I’m looking for a Web designer but don’t know what criteria I should use to evaluate candidates. Can you offer some advice? — M.E., Henderson, Nev.
The relatively young marketplace for Web design services can be difficult to navigate, particularly for small business owners who aren’t sure exactly what they need in Web site development. “We found that a lot of companies are not very truthful. It’s like the Wild West out there. Anyone can work out of their grandparents’ house and say they design Web sites,” says Gabriel Shaoolian, founder and chief executive of Blue Fountain Media, a Web design and online marketing business based in New York City.
Personal referrals are always a good start for professional services, but once you get a few, do background research on your own. Search on typical keywords and see where — or whether — the recommended companies come up: If they can’t get their own sites optimized for search engines, they probably won’t do a good job on yours, either.
Inquire about designers’ credentials and ask whether they belong to a professional association with membership standards. Investigate their Dun & Bradstreet and Better Business Bureau ratings and ask whether they follow W3C international standards for computer coding. If they have done government contracts, those lend additional credibility; public agencies typically vet contractors thoroughly.
Don’t Rely on References
You want original, custom content (not templates or cut-and-paste copy) from professionals, so make sure that all staffers on your project have at least five years’ experience. Take references with a grain of salt: “What’s stopping them from giving you the names of their friends? Better to check out whether they are industry leaders who do speaking and are actively engaged in the community,” Shaoolian says.
Once you have some good candidates, ask what specific results they have provided for…