Are you just launching a website to give your business online visibility? Have you hired a Joomla web design expert to design and brand the website for you?
Web design is one of the most essential elements of running a website. According to statistics, 48% of online users consider web design an essential factor in determining whether they will engage a website or not.
Therefore, as you choose a web design expert, you should know that your business' success in the digital space relies on the quality of work they put in. With this in mind, you must ask a few vital questions and gain insight into the project before its commencement.
Here are the top eight questions you should ask your designer before starting the project.
1. Will They Use Templates or Build the Site from Scratch?
Joomla has a broad collection of templates that web designers can use to build sites. However, those who don't wish to use the templates can opt to create custom sites by coding the entire site from scratch.
Before starting the project, ask whether the designer will use available templates or build the site from scratch. Existing templates are designed by experienced developers who provide customer support, carry out updates, and fix bugs.
If your developer builds the site from scratch, you need to know about the following:
- Will they offer customer support after the site goes live?
- Will they provide browser and CMS compatibility testing services?
- For how long will you receive support for your website?
The last thing you want is a broken site and a developer who's nowhere to be found. Thus, figure out these things before starting the project.
2. Are There Project Deliverables?
There are a few things you may be required to provide before designing your website. These include the following:
- Domain and hosting
- Branding material
- Marketing content
Knowing in advance when the deliverables are due helps you to make arrangements and prevent project downtimes. Also, some web design experts offer these assets as part of their package.
Ask about these in advance to eliminate assumptions and ensure your website goes live within the estimated period.
3. How Many Revisions Can You Make?
Just because you've communicated your needs to your designer doesn't mean they'll get everything right the first time. You may have to ask for edits to tweak a few things before the site goes live.
Some designers allow you to recommend edits at various stages of the project while others only allow them at the end of the project. Some let you make as many revisions as possible until you're satisfied with the design while others limit you to two or three edits.
Ask your designer how many edits they'll let you make and at what stage of the project. This will prevent frustrations if they decide to limit revisions and leave you less-than-satisfied with the work.
4. Can You Edit the Web Design Yourself?
Will there be a need for you or your in-house design team to tweak a few elements of the web design in the future? If so, is it possible to do this without jeopardizing your entire website?
Ask your designer whether it's possible for you to customize the design in the future? They should also be in a position to offer relevant training to your in-house team on how to tweak the website without breaking it.
If this is not possible, let them know the available alternatives. Will they be available to make these edits when you need them? If so, forge an arrangement.
5. What Else is Included in the Design Package
Joomla web design is more than just creating a beautiful website. There's a lot that goes into creating a site that will thrive in the digital space. Some of the services that web designers add to their packages include the following:
- Brand strategy
- SEO strategy
- Content marketing
- Performance evaluation
If your designer offers these services in addition to web design, you may save a lot of money in the future. Some even offer to train your in-house team so you won't have to outsource the services in the future.
6. What Results Should You Expect?
Finally, don't start a web design project without knowing what to expect from it. If you go in blindly, you may not know whether the design is working or not. Below are some of the things you can expect from web design:
- Mobile responsiveness and increased mobile traffic
- Increased leads and site conversions
- High ranking on search engines
- Increased business revenue from online leads
Ask your designer what results you should expect and how you will measure them. If you need to use any analytics or monitoring tools, they should recommend the best ones and install them for you where necessary.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're launching a website or are revamping your current one, it's essential to have these things in mind before commencing the design project. A good web designer will address these questions with you beforehand to ensure the newly designed website meets your business needs.