Chester has a rich variety of creative individuals and industries to choose from. When it comes to making a website there are many web design agencies and even some budding young web design students from Chester University who would be only too happy to offer their web design services.
A website can have a dramatic impact on a business, for some people it may be the only interaction they have with your organisation. With that in mind, it's important to know what to look for in a good website designer.
What to look for in a good website designer?
Whether you're looking for a web designer in Chester or anywhere else, there are several factors worth considering.
Experience
'There's no substitute for experience' as the saying goes. When selecting a website designer we recommend asking about their experience. Some useful questions to ask could be:
- How long have they been in business?
- Do they have an outstanding portfolio of web design work?
- What services do they provide?
- Do they have any formal web design or related qualifications?
- How many long-term clients do they have?
Reputation
Closely following experience is the reputation of a web design company. They may have been producing websites for a while but do they have a following of happy clients to back up their claims? We recommend spending time reviewing the reputation of a web design company before making a final decision. Some useful points to consider are:
- Do they have any recent client reviews?
- Can you speak to any of their former clients for a reference?
- Do they have positive reviews on Google Business?
- Have they worked with other businesses similar to yours?
Communication
Amazing design skills and unparalleled coding experience are important but excellent communication is the hallmark of any solid relationship. Some useful areas to consider are:
- Can you speak to your web designer over the phone or in person?
- Is your prospective web design person willing to meet with you?
- Are they able to listen effectively to your requirements?
- Are they genuinely interested in your project?
- Will they be on hand to provide support after the website is completed?
Some options for Website Design in Chester
There are many different options for a web design partner in Chester, each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The right choice will depend on your specific needs. Here are a few options:
Agencies for Web Design in Chester
Pros
- Specialist Skills - Web design agencies tend to have several members of staff who can offer their specialist skills
- Ample Resources - Agencies often have access to ample resources and budgets allowing them to scale with your business
- Speed of Delivery - Web agencies can usually work on several aspects of your project simultaneously, speeding up the result
Cons
- High Price Tag - Web design agencies often have large overheads such as office space and staffing costs this contributes to the high price they charge
- Communication Issues - When several people get involved in a project it can sometimes result in communication issues and additional layers of red tape.
For example; you call XYZ Chester Web Agency. Billy your Account Manager is out with another client. You get put through to Allan in SEO, he doesn't know where things are up to but is happy to speak to Jean in Marketing to see if your campaign has been approved, subject to review by Alice Head of Digital. But there's no need to worry, Fred the new intern will put it all together in an email for you once the IT department have finished setting up his workstation.
Students for Web Design in Chester
Pros
- High Amounts of Enthusiasm - Web design students tend to be enthusiastic (I remember the feeling!) although lacking experience they are often willing to go the extra mile to get your project off the ground
- Low Cost - Someone who is just starting out on their path to web design success will likely be willing to take on a project to build their fledgling portfolio. This can sometimes result in a lower cost.
- Freshness - A web design student is at the cutting edge of academia. Rather than those tried and tested designs that others are using, a web design student may be able to produce something completely fresh and 'out of the box' for you.
Cons
- Lack of Industry Experience - A lack of commercial web design experience could be an issue when working with a web design student. Being new to the industry they may lack a deep understanding of the most up-to-date industry working practices and standards
- Subject to Change - Many students have decisions to make about where they will live and work after they finish their course. This could be a drawback for a business looking for a well-established, stable company to build and maintain their website.
Swaydesign for Web Design in Chester
Pros
- Experience - For over 20 years I've been designing commercial websites. My first commercial website was for a company called ITM based in Garden Lane, Chester all those years ago.
- Reputation - Having a reputation for producing high-quality work is something that I've worked hard to achieve. Please feel free to check out my reviews on Google Business
- Communication - I pride myself on communicating well with clients. This approach has led to long-term client relationships that have lasted years. I work alone on the majority of my web design projects. Occasionally I will call in extra help if it will benefit the client. This one-man-band approach means that I answer the phone, design the website, build the website and maintain the website. This cuts down on the red-tape and helps to improve communication. Please feel free to put this to the test by calling me on 07981 593011 I'll be happy to pick up the phone and have a chat.
Cons
- Not the Cheapest - There are plenty of web design organisations who will produce cheap work. Experience has taught me that low-cost work often results in low quality. A high quality website design doesn't come about by chance, it is the result of a well-formed brief, a well-managed design process and a well-executed launch. All of this takes time. If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Speed - I believe in quality over quantity. I like to take my time to understand the specific requirements of a web design brief before launching headlong into a project. This means that I may not deliver a project as quickly as perhaps a large web design agency would.
