One way to save big on your new website is by having your web designer use a ready-made theme. At this pointing you might be thinking, "hold on, templates make for bland sites that provide no wow factor". You are right, this is true of templates that allow anyone with a mouse to create a webpage. If you dig into the web and find the right web designer, they can show you thousands of amazing templates sure to impress you and your visitors. Unlike the bland templates we talked about, these themes create high quality sites and take a certain level of skill to implement.
Although templates are great and can save you money, they are not always right for your business. Your company may not always fit in to a pre-made theme. Here is a general rule to follow to know if your company needs a custom design or can use a theme. Restaurants, boutiques and small niche companies often have trouble finding a theme to fit their unique personality. If you have a storefront and are marketing directly to the consumer, than you may need a design distinct as you. Remember this is a general rule and does not hold true all the time; it is just a guide to follow, so be sure to ask. However, if your business model is primarily B2B or your place of business is in an office park, industrial area or high-rise building, than you are usually the perfect candidate for a using a theme.
If you choose a theme, make sure your designer tailors the theme around your specific needs. After all that is partly why you hired them. Ask yourself this question, "What do I want my website visitors to do?" Are they there to buy something, become educated about my product, contact me for a quote or sign up for my mailing list? This is known as your "call to action" and your site should be developed around this action. Too often website owners do not ask themselves this question and their site reflects it.
Finally remember this, think like your customer. Do not assume they know what your business is when they get to your site. Clearly define what you do on the front page. This can be done with words and pictures. Do not overload the page with industry jargon and technical information. Remember your customer may be searching for "new brakes for my bike" and you page may read "Shimano XT-100" There is no faster way to lose a customer than having them land on your site to be immediately confused. Make sure you develop great content for you website but more importantly make sure your web designer understands yours business and your customers.
By understanding the concepts above you can be armed with the information to help you choose your future web designer.
