the quoted price. This is because, when a web project is well-defined, the time investment can be clearly calculated.
However, when we leave many elements undefined or defined in a very vague way, the person quoting the project cannot take risks and will significantly increase the price.
For this reason, before presenting any web project, let us think carefully about what we need so we can present it in a clear and well-segmented way.
2. Research and compare several options
It is unlikely that the first developer we ask will be the one who offers us the best value for money. That does not mean it is impossible, but it is always good to compare several options to get a feel for the market and find out which services are the most complete.
For example, a fairly common mistake is thinking that a freelancer is always cheaper than an agency. But that is not necessarily the case. Today many agencies are actually a group of freelancers, which means that together they can afford to lower their prices.
3. Use templates instead of custom designs
This point is somewhat controversial. I say this because depending on the type of project we want to build, a custom design can be very beneficial. That said, if we have a tight budget we can use a template to at least test whether our project works. Once we start generating revenue we can invest in a custom build.
4. Use a content management system (CMS)
A CMS is a tool that allows you to manage your own website without constantly depending on developers and/or designers. And the king of CMSs is, without a doubt, WordPress. More than 40% of all websites in the world are built on this technology, which has caused WordPress design prices to drop in a remarkable way.
But let us not be fooled: there are thousands of companies and WordPress developers who are nothing more than page builders. This means they will deliver a website with an acceptable look but leaving much to be desired in terms of development quality.
5. Consider website rental
Renting a website can be a very worthwhile option. Agencies like WebHeroe offer web design, maintenance, monthly reports and much more for a monthly fee equivalent to a maintenance price. All this in exchange for a one-year commitment.
6. Use a minimalist and simple design
Minimalism is an aesthetic movement that will never go out of style. And as a bonus it will allow us to reduce the cost of our website design. There are a large number of websites that use a minimalist style without losing an ounce of professionalism.
7. Look for promotions and discounts
Be careful here. Many promotions and discounts come from companies (or entrepreneurs) who are trying to churn out websites at high volume. These types of businesses do not usually pay much attention to the quality of their product.
But this does not mean that there are no genuine promotions that offer real economic advantages without sacrificing quality. We just need to be savvy and know how to recognise when a company truly offers a quality service.
8. Track your budget strictly to avoid extra costs
Do not be afraid to keep close track of your spending. For cultural or social reasons — whatever they may be — we tend to approach controlling our money with caution. But we should see it for what it is: the primary resource that enables us to build a business. Without it, there is little we could do.
9. Collaborate directly with designers
It is true that we will not be experts in every skill required to produce a quality web design. But there is always something we can contribute. Let us identify our capabilities and, above all, the knowledge we can genuinely bring to our website. These might include:
- Graphic design
- Web development
- Digital marketing
- Copywriting
- Project management
- Social media management
- Customer relations
- Etc…
10. Use free or low-cost tools for image optimisation and site performance
Paid tools certainly have a large number of advantages. But free tools usually cover the vast majority of needs. Whenever we need a digital tool, we can always look for a free alternative and compare to see whether the paid tool is really worth it.
11. Consider long-term agreements for lower rates
If we commit to staying with a service provider, it is very common for them to offer some kind of discount. Let us ask our provider what benefits could be available and what they would require in return.
12. Clearly define the resources you will use
In many cases we pay for resources we will not actually use. And most of the time we can find alternative solutions that cost us much less.
For example, some websites take up very little disk space. But due to the large size of incoming emails, they are forced to purchase a server with a large amount of memory. One way to solve this is by using the POP3 protocol, which lets us manage and store emails in another service such as Gmail.
13. Be realistic
When we launch a new project we get swept up in excitement and chase the best (and most expensive) services. But we rarely need the top quality, at least at the start of a project. A very good option is to start with something simple (and affordable) and see whether it is a viable project. Once we confirm it is a business with a future, we can invest in an upgrade.
Comments
Be the first to comment on this post.