5 Reasons to Take the Plunge and Pay a Web Design Agency to Build Your Site

Should You Build Your Own Website or Pay an Agency? Top 5 Reasons to Work With a Professional Web Design Agency

1. Expertise and Experience: A professional web design agency will have a team of skilled designers and developers who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in creating effective websites. They will be able to provide valuable insights and recommendations based on their past work and industry trends.
2. Customized Solutions: A professional agency will take the time to understand your business goals and target audience, and will create a customized website solution that meets your specific needs. They will be able to design a website that reflects your brand and effectively communicates your message to your audience.
3. Professional Quality: A professional agency will have the tools and resources to deliver a high-quality website that is visually appealing, user-friendly, and technically sound. They will follow best practices for design and development to ensure that your website performs well and meets the latest standards.
4. Time-Saving: Working with a professional web design agency can save you time and hassle. They will handle all aspects of the website design and development process, freeing up your time to focus on other important tasks.
5. Ongoing Support: A professional web design agency will provide ongoing support to ensure that your website stays up-to-date and performs well. They will be available to make any necessary updates or changes, and will provide ongoing maintenance to keep your website running smoothly.

What exactly does a web design agency do?

A website agency, also known as a web design agency or digital agency, is a company that specialises in creating and designing websites for businesses and organisations. We design and develop websites and web apps as our core service but also offer a range of complimentary services. The specific services offered by a website agency can vary, but they may include:

• Website design: This includes creating the overall layout, look, and feel of the website.
• Website development: This involves building the actual website using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Content creation: A website agency may also help with creating and writing the content for the website, including text, images, and videos.
• Search engine optimisation (SEO): A website agency may also offer SEO services to help improve the website's ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).
• Maintenance and updates: Many website agencies also offer ongoing maintenance and support to ensure the website remains up-to-date and functioning properly.

Is there a difference between web design and web development?

Web design and web development are two different but related disciplines that are often used together to create a website.

Web design refers to the process of creating the visual layout and user interface of a website. It involves creating the look and feel of a website, including the layout, color scheme, typography, and overall aesthetic. Web designers use tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and HTML/CSS to create the design elements of a website.

Web development, on the other hand, refers to the programming and technical aspects of building a website. A web development agency undertake work involving the development of the back-end infrastructure of a website, including the server-side scripting, database development, and content management. Web developers use languages such as PHP, Ruby, and Python to build the functionalities and features of a website.

While web design and web development are two distinct disciplines, they often overlap and work together in the creation of a website. A typical web project will involve both design and development elements, and many professionals specialize in both areas.

Most modern agencies, including ourselves, offer both wrapped into the same service.

What are the benefits of working with a small web design company?

There are several benefits to working with a small web design company, including:

• Personalised attention: Small web design companies often have smaller teams, which means you are likely to get more personalised attention and better communication with the team working on your project.
• Flexibility: Smaller companies are often more flexible and able to adapt to your specific needs and requests more easily than larger companies.
• Cost: Smaller web design companies may also be more cost-effective than larger companies, as they may have lower overhead costs.
• Specialised expertise: Small web design companies may also have specialized expertise in certain areas, such as a specific industry or type of web design, which can be beneficial if you are looking for a company that has specific knowledge and experience in your field.
• Strong relationships: Working with a small web design company can also allow you to build a strong, ongoing relationship with the team, which can be beneficial for future updates and changes to your website.

What to look for when choosing a web design agency?

When choosing a web design agency, it's important to consider the following factors to ensure you get the best results for your business:

• Experience: Look for an agency with a proven track record of designing successful websites for businesses in your industry.
• Portfolio: Review the agency's portfolio to get a sense of their design style and the types of websites they have experience creating.
• Services offered: Make sure the agency offers all of the services you need, such as website design, development, and maintenance.
• Process: Ask about the agency's design process and how they work with clients to ensure the final product meets your needs and expectations.
• Pricing: Determine your budget and look for an agency that offers competitive pricing for the services you need.
• References: Ask for references from previous clients to get a sense of the agency's working style and the quality of their work.
• SEO: It's important to choose a web design agency that understands the importance of search engine optimisation (SEO) and can design a website that is optimized for search engines.

By considering these factors, you can find a web design agency that will help you create a professional, effective website that meets your business needs.

How do you know when your website design needs an update?

There are several signs that your website design may need an update or perhaps your business even needs a brand new website. They include:

• It looks outdated: If your website design looks old or out-of-date, it may be time for a refresh. A modern, visually appealing design can help attract and retain users.
• It's not mobile-friendly: With the increasing use of mobile devices to access the internet, it's important that your website is optimized for mobile. If your website is not mobile-friendly, it may be difficult for users to view and navigate on smaller screens.
• It's not user-friendly: If your website is difficult to navigate or use, users may become frustrated and leave the site. An updated website design that is easy to use can improve the user experience and keep people on your site.
• It's not achieving your goals: If your website is not meeting your business goals, such as generating leads or sales, it may be time to update the design to better align with your objectives.
• It's not consistent with your brand: If your website design does not accurately reflect your brand, it may be time to update the design to better align with your brand identity.

If you're not sure whether your website design needs an update, you can consider conducting user testing or analyzing your website traffic and performance data to get a better understanding of how your website is performing and where there may be room for improvement.

What makes a successful web project?

A successful web project is one that meets the needs and goals of both the client and the end-users. To achieve this, there are several key elements that should be considered:

• Clear goals and objectives: Establishing clear goals and objectives for the website will help guide the design and development process and ensure that the final product is aligned with the client's business needs.
• User-centered design: A successful website is one that is designed with the end-user in mind. This means taking into account the user's needs, behaviors, and motivations, and designing a website that is easy to navigate and use.
• Responsive design: With the increasing use of mobile devices to access the internet, it's important that the website is designed to be responsive and work well on a variety of devices.
• Strong content: High-quality, relevant content is essential for a successful website. It should be well-written, informative, and engaging to keep users interested and coming back.
• Search engine optimisation (SEO): A website that is optimised for search engines will be more easily found by users searching for relevant keywords, which can lead to increased traffic and sales.
• Ongoing maintenance and updates: A successful website is not a one-time project, but rather an ongoing process of updates and maintenance to keep the site fresh and relevant.

By considering these elements and working with a web design agency that understands how to implement them effectively, you can create a successful web project that meets the needs of your business and your users.

What is your process for designing a website?

Most web design agencies, including ourselves, follow a similar process. A web design agency's process for creating a website can vary depending on the specific needs and goals of the client, as well as the size and complexity of the project. However, there are some common steps that are typically followed:

• Initial consultation: The web design agency will meet with the client to discuss the project goals, target audience, and any specific requirements or preferences for the website.
• Research and planning: The web design agency will conduct research to gather information about the client's industry, competitors, and target audience, and will use this information to develop a plan for the website.
• Design: The web design agency will create mockups or wireframes for the website, which will be reviewed and approved by the client.
• Development: The web design agency will use the approved design to create the actual website, including the layout, navigation, and any additional features or functionality.
• Testing and launch: The web design agency will test the website to ensure it is functioning properly, and will work with the client to make any necessary updates or changes. Once the website is finalized, it will be launched and made live to the public.
• Maintenance and updates: The web design agency will typically offer ongoing maintenance and support to ensure the website remains up-to-date and functioning properly.

This is just a general overview of the web design process, and the specific steps may vary depending on the needs of the client and the web design agency.

What is branding and how is it represented on a company's website?

Branding refers to the marketing practice of creating a name, symbol, or design that identifies a product and sets it apart from other products. It is the overall marketing strategy that establishes a company's identity and helps to differentiate it from competitors.

Branding is expressed on a website through various visual and textual elements, such as the logo, color scheme, typography, imagery, and messaging. These elements should be consistent with the branding of the company and should be used consistently across all marketing materials, including the website.

A well-branded website helps to establish trust and credibility with visitors and can contribute to the overall success of a business. It is important for businesses to carefully consider their branding and how it is expressed on their website in order to effectively communicate their brand identity and values to their audience.

What tools/ technology stack do we use?

• Webflow. We prefer Webflow over the traditionally used Wordpress as we feel it offers unparallelled creative and design potential. It enables us achieve any goals with a given design project. We can take a mockup from any platform (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Canva), a hand sketched mockup or even just a website you like. Webflow allows us to execute fluid and responsive web design meaning your stunning bespoke website remains stunning and easy to navigate on any device.
• Webflow CMS. CMS (content management systems) allow us to create templates into which you can add images or text - meaning, if you don't want any additional maintenance fees, you can maintain and build out the site yourself upon our completion of the design project.
• Webflow Ecommerce. Webflow has a very easy to use ecommerce module which allows to build an online storefront if the project requires it. It means you don't have to use the sme Shopify templates everyone else are using and can stand out from the crowd.
• Wized. This tool, designed exclusively with Webflow in mind, allows us to take our web design and development to the next level. It connects backend databases and other tools to your site meaning your website is less a static website and more an interactive web app. The possibilities are genuinely endless with the JavaScript that Wized can inject into your site.
• Make. We use Make to connect your website to whatever other services you use. It's an automation platform that can send data to or from your website based on user input.
• Xano. The backend of our choice and works very well with both Webflow and Wized. It is a database and API builder, meaning we can safely and compliantly store customer, user or even stock data and pull it through to your website as and when the need arises.
• Canva. We use Canva if we need to undertake any custom graphic design but already have a large database of stock photos, illustrations and icons at our disposal.
• Digital Marketing. A note on digital marketing as we have a partner company, UpscaleMe, who offer digital marketing services so, once built, you can get your website in front of the right people. They offer Google Ads, Facebook and Istagram Ads amongst other effective digital marketing platforms and channels.