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1) Experience:
You will need a company that uses all the techniques, tools and experience that will design a professional looking website which will accomplish your online goals. Make sure the designer you are interviewing has a large portfolio of at least 100 sites. You do not want your site to be a learning site for the designer. Look closely at the websites in their portfolio and make sure you like the look and navigation. If you don’t like theirs chances are you won’t like your site either.

2) Customer Service:
Customer service is a priority in the design process of your website. If a designer is too busy to answer e-mails or phone calls, will they be able to keep the production schedule? Ask for references, and make a point of Calling them. Ask the prospect’s previous clients if the web developer was responsive, on time and effective. Do they answer their phones?

3) Graphics:
Creating professional stand out graphics separates the professional from the amateur. A talented and veteran designer will demonstrate knowledge of page layout, have
a way with color and know how to place elements on a page for the best appearance and website performance. Take a good look at a number of the sites each designer has built, and make sure no one is using templates.

4) Organic Search Engine Optimization:
If high placement in the search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN is important to you. Ask them for proven results for themselves and their clients. They should be able to provide with 100’s if not 1,000’s of 1st page rankings for keywords and phrases.

5) Website Build Timeline:
Ask the website developer how long it will take to have the site completed. Most sites should be completed in a 30-day period. As long as you have supplied them with everything they need to complete your project.

6) Build Process:
You will want to be able to view your websites progress as it is being built. Are you able to log into their server and approve each phase of the build? 

7) Full Service:
There may be one or two things that your designer/developer
cannot do, but for the most part you should be able to find a reasonably-priced professional who can handle just about everything you’ll need done.

Availability:
Does the designer do this full time or do they a have a regular job and work on websites nights and weekends. You want to make sure you can contact your designer during normal business hours if you have any questions or to make changes to your site.

9) Hosting:
Will they be able to host your website? Your website has been designed and now it needs a place to be parked. A reliable hosting company is a key piece to your website. Find out what their uptime rating is and don’t settle for less than 99.9%. Do they provide you with a detailed statistics package on the visitors to your site. You should expect to pay $20 to $30 per month for reliable hosting and more if they will be hosting a larger e-commerce site.

10) Updates:
Now that your site is completed is your website company going to make the changes to your site in a timely fashion and at what cost. Keeping your content fresh is important for the visitors to your site but also to the search engines.

Your website can be the strongest marketing and sales tool your business has. Don’t cut corners when it comes to the design of your site and the selection of the design company.

Filed under: Uncategorized by rok