Everyone needs a website. And that means working with a web designer. Check out these seven tips for making it a rewarding and fruitful experience for both of you.
Figure out the purpose of your website. Will you have a blog where readers can leave feedback? Will candidates create personal accounts? At the very least, it needs to be mobile responsive. When you know what you want from the site, you can find a web designer who specializes in that kind of site. If you hire a designer who makes great e-commerce sites, but you’re not selling anything on yours, you need a different designer.
Go through the designer’s portfolio to make sure you like what they do. Do they have a certain style or personality? More importantly, does it match your company’s? You want to work with someone who gets you and your company.
Find websites you like and that have the same layout or style you want for yours. Take screenshots of those sites, then put them in a PDF, Photoshop file, or PowerPoint. Mark the images with comments to explain to the designer what you do and don’t want on your site. Be clear and thorough about how you expect your website to appear and function.
Consider content and images. Designers need to know what photos and words you want where, so have that ready. ASJ provides content writers, so as you’re working with a writer, you can send the content on to the web designer. If you need licenses to use certain fonts or images, get them.
Discover what it takes to maintain the site once you’ve got it. Domain names have to be renewed, and web hosts have to be paid. Learn how to use the plugins and software incorporated into your site (and ask about these during the consultation; are they simple to use?). What kind of edits can you make on your own, and what kind of changes would need a web designer?
Communicate throughout the entire process. You’re busy working on non-website things, and the designer is busy working on your site, but open communication can prevent miscommunication and fix problems before they become big issues. Designers can’t work if they never hear from their clients. So answer questions and give feedback as soon as you can.
Let web designers do their job. It takes a lot of knowledge and skill to design a website—don’t criticize every little thing they send you. If you keep changing your mind about what you want the site to look like, you’ll only frustrate yourself and the designer. But if you feel the website won’t fulfill its purpose or doesn’t match your company, say something—the website designer also has a job to do.
Your staffing agency is unique. Your website should be, too. ASJ’s website design and development services provide you with a customized job board, a mobile-friendly site, and SEO features—in a design that showcases your brand. Contact us today to get a website that gets results.
