So, your business has been up and running for a while. Now your business is bigger, it’s finally time to find a website design agency that’ll smash your web design out of the park.
You’ve got a solid customer base. And you’ve spent time tweaking your services and positioning so you’re speaking right to the audience you want to serve. Everything’s ready for that last piece of the jigsaw: an awesome website.
But if you’re based in the Golden State, how are you going to find the right Californian website design agency for you? The one that’ll take your website dreams and make them a reality.
Let’s find out.
What are your goals?
Before you work with any service provider, it’s important to start by thinking about what you want to achieve from the partnership. Web design is no different. Think about your goals from every angle so you’re ready to talk to web designers about how they’ll help you achieve them.
What are your business goals?
- Do you want to double your revenue by the end of the year?
- Do you want to get more search engine rankings and website traffic?
- Do you want to increase your email list?
Each of these goals is possible – as long as you’ve defined what’s most important to you at the start. In other words, you have to know where you’re heading first, then you can think about how your website will help you achieve your aims.
Once you’re clear on what you want to accomplish with your website, you’ll be able to find a California web designer who’ll get on board to help you deliver it.
A good web designer will keep your goals in mind when designing your website: they’ll design every page so it leads to a clear CTA (Call to Action). And that’ll guide your visitors towards the result you want. Win.
Does your website need specific features or functionality?
Can your website help you run your business better, more efficiently?
Maybe you need e-commerce capabilities, a calendar booking system, a membership portal, or CRM integration?
Get clear on the functionality you need before you start researching California web designers. Then you can search for a designer who can integrate all the features seamlessly into your website.
What website assets do you have currently?
Since you’ve been in business for a while, you likely have a website already – but now it’s time for an upgrade. So look at your existing site. Are you happy with your website copy? What about the images?
If your words need a refresh, you’ll have to write new copy – or hire a copywriter to do it for you – ideally before you redesign your website.
And if your images look tired, it’s time to get a pro photographer to take some up-to-date pictures of you and your team.
Are you happy with your logo and branding? Or do you need a big change?
There’s nothing worse than getting an incredible new website, only to let it down by uploading the same stale branding you’ve been using for years.
A new website often prompts business owners to overhaul their branding. If you want everything to look fresh and enticing for your visitors, this’ll influence the web designer you choose. Because some (like us at Potion Web Studio) specialize in providing logo design and branding for your new website.
Research and shortlist Californian website design agencies
Once you’ve got clear on your website needs, it’s time to start looking for a California website design agency that can fulfil your brief. Here’s how to do it:
Good work
Look at each web designer’s portfolio – do you like the work they’ve done for previous clients? Don’t worry if there aren’t examples your industry – a good website designer can create great sites for businesses in any sector.
The right platform
Check what platform a web designer uses. For example, at Potion Web Studio we use WordPress. Fully customizable, it’s the best platform out there – you can have a website with the wow-factor and ALL the features you need. Plus, it’s easy to update, so whenever you’ve got news for your customers, you can share it with them instantly.
WordPress is widely recognized as being THE platform to use – most of the biggest businesses in the world use WordPress – and loads of the smaller ones, too.
Specialist services
If you need special features on your website, like e-comm or memberships, look for a web designer who’s got experience in providing them. They’ll be able to advise you on the best way to do it, and they’ll head off any hiccups before they happen.
A good fit
Consider web design agencies that seem like a bunch of people you want to work with. Website design projects are intense, so you’ve got to get along with the team. And once you include website maintenance, it’ll become a long-term relationship. That means you really want to pick a web designer you like.
Mobile optimized
Make sure any prospective web designer mentions mobile-friendly sites. Since 2021, Google has favored mobile-first sites – and no wonder, with over 50% of all searches carried out on a mobile device. If a web designer isn’t optimizing for mobile, you need to cross them off your list.
View testimonials
Get the lowdown from past customers by reading a web designer’s testimonials. Check out review sites, too, to get a balanced picture.
Post-launch support
Websites need to be properly maintained, so make sure your website designer offers support after the build. That way, you’ve got someone with all the knowledge keeping everything running smoothly.
Arrange a meeting with a Californian website design agency
Got your shortlist ready? It’s time to start meeting with possible web design agencies. But what should you ask when you get there?
We’ve got the questions covered:
- Can you provide examples of websites you’ve designed with a similar scope?
When you can see that a web designer has tackled websites with similar size or functionality to the site you need, you can be confident they’re up to the job. - What’s your design process like? How do you involve clients in design and decision-making?
Understanding how a web dev works will help you decide whether you’d like to partner with them. Do you want to be hands-on and consulted at every turn, or would you prefer to leave them to it?
Plus, how long is it going to take them and how will you communicate? You need to know all the answers to these questions! - How do you approach user experience (UX) to ensure websites are intuitive and user-friendly?
You need to know that your new website will be simple and appealing for your visitors to use – that’s how you’ll guide them to a conversion and keep them coming back for more. So ask your potential web devs how they’ll approach UX. - What post-launch support and maintenance services do you offer?
Web maintenance is essential to keep your brand new site running smoothly long after it’s launched, so make sure your web dev offers a full maintenance and support package. - Can you provide a breakdown of the project timeline, including key milestones and deliverables?
Getting into detail like this means you find out whether a prospective web designer can deliver when you need your site launched. - What’s your pricing structure, and what factors can affect the overall cost?
Finding out the costs of a web design service up front is important in helping you budget for your project. Be sure to ask about any extra costs that could arise – you don’t want a nasty surprise. - How do you communicate?
Understanding how a web designer takes a brief, and asks or answers questions throughout a project, is the key to a web build going smoothly.
Make an informed decision
Once you’ve gathered all the info and insights from your research and conversations, you’ll be ready to evaluate your findings.
Compare the pros and cons of each agency to consider how well they meet your website design needs, budget, and whether they communicate in a way that works for you. Most importantly, do you get along together?
You’ll be able to choose the Californian website design agency that aligns with your requirements and feels like a good fit for your business.
A strong start for your new website
Choosing a website designer is one of the most important parts of the process when your business needs a new website – you’re laying the foundations for the whole project, and since a website is a major asset to your business, you need to know you’ve found the right designer for you.
Ready to jump in and start your search for a web designer in California? Take a look at our services and get in touch. We’ll grab a coffee and talk about the website you need.