The article is a guide to help you know what to look for when searching for a perfect web designer/ web design company in Kenya for your new website.
When it comes to working with a professional web design team, most people just focus on the experience and reputation of the service provider. As much as this is a good thing, it is not the only thing you should look for when hiring a designer.
Here below are tips for choosing a web designer in Kenya that we believe you can use to narrow down your selection.
Know what you want and what you don’t want
The first step is to know exactly what you really want. It is only by doing this that you will be able to identify a service provider that can meet your unique needs. Make a list of the designs you like and those you hate. By providing this to your designer, you will help him understand not only your tastes but goals as well.
It is also important to define what you really want with your site. Do you want a highly graphical website? Will you be making most of the edits on your own? Know what you really want and how you want to maintain your site. This will help screen potential developers keenly.
Examine a portfolio
The quickest and easiest way to evaluate the work of a potential web designer is to look at his previous work. If his designs suit your tastes and goals you will know from this. This is also a great way to see if his SEO strategies really work. How well does his websites rank on search engine results?
Know your cost vs. value
It’s usually the elephant in the room. Cost is definitely a deal maker or deal breaker when it comes to hiring a web designer.
As with everything else you purchase, the phrase “you get what you pay for” rings true in the world of web design and development. If you begin to cut costs solely for saving a shilling now, you may not reap as much value in the long-term when it comes to delivering the results you planned for in step one. So how can you justify the costs of your project? It’s simple math really. This is where you as a business owner stops to do some research. What have you spent in the last year on your marketing and advertising? The past five years? How have those efforts brought a return on your investment?
They offer all of the services you need
Don’t overlook the other services they offer. Top web designers in Kenya will definitely list SEO as one of the services they provide. This will be helpful to you unless you are lucky enough to have employees that are SEO experts, copywriters, and digital marketers. If it is not included in their offer, try and ask for it. Having a website without SEO is like having a car with a tank full of fuel but no wheels.
Your website serves as the central center for all of your marketing efforts. It’s where 99 percent of the clients you’re trying to attract with your marketing materials will land up. You may be confident that your website will act as an overall piece of your company engine when you deal with a designer who is backed by a marketing team
As part of your interview process, inquire about all of the services your applicants provide. These inquiries will provide you with a clearer image of what you will receive in exchange for your money.
They are technologically savvy.
You want a web designer/developer that knows the latest best practices and conventions for creating websites that are easily found and user-friendly. This is from domain registration, website hosting, SEO, integrations with marketing tools such as hubspot to registering the website with Search Engines like Bing and Google.
When reviewing a potential web designer’s portfolio, make sure that they include examples of responsive sites. As more people are using their phones to browse vs their desktop or laptop, it’s important that your designer can ensure your site is optimized no matter what device it is accessed from.
Your web designer should also use a content management system like WordPress, Drupal, or Magento to create your website. (For a variety of reasons, we are strictly a WordPress designer/developer.) You’ll have to rely on your developer to make every single update your website requires from now until eternity if you don’t have a content management system..
In addition to being up to date on the latest technology, anybody you hire should understand that building your website should be about more than just looking good. They must understand how to design a website that converts visitors into paying clients.
This involves understanding of user-experience design, how to construct effective calls, and what makes a layout intuitive layout, and how to create powerful calls to action. They also should ensure that coding, WordPress theme, and plug-ins are all updated and running (before AND after launch).
See if they offer post-project assistance
Maintenance is a vital part of keeping your website in the best shape. In fact, this is a vital part of today’s cyberworld. Bugs, viruses, and hacks are common but having a web design company in Kenya to maintain your website will ensure that your website is up and running without any hitches.
Check with your web development company if they offer post-project assistance. Hiring the same company who built your website ensures that the team members are well-briefed on your website, requirements and that the movement of work is seamless.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to use these pointers to find the best web designer for the task; if you have any further suggestions, please let us know!
