Kim’s Website Design & Marketing
How to Choose a Web Design Agency in Australia & 16 Non-Negotiables When Hiring Your Expert Web Designer
When choosing a web design agency in Australia, several questions may arise. Do I really need it? How can you help me? How to choose the best one? Asking these questions is undoubtedly very important. Well, it shows, first of all, that you have in mind designing a site to publicize your business, which is a very good step; second, it realizes the need to have a professional job in order to meet specific objectives.
There is no doubt that having a website today is essential to promote a business on the Internet. And the key in this work is to develop not only an attractive site but a really good and effective one. After all, this is your brand’s cover letter, so it should be the best it can be. And for this it is necessary, many times, to have the help of a professional team with experience in the field. It is, then, to think of a web design agency in Australia as the main ally so that your brand or company can be successful from the beginning.
Good performance, good presentation and correct optimisation are some of the factors to take into account when designing a website. That is why the best thing is that, if you are not a professional in the field, you decide to choose a web design agency in Australia. But what will this really deal with?
What does a web design agency do?
Today there are many web design agencies in Australia in all parts of the world. So much so that you can request services from a company that is outside your country or in your own city. The variety is great, as are the levels of experience and professionalism. Therefore, before making a decision, it is important to know what exactly these agencies are in charge of in order to see how they could help you in your project.
Although the way of working of each agency may vary and the specialization as well, it is true that all of them tend to offer similar services. They basically deal with designing websites with all the necessary requirements to adapt them to current demands; They also develop branding actions to create a true brand image; they take care of creating, from scratch, online or e-commerce stores; and also, many of them offer social media management, search engine advertising and SEO development services. It is, therefore, teams of professionals who accompany businesses in the development of their presence on the Internet, from the basic to the widest and most complex.
The ultimate goal of web design agencies in Australia is to create, for a certain brand, a website and a professional profile on the Internet that responds to the needs of the user and facilitates contact with them, which considers the demands of the current digital market and does not put aside the trends that may favor the development of a business.
What to ask before choosing a web design agency?
IF you have already made the decision to hire this type of service, it is important that you ask some questions before choosing a web design agency in Australia. Since this will depend, to a large extent, on the good development of your business in the online environment.
What knowledge and experience do they have?
Designing a website is the main service offered by all agencies, however, it is not an easy task and much less fast. It is essential that you ask, before making a contract, what knowledge they have and how they can apply it to your particular business. Not only is it necessary for professionals to know design and programming, nowadays it is also important for them to know about marketing, usability, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), device and speed optimisation, among other things.
In addition, it is essential that it be an agency with experience. Thus, although there are beginners with good knowledge and a lot of enthusiasm, you will make sure to check what they are capable of doing, how and for how long. If, in addition, they have similar cases of design for businesses in the same category or industry as yours, it will be a plus.
How will they help the positioning of the website with your work?
We already know, a website can be aesthetically perfect and ultra-modern. It can shine for its visual resources and make an impact with the naked eye; but if Google does not take it into account, it is unlikely that users will arrive and, most importantly, will stay.
Therefore, another fundamental question to ask before choosing a web design agency in Australia is in what way, exactly, will they help you with SEO and optimisation. This is vital for any site, so get advice and investigate if they will use a responsive design, how they will work with the keywords, what type of template they will use or if they will create it from scratch, and what they need from you before starting. Do not make the mistake of leaving the project, it is very important that you ask, participate in what is necessary and follow the process step by step.
How can they help your business?
It is not about hiring an agency that just makes a website and then disappears. It is important to think of a complete service, there must be a subsequent accompaniment, and professional advice to guide you in the project. A good design agency will be one that is completely committed to all the details and looks for business opportunities for your brand as if it were it’s own. For this reason, asking what is the specific plan they have is essential.
What should my website have?
Once you have chosen the design agency to create your site, you will surely wonder what elements you cannot miss. We know that there are basic sections that are fundamental, but it is never a bad thing to remember them, as well as mention certain sections that, if they are not, can affect the user experience.
A good initial message
The home page of a website is key. It should include, in a strategic way, a message that invites you to browse the site, the logo, the corporate colours and a brief answer, either textual or visual, to the question of why your business is perfect for what the user searches. It must stimulate interest, without abusing the content and capturing attention, without promising something that does not exist.
“About us” and Contact
Do not forget to say who you are and what you offer. The user seeks proximity and closeness; So try to understand and interact with them virtually as much as possible by telling them about your business, your goals and why they should be encouraged to learn about your products or services.
Also, the contact page is basic on every website. One of the things that can affect the user experience the most is having no way to contact the site. Either by means of a form or with e-mail or telephone information, it is important that you allow them to communicate with you in case of questions or queries.
Products or services / E-commerce section
To sell your products or services, it is best to add an online store. So you can make each option known in detail. It is necessary that this section be easy to use and, above all, clear in the information. Prices, shipping costs, the characteristics of each item, etc., cannot be missing.
Links to social networks
This is very important if you want them to find out about your site, adding the buttons to social networks allows them to easily follow you and not miss the news. It is something that years ago was not so necessary, but today it is. Position the buttons in places that won’t go unnoticed, but also don’t seem intrusive in size.
A blog
Although the blog is optional, more and more agencies are recommending it. Why? Because thanks to it you can develop content marketing and fully enhance the SEO of your website. For this it is essential that it has clear sections and a search option and that it is used as part of a total positioning strategy.
How do I know if my website is well done?
You have chosen the design agency that will take care of creating your website, the days have passed and finally, it is up and running. But how do you know if it is a good site? How do you know that it is really well done? To answer these questions, we advise you to take into account the following elements or aspects and analyse each one.
Analyse the design
Remember, the design, in addition to being visually attractive, must facilitate the user’s navigation through the site. Take the test and enter your site as another user, is it easy to understand what it is? Is it easy to get to the different sections? Is there a way to contact the business? And, one fundamental aspect, can you see it perfectly whether you browse from a computer or from a mobile phone? If the answer to all these questions is yes, you are on the right track. If there is something wrong, something missing or something that is not working well, check it.
It is important, always, that you look at the site, at the same time, with the eyes of a buyer and a seller. So you can see if you are showing the best face of your business, clearly and professionally; And if someone outside this may be attracted to visit, read and buy.
Check optimisations
Check that the site is fast and does not take more than three seconds to display all the content and verify that it looks perfect on any device. Study, also, the Search Engine Optimisation/Optimization (SEO) of your site; check the links, titles, descriptions, images and other elements. Then ensure it is submitted with the various Search Engines! This totally influences whether Google takes it into account.
Check the calls to action
The site is attractive, the products are excellent… But are you attracting attention? Is there a button that invites you to click or subscribe? Do not forget these elements, they are just as important as the rest. The call to action is key in the task of persuading the users and turning them into customers.
Check the codes of Webmaster tools, Google Analytics and Google Adwords
A good web design agency in Australia will not only deal with the design but will see the website as a potential business. This implies that different codes are added for Google tools that are essential for the development of an online business. If they are not there, it is important to consult the agency immediately.
Now you know that the design of a website is a more complex process than it seems. The best thing is to bet on the quality and professionalism of an agency from the beginning, in this way it will be possible to develop an online business with a firm foundation and a great probability of success.
Get in touch with me, Kim, and my team here at Kim’s Websites. Maybe we are the right team to back your business?
Call us to find out how we can help you.
Call 0450 871 934
or email us at kim@kimswebsites.com.au