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• Steps To Prepare
Before you begin looking for a company to help you design and build your web site, take the time to understand the goals of your web site. This will be extremely important to help set expectations with the web design company you choose.
In order to set your web site goals, ask yourself the following questions:
Why do you want a website?
Are you selling something?
Do you have a catalog of products that changes on a regular basis?
Who is your target market?
What is your industry?
Who are your competitors?
Do they already have websites? If so, what do they look like?
If you're selling something, will you accept credit cards over the internet?
How soon do you want your website?
Take the time to answer each of the above questions and if you have time, write the answers down on a sheet of paper. These are the same questions most web design companies will ask you before they begin to create your site. If you have these questions answered up front, you will have some criteria for choosing the right web design company.
Determine Your Budget
How much do you want to spend on your website. Websites can cost you anywhere from $100 to $100,000 depending upon what you want it to do. Know your spending constraints before you begin negotiating with web design companies. I have seen numerous web design companies that ask what your budget is, whatever you do, do not tell a web design company what your budget is!! Always get pricing based on your needs, not your budget.
Surf the internet
Compile a list of websites that appeal to you in aspects of: colour scheme, content, layout and other related design properties. This will help your web designer factor in your personal tastes and preferences into the design process and produce a website you’re proud of!
Plan the content of your website
Draw a site map so that you can see how everything will fit in and write down the names of your pages, such as "Home", "Contact Us", "Our Services" etc. You know your company better than your web designer! Write the content for your website – even if it is just in bullet points, a skilled copywriter can always step in from there. Keep in mind you need to write for your website visitors.
Take some pictures for your website
Pictures of staff, products, or your work environment improve the visual appeal of your website and familiarize your customers and potential customers with your business. You can save a lot of money by providing your website designer with photos you have taken yourself, rather then having them source relevant stock photography online.
With all the above information gathered you are now ready to search for a web designer, we hope you will consider Westside Web Design to do business with.
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