So, you’re looking for a new website. Whether you don’t have a site at all or need an upgrade, searching for a web design company can be a very confusing process. There are so many out there that claim to make great websites. How do you choose which one is right for you – which one will create a striking yet easy-to-use website? Here are some important things to look out for and consider.

Website

Although it is possible for a web design company to have an outdated website (since they’re so busy working on everyone else’s), it’s usually good to choose a company with a nice website. Generally, if they have a crappy website, they’ll build you a crappy website.

Portfolio

You wouldn’t buy a painting before you at least look at what other things the artist has done. If the company doesn’t have an online portfolio, then they probably don’t have anything nice to showcase. If you’re convinced that it’s a good company, email or call and ask for a couple examples of websites they’ve built.

Transparency

Read through what the company says it’ll do for you. Even if you’re not web-savvy, reading through the company’s content will give you a good idea of their abilities. If they don’t clearly lay out what they do and how they do it, they may be trying to hide something (they aren’t great at web development, they outsource all their SEO services, etc.). Meeting with them would help, as it’s much easier to get a feel for a company if you’re meeting with them face-to-face.

The Complete Package

The company you choose should be able to carry you through the process (as far as you want to go). A company that is a total package will be able to design, develop, and market your new site. They can create a mobile-friendly version of your site, help you with your content, create videos for you, and offer great tech support. That way, you won’t have to work with several companies at one time.

Price

A great web design company will probably not list web design/development prices on their site. They know that an excellent, unique website will mean different things to different people. Depending on what products or services you offer, how big your site is, and how fancy you want it, costs will vary. The best way to determine your cost is to set up meetings with web design companies to determine the best plan of action. After learning more about you and your company, they can provide you with an estimate.

Philosophy

Overall, you’ll want to pick a web design company that fits with your company values and dynamic. There are those companies that like to have a little fun, and those that get straight down to business. Again, meeting with a potential web design company will help you determine whether or not they’re a good fit.

Jolissa D. writes for ArcStone, a web design and development company in Minneapolis, MN.