How to choose a web design company?

Your website is more than your online calling card. With 87% of buyers beginning their purchase journey online, a website is an important marketing tool every business needs. However, launching a website is one of the toughest tasks for business owners. Now that you’ve decided you need a website, it’s time to search for a web design company in Toronto.

Many of our clients have found us the hard way – after working with agencies that overpromised and underdelivered. And we know how that feels! We have put together this brief guide to help you find the right web design company in Toronto.

Let’s begin!

Begin with a Clear Brief

Before you begin searching for web design agencies in Toronto, it’s important to know what your requirements are. Without knowing what you want, you will only be shooting in the dark, which is not really a great way to establish your online presence.

What’s the purpose of your website?
What are your goals?
Do you want to sell online or generate leads?
Do you aim to integrate your website with your customer relationship management (CRM) platform?
Do you want any special features such as landing pages?

When you have a clear picture of your requirements, it will be easier to identify an agency that’s a perfect match for you!

Visit their Website

The agency’s website is an important indicator of things to come. How does their own website look? Is it appealing? Does it look credible? What’s the first impression like? Does it make you feel like you can trust them to build a stellar website for you?

If their own website is second-rate, then it’s unlikely that they can built a first-rate website for you. The agency’s website should offer a stellar user experience and boast a smooth, clear navigation. If the website checks all the right boxes, then it’s time to move to the next step.

View their Portfolio

Just because an agency’s website is good does not mean they can build a stellar website for every business. Be sure to check the agency’s portfolio to know what kind of work they’ve done in the past and what kind of skills they bring to the table.

However, don’t just look at the stunning visuals. Visuals are an indicator of their expertise in design. But there’s more to website design than the UI (user interface). The UX (user experience) is even more important. Be sure to visit some of the websites from their portfolio to find out whether the websites they build are functional too.

Here are some questions to ask when reviewing websites the agency has built:

Do these websites create a professional appearance?
Are they easy to use?
Does the website look like it has been customised or built off of a template?
Are their clients comparable to your business in terms of scope and size?
Do these websites have features and functions you need for your website?

Expertise

The portfolio will give you a good idea about the agency’s expertise. Look at the businesses and startups the agency has created websites for.

If the designs are unique to each client and industry, this means the website design Toronto agency offers a bespoke service to build customized website to meet the needs of each business.

Read about the pain points of the clients and the solutions the agency offered to resolve them.

Another important aspect to consider is their expertise in your industry. Have they built any websites for other businesses in your industry? This will show you what they are capable of and how they can help you.

Success Stories

Stunning web design is surely important. Sure, but is the web design company as stunning to work with? If the agency is nothing more than a killjoy, then you are in for a huge setback.

That’s where online reviews from their past clients can come in handy.
Reviews from previous clients reflect an agency’s quality, professionalism and reliability. They help you to understand how useful and valuable the agency’s services are.

Most agencies will showcase client testimonials on their website, and these are a great place to begin your research. However, don’t stop there.

Reviews on third-party, credible websites such as Google and Facebook have more value as tell you what people really feel about working with the agency and what you can expect when working with them.

Meet the Team

No matter how much research you carry out, there’s no match for a one-to-one interaction with the agency. Schedule a consultation to meet with the team and get a feel for what working with them is like.

Go prepared for the consultation. Ask a lot of questions. Share your brief. Tell them your story and what you expect from your prospective web design Toronto agency. The initial meet will give you a good indication as to whether you are comfortable with them and whether you want to work with them.