What is a web design proposal?
A web design proposal is a document that is created by a web design agency in order to provide potential clients with information about their services. This proposal will typically include information about the scope of the project, the process, and the team. It will also include a pricing breakdown and details about the project timeline.
What should you look for when hiring a web designer?
Developing your web presence is a big investment, and you want to make sure that you are working with an agency that is going to meet your needs. Here are 5 things to look for when reviewing a website design proposal.
1. The Discovery Process
Before you even receive a proposal, you should have an in-depth conversation with the agency about your project. This discovery process will help them to understand your goals and objectives for the website. There is no off-the-shelf proposal or price for web design. Each business has its unique set of requirements and goals for its website and those should be discussed with the agency before any proposal is created.
The best web design agencies will tailor their process to meet the specific needs of your project. This includes some kind of discussion, exploration, and discovery to understand your business goals, target audience and current website pain points. This doesn’t necessarily mean a form you fill out (although it could be in some cases), but rather a series of conversations, often over the phone or over meetings with the team.
Before receiving a web design proposal, be sure to pay attention to the discovery process. What is the process, do they even have one? Is it a generic form to fill out and that’s it? Or is it a meeting(s) with a team of designers/developers? If an agency you’re considering doesn’t have some kind of discovery process, it might be a red flag. And it can be a green flag if the agency is engaging and collaborating with you in depth to understand your business and your website needs.
If the agency does not take the time to get to know you and your project, they are probably not a good fit. How can they create a proposal without understanding your business goals or what features and functionality to include in their proposal? If an agency is trying to give you a generic proposal without understanding your specific needs, then they may not be the right agency for you.
2. The Website Platform
There are many different platforms that can be used to build websites, and it is important to choose the one that is right for your needs. You will want to consider the features of each platform and how they will meet your specific requirements.
Each website platform has its own pros in cons. For instance, builders such as Squarespace and Wix are easier to use and are great for small businesses that don’t have the budget for a custom website. These builders have a very user-friendly workspace which makes it easy to make updates and changes. However, these platforms can be more limited in terms of design and functionality and tend to rank lower in terms of SEO.
Some agencies will build their websites from scratch using custom HTML and CSS. This will allow for a more unique and tailored website, but require a higher level of technical expertise which can create roadblocks in the future. If you or someone from your team wants to make changes, you will need to hire a developer or learn how to code which can in turn be costly.
If you are looking for a more custom website that is also easy to use and manage, you should consider working with an agency that specializes in building websites on the WordPress platform. WordPress offers more flexibility and allows for more custom designs while maintaining a user-friendly interface for future updates and changes. It is also very SEO friendly, which is why we at Intrycks prefer to use WordPress for our web design services.
The platform that is used to build your website should be based on your specific needs and budget. You should ask the agency what platform they recommend for your project and why. If an agency does not mention the platform that will be used to build your website, this could be a red flag. Make sure to ask the agency which platform they recommend and why before moving forward with the project.
3. What’s Included and What’s Not
When you receive a proposal from a website design agency, you should expect it to be clear, concise, and easy to understand. The proposal should outline the scope of work and deliverables included in the project. Website design proposals can vary in length but should be thorough enough to give you a clear understanding of what is included in the project.
There are many moving pieces that make up a website that may not be included in the estimate such as hosting, security, or SEO. A proposal should give you a clear understanding of what is included in the price and if there are any ongoing services or add-on services.
The same goes for the copywriting, imagery, and videos for your website. Find out who will be providing these assets and if it is included in the price. Make sure that you understand what is included in the proposal to avoid any surprises during or after the project.
It may also be worth finding out if they outsource any work done on their website. It is not uncommon for some agencies to have a team of in-house designers and developers, but outsource the content creation. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you should be aware of it.
Having a clear idea of what is included in the project will help to avoid any misunderstandings or surprises down the road.
Having a clear idea of what is included in the project will help to avoid any misunderstandings or surprises down the road. Asking these questions answered in a proposal will give you a better understanding of what to expect from the web design process.
4. The Client’s Role
The web design process is very collaborative and requires a lot of communication between the client and the agency. The agency should be clear about what is expected of the client during the project. This will help to ensure that there are no surprises and that everyone is on the same page.
There are various stages of the web design process, so expectations for client communication need to be clear from the start. It is also worth asking how involved you want to be as the client. Some agencies will require more input from the client while others will be more hands-off. It is important to find an agency that matches your communication style and needs.
A website designer will also require certain information and assets from the client in order to complete the project. This could include content, imagery, videos, etc. The agency should be clear about what they need from the client and when they need it. And in alignment with the previous point, what will the client need to provide versus what will the agency provide?
Having a clear understanding of what is expected from you as the client will help to ensure that the project stays on track and that your vision for the website is achieved. Make sure to ask about communication expectations and timelines before starting any web design project.
5. Their Unique Approach
Website design isn’t a one size fits all kind of process. Each agency has its own unique approach that they bring to the table. Like with any business, every web designer has a method and process that they use for each project. It is important to find an agency that you feel comfortable with and whose approach aligns with your needs.
Web design is not a one size fits all process. There are different ways to approach web design and methods used by each agency. While they may not give you the exact details strategy they use, they should be able to give you a general idea of how they approach web design projects.
Most web design agencies will have a specialty or niche and their process is geared toward that. While hiring a niche website designer can offer some benefits, make sure that you have a clear understanding of what you want your website to do and how the agency meets those needs before starting.
Asking about their process and approach will give you a better idea of how they work and if their method is a good fit for your project. Website design can be a complex process, so its important that you understand how the agency works before starting. If an agency is not forthcoming about their approach or unable to to adapt their process to fit your project, it may be best to look elsewhere.
Getting Started
Website design proposals can be overwhelming, but it is important to take the time to review them carefully before making a decision. Be sure to ask the agency questions about the proposal and make sure that you understand what is included in the project. By taking the time to review the proposal, you can be confident that you are making the best decision for your business.
If you are looking for a beautiful and custom web design that ranks high in search, get in touch with our team and schedule a discovery call today!
