Insider Tips for Choosing
the Right Web Designer
You are free to reprint this article
in your publication as long as the resource box located at the
end of this article is included.
Stop! Before you rush to build a presence on the Web be careful!
So-called Web designers are popping up in all directions. Owning
Web creation software does not make one a Web designer. For goodness
sake, free web design software can be downloaded from the 'Net in
about 20 minutes.
For your site to look professional, function properly and meet
search engine submission criteria you need a pro. There are so many
Web designers available now… how do you make an intelligent
choice as to who to use? Quite frankly, education, talent and skill
are the keys.
The Benefits of an Educated Designer
A good Web designer will have some sort of formal education, whether
it's from taking online classes, self-study, or a taking a certification
program at a local college. Some of the classes they should have
under their belt are HTML and javascript - at the very minimum.
Here is a listing of the education requirements to become a certified
Web designer at one local college:
Logic and Program Design, Introduction to Programming, Web Layout
and Design Concepts, Dreamweaver, Database Management, Photoshop,
HTML, Flash, UNIX, DHTML, Javascript, CGI and Perl, XML & ColdFusion,
Generator, Dreamweaver Ultra Dev, Illustrator and Fireworks.
There is much more to design than pasting clip art onto a page.
Find out what kind of formal instruction your potential designer
has. Not only should they be educated, but he or she should be continuing
their education to keep up with the latest software programs and
ever-changing technology.
They Have Skills but Do They Have Talent?
Finding a designer that has the necessary skills is one thing …
but do they have talent, too? A Web designer needs to have that
spark of creativity - which is usually a natural talent rather then
something that's learned.
Take the time to browse through the Web site and portfolio of your
potential Web designer. Are his or her designs pleasing to look
at? A designer has creative talent if he or she is able to coordinate
colors to represent emotions and perceptions. For example, a feeling
of excitement is portrayed with bright, happy colors, calmness with
soothing soft colors, impact with vibrant, bold colors. We've all
heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words".
A talented designer knows how to selectively insert graphics into
a Web page to enhance and give greater meaning to the copy without
it looking like a three-ring circus.
A good designer will be able to create fresh, interesting graphics
from scratch, they won't rely on over-used clip art and they won't
use other people's designs.
The Value of Experience
Education is of utmost importance, but be sure that knowledge is
enhanced with solid experience. Again, take the time to not only
view the designer's portfolio, but also interview their previous
clients. Was the designer timely and efficient? Did they answer
e-mails promptly? Did the designer make an effort to keep them up-to-date
on the progress of their Web site? Are they, the client, happy with
their Web site design?
Traffic, Traffic, Traffic
A good designer takes the time to educate him/herself on all the
elements pertaining to design. Promotion is one of those elements.
Your designer should care about your target audience because the
site should be designed with your target group in mind.
Does your main approach to publicity include the top 10 search
engines? Then your site should be designed in a way that optimizes
it for search engines. While your designer is not a positioning
specialist, he/she should have the knowledge to optimize your site
for placement. A search engine specialist can be called in to help
with the delicate balance of keywords and meta tags that are essential
in order for a Web site to get high rankings with the engines.
What about your Web site copy? Designers are not copywriters either.
Copywriting is an entirely different specialty. Is your copy targeted?
Does it accomplish your sales or promotional goals? Does it promote
your business in such a way as to make your visitors want your product
or service? Good designers know that the text is an essential element
on your site. It plays a major role in search engine positioning
and it certainly takes top priority in sales. Once again, a professional
can be contacted to write the copy if need be.
Listens With Care
A Web designer should not only carefully listen to your thoughts
and ideas about how you want your Web site to look, but should also
ask questions and offer suggestions. He or she should also offer
explanations as to why a certain idea might or might not work.
You Get What You Pay For
Web designer fees vary drastically. A good rule of thumb is to
weigh the designer's price with the amount of experience and the
quality of the Web site that designer produces.
In summary, choose your Web designer with the same care as you
would a building contractor for your dream home. Ask about their
education and qualifications. Carefully review their work. Ask for
references and use them. Remember that the design of your Web site
is a direct reflection of your business. The professionalism of
your Web site design might be the deciding factor that makes or
breaks your success.
Viki Nygaard is President of Mount Evans Designs specializing in professional
Web design. For those businesses who insist on quality but must maintain a budget,
visit http://www.mountevansdesigns.com
today. You'll be thrilled with the exceptional designs and the affordable rates!
| return to article index
|
home | our
team | articles | rates
| portfolio | process
FAQS | guarantee
| references | contact
us
privacy policy
© 2000 - 2007 Mount Evans
Designs
51 Fawn Creek Ln., Evergreen, CO
80439
All rights reserved.
With the exception of specifically identified materials, reproduction
of any portion of this site without prior, written consent from
the owner is prohibited by law.
|
