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5 Best Advice Tips For Working With A Web Designer
Here are some great tips to help you learn how to work with a web designer and get the job done right. 1) Get your own host and domain You should be the owner of your domain, not the web design company you hire. You don't want the trouble of having to transfer everything. You should always think long-term. What if the web design company dissolves in a year? There are plenty of great low-cost hosts out there so you can have full control over your own site. Your web designer can recommend hosting services, but don't have them do it themselves. Get a host that has been around for many years and offers good value, lots of space and good customer service. In the case that you have to fire your web designer, change your main password. If they changed it, you can call your host and have it reset. 2) Always make a proposal, contract and use your instincts Always get a written proposal. This is what the designer offers you that shows you that they know exactly what you want, how long it will take and how much it will cost. Also always have a written signed contract with your web designer. This contract should clearly state the job, timeframe and money terms. Always pay a partial fee up front. If you're not comfortable with half, try a quarter or even 10% and then start paying when you see actual progress. This way you don't lose too much money or time. Sometimes a little loss of money and time is a part of life, but this way you can minimize it as much as possible and you won't feel taken. If you start to feel worried or run around by your web designer, trust those instincts and do both of you the favor to move on. 3) Project above Personality and Know What You Want Remember that you are paying for a web site that you want. If you have to feel sorry for the designer because they spent time on something that you don't like, it's really not your problem. There's no guarantee that the first try is going to be the right one. If your web designer gets unreasonably irritated or impatient, that's not good. And if they are not getting it right with multiple versions, you need to move on. If you know exactly what you want and have done the right preparation by showing your designer what you like and don't like and showing sites that are similar, then you will cut out a lot of trouble. Also being able to articulate what you like and don't like about what you see is important. Be professional and direct. Being wishy-washy is a recipe for dissatisfaction. Also be careful with unreasonable expectations. Always weigh your desire against the purpose of the site. If you are spending a lot of time picking on a very small aspect of your site by being indecisive, always remember that most internet users spend less than 30 seconds on a website. This will help you focus on the right things visually and functionally. 4) Check your site in different browsers and computers Typically if you've checked your site in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome on both Mac and PC, this is sufficient. Make sure to notify your designer of any issues on any browsers. 5) When you have to let your web designer go First of all, dust off and spend a couple days getting over it. You don't want to hire a new person while you're still feeling annoyed. Then search online for the National Website Design Directory. They have a list of graphic design companies in your area and you can look at their websites. Also you can place an ad in Craigslist or do online searches like "Orange County Web Design" to find companies near you. Ask a lot of questions and make sure people are responsive, intelligent and are answering your specific questions clearly and with detail. Interview them in person or on the phone and get a feeling for their integrity. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Maria Markosov is an award-winning web consultant and founder of Marimar Designs, a web and graphic design company in Los Angeles, CA. |
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