“Does my business really need to hire a web designer?”

This is a question hundreds of business owners are asking themselves every day. This question is actually much larger than a simple “yes” or “no”, as it leads to more questions: “What do I look for in a web designer?”, “Why does this company cost so much more than this one?”, and “Should I use WiX® or Squarespace?”

When trying to wade through all of these questions, think about how you buy a new car. There are thousands of possibilities, but somehow you’ve got to ask yourself the right questions that eventually lead you to either a shiny new BMW, or a simple used VW.

“Can I just build a website myself?”

There are a number of free website builders out there to choose from, but do you really know what works? It’s like buying a used car; some people can walk up to a used car and immediately know what to look for. Others spend hours and hours researching and asking questions.

The same can be said of free site builders. No matter how easy it looks, it will take time and work to create your own site. From Search Engine Optimization to User Experience to Mobile Integration, there is a lot you probably don’t know, and there are probably hundreds of questions you don’t even know you need to ask.

You also have a greater risk of having your site lost in a sea of “cookie cutter” websites, all built on similar templates. Just because your business and your product are available to the cyber community, you can’t assume that your space is compelling enough to draw a crowd and keep them there.

The bottom line is, a web designer knows how to make your site stand out, converting browsers into buyers. So if you don’t have the experience or knowledge to make your site meaningful and profitable, hire an expert who does.

“Which web designer do I choose?”

A good designer will first and foremost explain how they are going to meet your business needs. If that is not the number one priority of a potential development company, find someone else. A car company trying to sell you a car that looks pretty but doesn’t get to know your expectations is looking out for themselves and not considering your long term satisfaction.

Find a company interested in partnering with you. Some companies will charge less, but they will give you “exactly what you ask for” and nothing more. A good company will be willing to offer suggestions that will make the website experience better than what you ask for, and may even express a differing opinion that you would have never considered!

And finally, consider service. It costs a bit more, but websites need tune ups from time to time, just like a car. Why would you spend thousands of dollars on a major purchase and not spend the few hundred extra to make sure it CONTINUES running smoothly? Remember, the development company built your site from the ground up – no one else will know how to tweak it and take care of it better than they will.

So if you are in the market for a web development and design partner, consider contacting us at DineEngine. We will walk with you from beginning to end, providing top notch design planning, expert development and implementation, and outstanding ongoing service. We’ll even clean it and fill it up with gas before sending you on your way.