Saturday, January 15, 2011

Checklist before finalizing the deal with a Web Development Company

Selecting an appropriate web development company can be a tricky job, especially if you are not aware of the particulars of internet, web based applications, search engines, SEO, web standards and other details of creating a website. If you know a few developers who will be able to do the job for you, then you may decide to give them your brief. However, in case you are not sure of who is right for the job and can handle the work, keeping in mind a few basic points will help you in your search for qualified developers.
To begin with, know the difference between a developer and a designer. Often the same individual has both skill sets, but knowing the difference will help you in selecting the right person. A designer is concerned with the visual features of a site. The designer makes it look attractive so that it entices web surfers. But while most certified designers are bound to have basic coding skills, they are certainly not experts in that field. Developers are experts in coding. They create applications, platforms and widgets etc. Usually a reputed web development company like Pixelsmedia will have people with both skill sets at your disposal.
Check the references of the people you are going to hire. Ask for contact and follow up at least three to four clients. The important questions to ask about your web development company would be regarding the quality of their work, ability to stick to deadlines and their attitude towards work.
The backbone of any online retail business is ecommerce. It is therefore a good idea to research shopping carts beforehand. The carts should be compared on the basis of their features since once the site is designed, it is you who will be left with content management, order processing and reporting. Any designer who makes tall claims of having your store running in an hour or so is best avoided.
Give the web development company a challenge. Companies like Pixelsmedia are more than happy to take on challenges in their work field and makes a success of it. The web development company that you ultimately choose should be able to turn your objectives into a feature rich and customer friendly experience with expertise. A designer who does not show sufficient interest in what you want and how you want it is either totally uninterested or does not know enough to do the job properly.
Before you sign a contract with any company, get a statement of work detailing the understanding of your designer related to what you want, the estimated time to complete the work, the exact services available and an estimate of what everything will cost you. A designer who is unable to share your vision is likely to get unsatisfactory results.
Finally, while choosing a web development company, it is important to remember that the work of a designer or developer is judged by experience and not solely by credentials. Some of the best designers may not have certified credentials, but their work portfolio is proof of their expertise.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

How to Find a Good Web Designer

In the present internet dominated world you definitely need a website that contributes in your business. Here selection of the right web designer or developer for creating a customized website for you is really crucial. Remember that you are not appointing a designer only for having an attractive site but also enjoying an effective online operating system for betterment of your business. However, you have to gather an overall knowledge about the whole process before hiring anyone for the task. This article will highlight some basic aspects that you should consider while appointing any professional for the job.

Ensure that you have selected the best available designer of the market. Generally, a good web designer costs a lot but compromising with quality only for the sake of money can hurt you in future. So it’s always useful to appoint the best person whom you can afford.

Take a look at whether your web designing company has experienced and skilled professionals in its SEO department. Ask details of how it generally uses the SEO system in websites otherwise your site may get lost in crowded online arena.

Make sure that the company or the web designer knows use of XTML and CSS which are very important for determining the look of your website.

One of the basic attractions of any successful website is its user friendliness. Ensure a balance between easy navigation and smart look for your site. Simplicity is important otherwise, visitors can get confused with your site’s applications.

Find out whether the designer understands basic objective of the site and features of the products or services offered by it.

Ensure that the designer provides required maintenance and up gradation services so that your website always stays in competition.

Check out whether your designer has access to the best and latest technology in terms of initial designing as well as for ensuring long-term appeal of your website.

Taking personal references for selecting the designer/developer for your website is always useful. Nowadays designers offer their portfolios to clients. This gives you the chance to take a look at his previous works as well as to take feedbacks from his ex- clients.

You can ask for demonstration of a mock website to get a first hand taste of what your designer is capable of.

Remember that educating the client about the operations of website is an efficient designer’s duty. Don’t hesitate to ask him questions on the operating system of your website.


So, you have to consider all these factors while appointing a web designing.

Questions You Should Ask a Web Designer before Hiring

It’s a fact that a customized website can do wonders to your business. Selecting a competent web designer for preparing a smart, effective and attractive website seems to be a daunting task to most people. Remember that you always need expert and experienced professionals for good web solutions. Here are a few useful questions that you can ask a designer before appointing him for the job:

• You should ask for a portfolio of the web designer. Personal reference is always preferable. Beside this you can personally contact the designer’s previous clients too so that you can get some idea about his way of thinking and capability. You will able to ensure potential quality of your website by doing some background research works.

• You can ask for the possible time of delivery. Of course, last minute adjustments can take some time but having a time frame is always advisable.

• You need to know whether your web designer has proper knowledge about latest market developments. His expertise on market research can be an added advantage for you.

• The designer’s exposure to the latest technology is important otherwise, your website may lack far behind than your competitors. You have to take a look on his technical knowledge too. Ensure that he is capable of providing prompt technical support to you so that last minute adjustments can be easier. Remember that quick-tech solution is very useful for damage control.

• Ask the designer whether he is capable of delivering a SEO friendly system.

• Get an idea of what type of HTML structure your professional prefers to use.

• Ask whether the designer is ready for probable modification of the website. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have to bear some additional cost for that.

• Ask the designer whether he or his company offers 24x7 customer service.

• Clarify whether the designer needs a feedback from you. This is important for future references.

• Make sure that the cost of work is negotiable before gets started otherwise, future misunderstandings may hamper the project in midway.

• Ask the web designing that whether he is ready to listen to the customer’s creative and possible methodical inputs. Your website will suffer if he takes it as interference.

According to me these are some points that you can raise before a designer while assigning him the task of preparing your website.

Web Designer Portfolio - What It Says About the Web Designer

Portfolio of a web designer is like his identity that gives every mortal detail of his work, expertise and achievements. It represents the designer as a professional to all his clients.
The designer’s uniqueness and capability are highlighted by the portfolio. So it can be helpful for a client to choose the right designer for his website by going through his portfolio.

Designers are aware that their portfolios are useful in making the first impression before a client. So they generally include every minor detail about their operations in it. Naturally you can have an overall idea about his work by going through his portfolio. You can sense his progress as a web designer as well as his professional outlook from it.

Portfolio represents a designer’s mind and his approach towards his work. So easily you can spot the one who would able to complement your website’s basic purpose and your business.

A professional designer generally places his best works upfront in his portfolio to attract prospective clients instantly. However, as a client you should go through the full portfolio before making up your mind. Having a look at all his designs is always advisable so that you can select the best available option for your website.

Remember that your aim is to choose a highly technical, equally talented web designer with good artistic taste. Previous works of a designer can give you glimpses of all these.
You can easily make out whether the designer has access to latest technology as well as aesthetics of his works from the designs available in his portfolio.

Most professionals add their ex- clients’ testimonials in their portfolios. Remember a good client-list speaks volumes about the designer’s capability and experience. By taking references from the portfolio, you can personally contact a few of his previous clients for having some first hand feedbacks. It’s a fact that no designer with brain will include negative feedbacks of his earlier clients in his portfolio. In such cases contacting his previous clients can be useful.

By going through the profile of a web designing you can make out whether you can rely on him. Some designers prepare their portfolio in communicative manner. It proves that he is a person with good communication skills. So he can read the client’s requirements and vise- a- versa. Future misunderstandings can be avoided with such a person.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

How to Distinguish a Real Web Designer from a Fake One

Look it’s a known fact that finding an efficient and real web designer among thousands of professionals is a tough task. It’s like searching diamond in a dark coalmine. Generally, small firms with their limited budget tend to hire designers who don’t charge much. Fake and self-proclaimed geniuses start to take a chance with such companies. All clients, irrespective of their firm’s size, should try to gather basic knowledge about website designing so that no one can cheat you. Remember that there are talented freelance designers and small studios in the market that can get your job done within your budget.

Here are some salient features that can help you to identify the real and the fake web designer:

• Minutely go through the designer’s portfolio. Keep in mind that a portfolio gives you basic information about the designer and glimpses of his works. Identify whether there is in inconsistency in the given information. Give special attention to his previous customers’ feedback.

• Remember that web programmers and designers are not similar. These two are completely separate areas of website building. Sometimes, programmers claim themselves as designers. Appointing such a person will spoil your website. So keep this in mind.

• Process of web designing is also another important factor. Share your planning, opinions and requirements openly with your web designer and try to get his comprehensive views on that. Don’t hesitate to reject him if you find his ideas as clumsy and unclear. Remember that a professional designer always possesses a clear perception about his work.

• Make out whether your designer looks professional and smart in his approach. However, going by looks is not always a wise idea.

• Contacting some of the designer’s previous clients can be a good idea. You can make out something or other about his reputation and capability through their feedbacks.

• Check out his market readings and access to latest technology so that your website gets the best available resources. Having a look at some of his earlier designs can be useful for that.

• A real designer will never make impossible promises that he can’t keep. Don’t believe a person who shows instant green signals to everything without considering how far he can produce within your budget.

• A professional web designers generally looks after the maintenance, up gradation and regular updating of your website but it’s next to impossible for a fake one. Talk to him about this.

So hopefully you have understood how to differentiate between an original and fake designer after going through this article.