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 Do you do the design work yourself?
Whether the answer is yes or no, you'll want to be in contact with the person doing the work. Otherwise you're communicating with a project manager that has to pass any changes to the developer. This can lead to communication problems and project delays.
Do you use templates or will the site be custom designed?
For a company needing a simple web presence, a generic template may be a good choice. Most good designers can create a custom template that fits the client’s desired look and feel that also provides easy maintenance when the site needs to expand. If a template is used make sure that it fits the company's image and balances glitz with functionality. A good designer can help you choose a template that is flexible enough to grow when the business grows.
How long will the project take?
This is dependent on many factors, but a timeline should be provided, given the content is available and the designer knows what graphics need to be created or manipulated to fit the site layout. Delays frequently occur when the content is not provided or isn’t complete. If the content is organized and the design direction is relatively clear, the project can be completed quickly.
What do I need to get started?
The answer should be a series of questions from the designer, rather than "send me the content and your logo and I'll take it from there". There needs to be communication and dialog so the client and designer have a clear strategy which will lead to a successful website. One of the first questions that need to be answered is "What is the goal of the website?"
Is this your full time job?
I've had several clients that have had negative experiences with part-time web designers. Make sure you hire someone that is a full-time professional and can devote the time needed to your project as well as be accessible after your site is launched.
Can I view other sites you’ve done?
Here are some questions to ask when viewing the sites of a potential web designer:
- Is it easy to find information and get to other pages on the site?
- Is the navigation system simple to use?
- Is the design clear and consistent?
- Is the contact page or contact information easy to find?
- Are there any broken links?
- Is the page structure and content aligned properly?
- Does the site load quickly?
- Does the site design fit the business or organization it represents?
- Is there excessive use of images or flash that slow the site down?
Do you offer only website design?
Your web designer should be able to provide other services like Internet or email marketing, e-commerce, content management and graphic design to name a few. A good web designer also knows they can’t do it all, and should be willing to refer you to other resources if what you need is not their specialty.
Do you offer search engine optimization?
They should be familiar with optimization and have had success in optimizing websites for search engines. At a minimum your website should be optimized with the basics when it is created. This includes unique Title, Description and keywords META tags on each page, page content built with semantically correct HTML, and alt text for images which can increase the websites accessibility and usability.
Do you have testimonials or references?
Many web designers have testimonials the can give insight into the relationship they have with their clients. You may also want the option to contact some of their existing clients as a reference.
When the site is complete, will I own the site and all the files?
Make sure you have access to or have a copy of the site. This is important should your designer or web design company go out of business. Protect yourself by having a backup of the website and graphics files.
What programming tools do you use?
Whether you plan to update the site yourself or have someone else update the site, it's a good idea to understand how the site is created. Will it be hand-coded HTML or done with a WYSIWYG what-you-see-is-what-you-get editor. Is the site database driven or is it static HTML?
Do you test your websites on different browsers?
These days’ people use different browsers when visiting websites, from Firefox to Internet Explorer, Netscape to Opera. Not to mention the variety of browser versions and different operating systems. Make sure you hire someone that can test your site so it displays and functions properly in the majority of current browsers.
Do you charge by the project or by the hour?
It's important to understand the costs that you'll have to pay. You'll also want to know the costs to maintain the site. Will there be a monthly maintenance fee, or will I pay when updates are done? Are the fees charged by the job or by the hour? A good designer will clarify any future fees that may be incurred so there won't be any surprises down the road.
In summary,
I think it's a good idea to hire someone with experience that genuinely cares about the success of your project. Make sure they have a variety of projects in their portfolio that you can review. If the websites fit the quality that you're looking for in a web professional, make contact with them for more information or a website quote. The homework you do up front will help ensure a successful long-term relationship with your web designer.
If you have any questions of your own, please let us know.
 Many experts blame web habits for why
some of us are still getting hit with older web viruses. Spammers are still relying on people to
click on links in email which take the user to malicious websites. Many of us have learned the hard way not to click on links in unsolicited email.
Some things that you can do to increase email and web security:
Set browser security level to high. When browsing on this setting, this may cause some websites to not display properly. You can then add any websites to your list of trusted sites which will allow the site to display as it would in a lower security setting. High security settings on your browser might be more trouble than it's worth, but it is a good option for some people.
Disable or block popup windows. Many websites use popups to provide valuable information or tips but some use it for advertising and offensive content.
Read email in plain text. To increase security for email, you can disable images. This will mean you'll be viewing email in plain text.
For more on web and email security settings visit Microsoft.com which is the source of this information.
This newsletter is from NJE Design of Livonia, Michigan. We are a Michigan website design company and have been working with Michigan businesses for over 4 years. We'll work within your budget, deliver on time,
and provide ongoing support for your Internet needs.
Our Services Include:
Best regards,
NJE Design
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