Choosing a web design company

Choosing a good design company is a bit like finding a good builder. There are plenty out there but how do you find the good ones?

Before contacting a designer decide on the limits of your budget, and have some idea of what you want.

Do you want a corporate brochure, an information site, a magazine site, or an online store?
Do you want database access, to store product details, which can be searched and displayed online?
Do you want an animated web site with moving graphics and user interaction?
Do you have all the information that a designer would need?

When you contact a designer the important questions to ask are:

Is the company a full time design company? Some 'hobbyist' designers build webs as a second or weekend job.
Can you contact them during working hours? Again this will show if the design company is full time or part time.
Do they have their own web domain? Any self respecting designer will have thier own web domain if not you should ask why not.
Do they charge for an intitial consultation? Some companies will try to charge a fee just to discuss your requirements, others will try to do business over the phone, whilst others will offer a free initial consultation and build further consultations into the price of the contract.
What is the main revenue for the company? Some companies offer web sites in addition to their main business. A number of graphic designers and printers have branched out into the web design business. There is nothing wrong with this but ensure that they understand the technical issues.
Can they build what you want? Do they have the right resources and technology. Do they offer web hosting and diagnostics for your requirements.
What kind of support do they offer when things go wrong or need changing? Do they charge for support.
What are the addresses of their reference sites? You must see some published work. Starting with the design company's own web site, and some of their clients.
Do they have clients willing to talk to you? Is their service of a standard that their clients will recommend them? If they are good and competent designers then they should have clients who are prepared to discuss their experiences.
Can you visit them at their offices? If you are entrusting an important part of your company strategy to a stranger you need to build a relationship. You are more likely to get a good web site if the designer understands your business, products or services.

Locating a web designer can also be a problem. Try the adverts in business magazines, or from an approved organisation such as Essex eCommerce Centre http://www.itbestpractice.org.uk or an independent directory of web designers such as http://www.webdesign.co.uk