There are important things you should ask before hiring a web designer.  Do you know what questions to ask?

Building web sites is not rocket science, but it is job that requires a wide range of skills that take years to master. Knowing how to design (graphic designer) is one of several skills required to produce a successful website. And if you’ve never hired a web designer before, it may be difficult to know what to ask. This list of questions should help you out.

• What skills do you possess? HTML, CSS, CMS, MySQL, PHP, SEO?
• How quickly can you provide a first draft of the site and how long does a job like this normally take once a draft is approved?
• What will you need from me to get started?
• What is your working procedure and how will you communicate your progress?
• What type of after support do you offer?
•  What is your normal procedure if the job does not turn out satisfactorily?
•  What software or technology will you be using to build my site and will I be able to use and update it myself?
•  Does it cost extra for this software or does anything you recommend to build this site going to require additional license purchased?
• We would like the domain name administrator to be in our representative’s name and email. Can you arrange that?
•  Can I see a portfolio of previous sites built? Or is there a demo of a site similar to what you will be building us?

Download this list of questions.

website designers, internet marketers and search engine optimizers

Don’t be fooled! Not every person who claims to be a webmaster has mastered the Web in ways that will benefit your business. Online marketing is truly a specialty requiring years of experience, a creative mind, an understanding of web writing (and good information achitecture), strategic marketing expertise and knowledge of the most innovative web-based technologies.

1. Some webmasters have a background in graphic design. They are experts at creating beautiful imagery and are well-suited to create a website design concept, but underqualified to develop a profitable website.
2. Some webmasters have a background in fields other than the web and have taken on website design as a hobby. They usually deliver the very basics of design and non-profitable websites.
3. Some webmasters have a background in applications development and have adopted web design as an interest, but are rarely able to deliver on a website that markets effectively.
4. Some webmasters have a background in marketing, but are weak in their knowledge of the most innovative technologies and are even weaker in their delivery of good design.
5. But there is hope… some webmasters are trained in the tools and technologies necessary to build an effective online presence. They are trained in design, information architecture and writing and have immense experience in targeted online marketing. Be certain to ask your webmaster for proof that they can deliver on each of these essential skills so that your financial investment won’t be in vain. The final product should funnel sales leads to your business and your webmaster should be able to show proof that this has happened.

Having a beautifully-designed website is the bare minimum of what is required for online success. There are many technical and strategic best practices that designers often overlook. New designers and graphic artists in general aren’t usually trained in technical areas. They are trained to design and will almost always deliver a nice looking page.

First decide on the value of your online brand, then decide if it is worthy of professional services. There are billions of websites online and it’s likely that hundreds are those of your local competitors. Consider why your competitor’s website is showing up in search results when your website does not. Also consider that most consumers use the web as a first resource when researching or seeking services and products. Finally, consider the number of missed opportunities created because your website is not being found or when found, it did not present a professional appearance or one that best represented and promoted your brand.

Six Important Takeaways:

1. Choosing a $4.99/month instant website will not deliver you business
2. Choosing to have an inexperienced family member design your website for free or on the cheap will not deliver professional results and is not likely to generate any business or good search engine rankings. If consumers are unable to locate your website when using popular search terms (keywords) related to your business of products, why bother?
3. Training and experience matters. There is added value to choosing a professional and experienced online marketing expert. A well-trained webmaster will know the internet from all angles (design, usability, development, writing, structure, etc.) and an experienced professional will know what strategies and tactics are going to be best in helping you achieve online success.
4. It doesn’t have to be costly, but it does have to cost. There’s no way around the fact that if you want professional services, there is a cost. But there are creative ways to reduce cost. One option may be to barter for a professional exchange of services. Regardless, be honest about your budget so that your webmaster can help develop a best option… something that will deliver the most bang for your buck.
5. Your webmaster cares to deliver a good product. Most online professionals want to be able to point other clients to your website as an example of their work. They also want to be able to showcase the amount and type of success they were able to help you achieve.
6. You decide the value of your online presence.

If you aren’t achieving the results you want online, the link below points to a great Q&A article about why getting an inexperienced family member to help you establish an online presence is not going to help. The article is specific to social media, but it’s best to give the same consideration to your business website… http://www.mrelevance.com/04/why-cant-my-niece-build-my-facebook-page/

Internet Marketing Tip of the Day: Does your website look… credible? When visiting a website, a consumer’s internal conversation often includes the question, “Is this website a reliable source?” This is especially important when they are looking for resource material or doing some online shopping. If looking for resources, consumers want to get information from an expert. If shopping, most only give credit card information to a website that looks like it is from a solid, professional business, not an overnight project built by someone’s niece. Keep these factors in mind as you make a choice about how to get your professional website developed. Learn about upcoming internet marketing workshops.