When you’ve finally decided that it’s high time for a new look for your business, your next decision is going to be which Birmingham web design agency you should go with. How do you do this, though?
It is far from being a simple decision. Your website is the first thing many of your potential customers or clients will see, and it’s important that you make a good impression. The best way to ensure you hit the ground running with your website is to commission a good design agency who know what they are doing.
You may think that all web design agencies deliver the same thing, however, this simply is not the case. Different agencies will suit different requirements and industries; there is no one size fits all approach when it comes to designing a website.
Stay Local with a Digital Agency in Birmingham
Outsourcing work to far away lands is a very attractive prospect, especially because the internet makes it so easy, however, you should avoid doing where possible this and instead opt to work with a local agency.
Although working with a local agency helps support the local community and businesses, the importance of using local talent is more to do with the fact that these people will know your city better than somebody from another country.
This has several benefits for your business. If you operate a local store or premises, having a website which is created with this area in mind and is catered and optimised for it will drive better results than a generic website which doesn’t focus on a specific location.
If you run a Birmingham-based business, for example, you want people in Birmingham to find you. When you have a website catered for Birmingham residents it is much easier to be discovered by them. It is for this reason alone why you should choose a website design agency in Birmingham to create your website for you.
Key Things to Look for in a Web Design Agency
Locality is important; however, it is not the be all end all. There are many other factors in play when you are looking for potential candidates to design your website. Here are three of them:
1.Check their previous work
Most web design agencies include a portfolio of their work on their website and place it prominently. If they don’t then you should ask to see some examples.
Portfolios often include a vast range of different websites made for their clients and are a great indicator as to their skills and in-house style. Critically analyse each portfolio piece and figure out whether anything you can see fits the dream website you have in mind. From the portfolio, does it look as if the design agency is going to be able to create something which fits your brief?
Dig a little deeper, too; function is just as important as design. Head on over to a few of their clients’ websites and have a look around. Is the website functional and responsive? Is it easy to navigate? Is it optimised for mobile? The results which an agency has delivered for its previous clients is the best indicator as to the results they will deliver for you.
2. Consider whether they are experienced enough
Has the agency previously designed and deployed websites which are similar to or fit the ideas which you have in mind? Are they capable of developing the features you want to see included in the final product?
By seeing first-hand that an agency has produced results like those you desire puts your mind at rest and proves that they can deliver what you are looking for.
Keep your industry in mind, too, and look at whether the agency has worked with clients in your industry before. Industry experience can go a long way towards producing a website suitable for and aimed at your target market, giving you the all-important competitive edge.
3. Look at the size of their team
Although bigger does not always mean better, the size of an agency and the people working within one can be a good indicator of whether they are suitable for you personally.
This all comes down to how much support you may need during the project and whether you want the agency’s services to carry on after the website has been completed and deployed. Would you be happy to part ways once the project is over and maintain the site yourself?
Smaller agencies may not have the manpower necessary to provide a continuous service – e.g. provide general maintenance to your site – after the project has ended.
4. How long have they been operating?
If the agency has been around for a decade or two, that’s usually a sign that things are going well; a web design company doesn’t get to stick around for a long time if they aren’t producing good results for their clients!
This doesn’t mean that you should be casting newcomers aside; all design agencies have to start somewhere. You should account for this factor in context with the aforementioned points along with the specific needs of you and your business before you make a final decision.
Globalgraphics: A Leading Web Agency in Birmingham
Having built modern and responsive websites for thousands of clients based not only in Birmingham but all over the world, we are a leading design agency based in Birmingham who consistently deliver outstanding results for our clients.
We provide bespoke web design services and ongoing support for companies of all sizes – from start-ups to large enterprise-level corporations – which are modern, innovative and help you stand out in a competitive marketplace.
For well over 20 years, we have been one of Birmingham’s leading web design agencies and have designed well over 2,000 websites for industry-leading clients.
If you are looking to overhaul your website and take it to the next level, get in touch today!
