What Services Do Web Designers Offer?
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In addition to guest posting on the UpCity blog, Marvel Marketing is featured as one of the Top Web Design Agencies in Canada. Check out their profile!
When you think of web design services, you probably have all sorts of questions running through your head. What services do web designers offer? What specific services does my business need? How can you know if a web design company’s services are right for your business?
When looking for web design services, it’s important to find a company that offers more than just pretty. You want the company you choose to not only be able to visually turn your website into something attractive but also to make sure the site’s features are serving your business goals. Don’t get roped in by shiny graphics and unnecessary bells and whistles.
Your site should be built with purpose and address the interests and challenges of your potential customers or target audience. It should also provide an experience that is on par with industry standards so as not to be left behind in your search engine rankings. Today, you have many choices when it comes to finding web design services, so make sure the company you choose is equipped for all of your needs.
What Are Web Design Services?
The trickiest part of any website build, especially for a brand new site, is deciding on your design. It’s not hard to find templates online that are free to download and edit, but they can be limiting in terms of the final look and feel you want to achieve with your new website. The other option is paying a digital designer, who will create an entirely original design from scratch for you.
The cost can vary wildly depending on how much work will need to be done and the number of pages you want them to create for you. Additionally, don’t forget that many other digital marketers can help you with various parts of your website.
Ultimately, a web design service is a combination of software, hardware, and human resources. Software is the actual coding that is done by website developers. The hardware is what powers the website. This includes things like server space, bandwidth, and disk space. Lastly, human resources include everything from copywriters to web designers to project managers.
What Are The Basic Web Design Services Offered?
This is the list of things that generally a web designer would be responsible for. The list is not conclusive and some companies may have their way of doing things. But here, we have tried to give a glimpse into the kinds of work that you, as a client, can expect to get from your web design agency:
- Custom website design and web development;
- Redesign services;
- Assistance with domain and web hosting;
- GMB (Google Business Profile) set-up;
- Building out specific web pages;
- Mood board and branding advice;
- Graphic design and logo design;
- On and Off-page SEO (search engine optimization);
- Purchasing relevant stock images;
- DNS changes;
- Site maps;
- Video embedding and linking;
- Form integration; and
- Google and other SERP verification
And if you thought web design is simple, well…it’s not. The cornerstone of a successful website is user experience, and it can make or break even the luckiest of businesses. A single broken link can derail an entire page, and missing images or text serve as good ways to drive away readers. If you want your business to succeed online, you need to hire a professional web design company.
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Do Web Designers Offer Additional Services?
Web designers can offer a wide range of additional services to help your business effectively reach customers and maximize leads. These services can fall under several categories including web design and development, content creation, content distribution, social media strategy, and analytics tracking. Although web designers may seem like a commodity and not worth the price tag because anyone with some HTML knowledge and a graphics software program can buy a template, there is more to it than just the look of the website.
You want your website to be user-friendly, functional, and easily navigable. You want someone who knows how to use industry-standard coding languages such as HTML5, CSS3, Javascript, or PHP that can build custom functions to help accomplish any tasks you may need on your website in the future.
You want someone who knows current web technologies that search engines like Google appreciate such as responsive design, social sharing buttons, and secure forms (SSL). Most importantly you want someone who understands usability so that your site is easy for users to navigate regardless of devices used such as desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones.
Your web designer shouldn’t only be familiar with the fundamental elements of designing for today’s digital devices but also know about trends within their specific field such as image sliders or “flat” design vs skeuomorph. These skills are all in a web designer’s arsenal and make them an invaluable service provider, especially to small business owners.
How To Choose The Right Web Designer
Choosing the right web designer to work with your business can be a challenge. The decision is also a critical one, because it will ensure that your website performs in a way you can be proud of and that generates leads, builds brand recognition, and enhances your reputation. It takes more than just knowing what you want visually.
A successful branded presence involves clear messaging and comprehension–inside and outside of your company. If your website isn’t functioning properly, or if you aren’t receiving the traffic and leads you want to grow your business, choose someone who provides marketing services including digital media, retargeting (SEO and PPC (Pay Per Click)) email marketing, eCommerce, social media optimization and customer relationship management.
A web marketing partner will take the time to understand who your ideal customers are and what keeps them up at night when making purchasing decisions–whether it’s price, quality, customer service, or guarantees.
You just don’t want someone who’s going to slap something together and be done with it. You want someone you can partner with–someone who can be a part of your team and understand your business and your long-term objectives.
What Else Does A Good Web Designer Offer?
What else does a good web designer do to earn your trust and business? Other than coming up with a design concept that catches your eye and tells a story about your company? What other steps should we expect to see happening after an initial meeting in which you have agreed on the scope of work to be done? Here is a list of best practices that a great web designer performs:
Effective communication
A web designer should understand your mission, and short and long-term goals, and ask questions if they don’t understand a request.
Website analysis
Using tools like Google Analytics, a web designer can gather key insights from your site data, they can then help your company develop a great lead generation strategy.
Follow up and website maintenance
A web designer should ensure your website continues to function effectively and be available to follow up with any questions or concerns you may have.
Your Marketing Strategy Needs a High-Quality Website
There are plenty of options when it comes to picking a website designer for your business, but you need to make sure that you know what your main goal is and how you want your business’s online presence to affect profits for you. If you want more visible leads and more revenue, then you need to keep in mind that it’s not all about creating a beautiful website. It’s about creating a beautiful website that also drives qualified traffic and converts your visitors into customers.
A good web designer will guide you, provide training, and help you build a brand and culture around your company website that can continuously generate leads and sales in the future.
About the author
Noelle Payne
Noelle Payne is the Senior Copywriter and Project Lead at Marvel Marketing Ltd. Marvel Marketing is a Calgary, AB based industry thought leader specializing in SEO campaigns, content creation, and web design that involve “thinking outside of the box” and focusing on the latest and most innovative strategies in the digital marketing realm. Marvel Marketing provides engaging online experiences with consumers, ultimately helping businesses succeed in today’s competitive online world.
