Selecting a Firm

Selecting a firm can become difficult. Most don't spend enough time in the selection process and dedicate twice as much time securing a replacement when things don't go as planned. Referrals are your safest bet. Ask your business colleagues who built their company's site. That's the easy answer!

You can also visit the websites of companies that match the size of your own. If you like the look and functionality of the site, check the site to see if the designer is listed. If not, you'll probably have to make a phone call.

Then it's time to do your homework. Find out if the designer has his or her own site; a worthwhile one will. Take a good look at it. Often, a website professional's own home page will give you enough insight to save you the time and cost of a phone call. At the very least, the site should tell you where they are located and exactly what type of services they provide.

It's not necessary to hire someone near your office, since you can view the site through the Internet as it is being developed. But if you feel most comfortable with regular face-to-face contact, choose a professional in your area.

To find the right website professionals, use techniques similar to those you'd use to hire any other type of contractor. Look at their past work. Have they worked on websites that resemble the site you have in mind for your company?

Determine who will be doing what. If you are contracting an individual to design your website, find out exactly what services he or she can provide. Are they capable of developing the back-end functions of your website to make it e-commerce ready? Or are they able to only redesign the look of your site?

If you are contracting a web design company, ask about their specific services. Will they be able to take the project from start to finish, or will you need to seek additional contractors to complete the job? Also, find out which specific employees will be assigned to your project, and ask about their individual experience.

Check references. Former clients can give you the real scoop on what it was like to work with this particular website professional. Get at least three, and ask them specific questions:

Did they meet deadlines?
Were they flexible?
Did they set and meet realistic goals for your company?
Would they work with this contractor or firm again?

Agree on costs.
How do they charge for their services? By the hour? Flat fees? Do different team members command different hourly rates?

Get an exact estimate for how long it will take to complete the project, and at what cost. Include the agreed-upon dates in your contract and provisions for what will happen if these dates are not met.

Make sure you can periodically view the progress of their work as the site is being designed and built. You'll also want to have final approval on each stage of the project.