Finding a web designer in Boca Raton is not an easy task. There are several very qualified and capable companies located in and around Boca Raton, and many companies exhibit strengths in many different areas of web design and web development. Finding the best company that can help your business grow is not always as easy as a quick Google search, but it is a great start. How a web design company connects with clients can say a lot about them. Just because a company ranks high in the search engines, does not necessarily mean that they are the best company to meet your business needs. They may be well established, and have a hard time thinking outside the box, resist your ideas because it is new to them or they have handled things differently over the years. Many times, seasoned companies get into a routine of handling new projects. The initial contact is made, confirmed, handed over to a development team and negotiations begin. Sometimes, this can leave a small business owner feeling detached from the process. Hiring a web designer to showcase your business is an extremely important business decision, and you should never be made to feel uncomfortable or that you are an important client. You are!

Qualities of a Good Web Design Company

When looking for a web design company to handle your business needs, it’s important to know what qualities are most important to you. Is it more important to have 100 clients or more important that the company understands your business? Is it more important the the price is right or that the time frame is right? Many companies can offer you great deals, or a quick build, but it’s important that you don’t sacrifice what you want your site to be. A good web design company will take the time to learn about your business, so they understand what your specific needs are, and can offer suggestions and create opportunities for your business to shine through your website.

Communication

Communication is one of the biggest complaints we come across when discussing experiences with our clients. Many times, companies don’t put the extra effort into communicating with their clients throughout the process of the web design work. Many times, the clients would like to feel a part of the experience of developing a website, and being left out of the process can leave you feeling disconnected from your own website! It is equally important that you communicate clearly & openly with your web design company. An open line of communication helps to move the project along and provides a great platform to share ideas in the creative process. You need to feel free to take control of your sites development so that you can be truly happy with the outcome. A web design company that guides you as well as listens to your needs and concerns will usually give you a better product.

Timeframe

Another complaint we come across probably more than any other, is time. Many clients we have today left other companies because they were unhappy for one reason or another, and probably the biggest of those reasons is because their website was taking too long to build. There are so many factors that come into play when considering how long a website will take to build. How many revisions have been made? Was the company given a clear understanding of what was desired? Was there a lack of communication, or delay in feedback? Was there unforeseen hiccups that cost time & money? Very few website builds are completely free from all of these, but much of it can be avoided with a little extra effort to being prepared and delegating the proper resources to the project. For example, a company with 50 employees specializing in different areas of your website may allocate 8 employees to handle different aspects of your website, depending on their skill sets. You might have 3 programmers, one graphic designer, a couple SEO experts, and a few Flash experts all working on your site at the same time. Those individuals may in turn be juggling three or more projects. When you decide something in the build should be different, tracking down the employee who originally did the work, and have the edits made may not be as simple as you think. Sometimes, this model works very well, and sometimes it falls short. Many times, hiring a smaller company with less resources to dedicate to your project may also give you a longer timeline because there are not as many hands working. The benefits and trade offs can be a greater attention to detail, and a focused tight-knit group of employees dedicated to your project. Again, many times this models works, and sometimes it doesn’t. It is important for you to determine if a company feels right to you. This can sometimes be determined almost instantly by the customer service they provide you with from the get go. If a company answers the phone and doesn’t have the time to talk to you about your project and answer your questions, chances are they won’t have time to dedicate to your project either.

Customer Service

Customer Service is one of the biggest factors I find lacking in society today. I enjoy old movies, when customers were treated like royalty, even at the Five & Dime. You would be hard pressed to go anywhere today and find the service lacking. Sometimes, there can be no quicker turnoff that receiving poor customer service. There are many establishments that I have been to that I simply won’t go back to, because of customer service. Quality customer service can win over your clients, in any business. Web Designers should be no different. From the moment you first speak with them, whether it’s on the phone or in person, you should feel 100% comfortable that they are honest and have your best interests in mind. If you find the conversation being lead by them, it’s a sign that they are trying to lead you in one direction or another, and that usually spells trouble. A reputable web design company would never feel threatened if you call them and are just seeking advice or answers to questions you may have. You should never be made to feel like your shopping for an appliance at Sears, and the salesmen are fighting for your commission. If you feel pressure at any point, it’s best you head for the hills!

References

References are one of the quickest ways to find out about a web design company. Just because a website is listed in a companies portfolio does not mean the client had a satisfactory experience. Most established web design companies operate with contracts, and many completed sites are products of just that…contracts! You should feel free to ask a potential web designer to furnish you a list of references at any time. You can simply ask them if it is ok if you contact some of his past clients right from his portfolio. There’s only one reason that wouldn’t be OK, and that’s if they had something to hide. A solid company builds a reputation, good or bad, on past performance. Not every client is a dream client, and not every experience will be ideal for every client and every company, but you should take note of patterns. A few complaints should definitely set your red flags flying!

Instinct

How many times have you said, “My instinct was RIGHT!” Picking a web design company to create an online presence and first impression for your business should not be based solely on gut feelings, but I believe they should play a huge part. If you’re dealing with someone, and you have a bad feeling about it, it’s best to take a step back and evaluate what might be causing the feelings. How many times have you meet someone at a party or out for a few drinks and thought to yourself, “Man! He seemed like a nice guy.” It’s tough to judge someone in a short span of time, but most of us have a pretty good handle on their own instincts. How many of us have a heard a poorly delivered line from a car salesman that is riddled with insincerity? Does it make you trust the car salesman? Does it make you feel confident you’re getting the best deal, or that he will bat for you and fight to make something right if you feel it’s wrong? Usually not. And, you’re usually right. A quality web design company should make you feel comfortable and safe right off the bat, at the very least!! Trust your instincts…they’re usually right.

At Dark Glass Media, we feel each and every client is a gift and we are grateful for the opportunity to help you and your business grow. Whether you’re building a website for your daughters wedding, or you’re launching a corporate presence to generate revenue, you should feel safe & secure with your choice of the people helping create your website. We strive for 100% customer satisfaction through honesty & integrity in our work. We fight to find ways to save you time and money, both precious commodities in this day & age. Whether your budget is $100 or $100,000 we treat your project with respect and give it the attention it deserves. Your website is our calling card, and if you’re not happy, then we’re not happy either. We build long term relationships with our clients, and are thrilled when they recommend their friends, families and colleagues to us for our services. We are proud of the work we do, and want you to be proud with your new website, no matter who builds it!

Feel free to contact us at anytime for advice or recommendations. We’re not always the right company for your project, and have on more than one occasion recommended other local companies that we have a working relationship with and trust. We can be reached at info@darkglassmedia.com