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If you're in the market for a new website or a redesign of an existing website, one of the first
things you'll need to do is hire a web designer.
We are based on the Sunshine Coast and design web sites in Buderim, Noosa, Caloundra, Brisbane and all over the world including Great Britain, USA, New Zealand, Chile and Peru.
As in any field,
there are good web designer and bad web designers, and it's
important to know how to determine which is which.
Here are 5 tips to get you started:
( You will also need a suitable domain name covered here. )
1. Don't judge a web designer's skill solely on graphic design skills.
Just like you can't judge a book by its cover, you can't judge a
web designer based on his or her graphic design skills alone.
While graphic design is important, attractive images are not the
most significant determinant of good design. In fact, they are a
comparatively small part of what makes a good website.
Instead of focusing completely on visual image, concentrate on
evaluating a designer's other skills. Evaluate the designer's
portfolio by asking these sample questions:
- Does this designer use his or her web design to reach top
positions in the search engines?
Search for web design Sunshine Coast on Google and see
where we place. Read more about your website homepage.
- Does this designer design with usability in mind? In other
words, is the site designed for form or for function?
- Does the designer have good organizational abilities? Look for
organization of the entire site as a whole, as well as the
organization of individual page layouts.
- Does the designer employ good navigation techniques? Try out
some of the sites in his or her portfolio and carefully examine
how easy it is for you to navigate around the site and find
specific pieces of information.
Read more about your website links.
- Instead of using graphics just for the sake of pizzazz, does
the designer use graphics purposefully to organize the page and
to direct a visitor's attention to important points?
- All sites should motivate a visitor to do something, whether it
is buying a product, filling out a quote request form, signing up
for a newsletter, etc. Does the designer do a good job of
visually showing visitors how to take action?
- Does the designer design sites that are easy to use?
- Instead of asking, "Does this site look good?" ask, "Would this
site make me want to buy a product if I was in that site's target
market?
2. Talk with website references.
Don't just peruse the sites in a designer's portfolio. Get in
contact with some of the designer's past clients and question
them on the specifics of their experience. Ask how long it took
to complete their website, as well as how easy it was to work
with the designer.
Also, be sure to ask how effective the client's website has been.
How many visitors do they get? By how much have their sales
increased? How well has the site accomplished the client's
intended goals?
3. Have a basic knowledge of good web design techniques.
It helps significantly in evaluating a prospective web designer
if you know at least the basics of good web design. This way,
you'll be in a better position to judge good techniques from the
not-so-good.
Before you get ready to hire a designer, spend some time browsing
the web and the shelves of your local bookstore. If possible, try
to get a feel for the basics of usability and online marketing.
Also, glean information from a variety of different sources. The
experts often disagree, and it's helpful to hear from a variety
of perspectives and understand why they hold particular
positions.
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