How to choose a good Web Design Company?

[everest]

At work I’m faced with a decision to choose a web design company, to redesign our web site, which is quite archaic now. Some time ago, when faced with a similar task to look for web hosting firm I’ve looked at top rankings of hosting directories. So I chose the top host which later proved to be worse then we expected. At the same time for our family web site my daughter found http://veghost.com - a cheaper host which proved to be much better. So the question is how to choose a good web design company? I wouldn’t like to pay more money for worse services again.
What are the focus points to look at when choosing a web design company?
How to make sure that service is not overpriced?
Thanks for your help.

 

[iDeviseFlash]

hmm, that is a hard one. Look around there folios, talk to people who have used them. You could conisder us, and there are many other good design firms here. Good luck!

 

[Mr. Websites]

Yeah, looking through portfolios would be your best bet. There's more than enough amazing designers around here. Post your requirements in the "Web Design and Templates For Sale" and let's see the response you get. There's more than enough creative folks over at DesignOutpost, as well. I would recommend you go through our forums prior to looking around any further, I'm sure we have a designer that fits your needs.

 

[Ethan]

Portfolios are good, but here are some design firms I know are good as I know the owners and their work is great:

http://whitehillstudios.co.uk/
http://entailstudios.com/
http://www.elusionstudios.com/ (have to contact, no porfolio)

I also do web design and probably the same with many other members here, so ask for some work here and you probably can get someone good right here, but ask around before hiring anyone.

 

[Spiral]

I think the best thing to do is to get in contact with the designer. If you find someone very helpful and courteous, you may be more inclined to employ them than if you get a automated response from a design firm.

 

[Ethan]

I also say buy it from someone that you know as you can get in better contact with them and have an idea of what the turn out would be.

 

[iDeviseFlash]

Originally posted by Spiral
I think the best thing to do is to get in contact with the designer. If you find someone very helpful and courteous, you may be more inclined to employ them than if you get a automated response from a design firm.

best advice so far, prolly, good job spi!

 

[GodSpeed]

The devise guys are good designers and good people.

There also easy to get ahold of

 

[jstep]

Also look through the portfolio for the style

See if theres something similar to something you want

if they can do it once they can do it again

 

[n3m]

do a search for designers and have a look thorugh their portfolios
our can been seen here

 

[Mr. Websites]

I would recommend neo3media!

 

[iDeviseFlash]

grr, lol. You have just one partner? Well, technically i do, but together, all out team has somewhere over 10+ Yeats experience in programming, design. N3 are good, they'll treat ya right. Dont really matter who you choose, lol, as long as they dont scam you or stink terribly.

 

[n3m]

there are 3 of us in the office.
im responsible for all the print design, marketing and promotion work (all this web stuff is beyond me!!!)
my partner does all the techy web, flash, audio and multimedia work (i think he is a demi-god)
and theres number 3 he does a bit of everything

 

[VyzeR]

neo3 portfolio is pretty nice they look like a good choice

 

[everest]

Excuse me, but what about price? How to see that price is appropriate?

 

[darksk8er]

1) Is the designer/team nice and interested
2)Are they reliable? check for testimonials, costumer reviews
3)Am I being ripped off.
4)how long have they been doing it.
5)Portfolio, portfolio, portfolio

That's 5 things to look for.

edit: pricing depends upon project size and quality, so I can't give you an estimate, you have to ask for quotes on different places.

 

[will7]

Exactly. I offer package deals designed for basic sites but even these are customisable. I offer a fully custom design also. Each web site is individual - some people need different things and different prices. I wouldn't charge £1000 for a 3 page site with no graphics - but I would for a corporate site, with shopping cart and database e.t.c. You get the picture...

 

[FMS]

1. Portfolio/Reviews

2. Is there a phone number where you can call directly?

3. Is there an address?

4. Are they pleasant through e-mail/and or phone?

5. When you email, do they forget who you are, or do they recognize you as a valuable client? (example)...you send a few emails...or pm..then a week later you contact them again to discuss the deal further..and they say"who are you again"? This is a big- No-No!

6. Will they allow you to contact clients for references? (this is usually a good one, that can show a companies true colors-quick)... You may just want to ask and not actually do it...but a reputable company will not take issue with this.

7. How does the firms website appeal to you? If someone tells you "don't judge us by our website, its being redesigned right now: RUN"


***I think a nice example of legit company looks like this:

http://www.designoutpost.com

All the info at your finger tips....
hope this helps out...:D

 

[everest]

Originally posted by darksk8er

edit: pricing depends upon project size and quality, so I can't give you an estimate, you have to ask for quotes on different places.

But we’ve asked different companies and price range is quite different.

 

[e39m5]

there is no set price, you can charge however much money you want, there even people on namepros selling custom templates for 25-50 NP$ (less than a dollar), some of em are pretty good and some are horrible. what I would od is pick the companies whos stywle you like. Then out of all those companies you picked, find the cheapest one and use them