(OR “Your price seems high, why should I hire you?”)
Have you heard this one? Fast, Good or Cheap: Pick 2
Fast + Good= $$$$$
Fast & Cheap= Lousy (Personally, will not do)
Good & Cheap= Will take a while (it’s worked in after everything else on our plate)
It’s been said a millions times but it is true. What you get for your money with a designer can really vary. A low cost designer is not always the best pick. The old saying, ‘you get what you pay for’ certainly rings true here.
1. Reliability/Communication
I have had clients who have come to me unable to even find their previous designer!! Some have trouble getting their designer to make site updates on a timely basis for them. Some have had enormous trouble communicating with their designer. Or they are just plain unhappy with the results of a poor choice.
At least one meeting with a potential designer is important, if not in person, at least a lengthy phone conversation. Can you talk to this person? Do they listen to you? Are they credible/established? Meaning, can you at least see some legitimate prior work on their website or a portfolio link?
LuAnn is a detail-oriented Web Designer who listened to my objectives, understood my passion for fabrics and color and delivered, on a very timely basis, a very professional and happy website. Check it out – Beeworks.biz —Barbara Hanson, August 17, 2011
2. Education/Experience
I have a history with my clients and have had most of them for 5-10 years! Why is that? I continue learning about my industry constantly, so in turn I always have something new to offer my client base. I spend an enormous amount of my time and money staying on top of the latest standards and practices so that I can give my clients the best their money can buy. I am able to educate and inform them on what makes sense for their particular situation.
Does your designer have any formal education in the field? Sure, learning how to build a website is possible without going to college, but good design and an ability to provide an aesthetically pleasing AND functional site or logo comes from spending time analyzing design history and theory.
It is always a pleasure to work with LuAnn. She handles the pressure of deadlines by producing great work while maintaining a terrific sense of humor. Quite often I consult with her on “how to” software questions. —Austin Metze, Metze Publication Design, February 21, 2009
3. Results
I have had a few clients come to me needing a boost in their search engine rankings when a prior provider did not get it done. I can take a site, given a few key criteria, and change their Google site ranking within 2-4 weeks, from obscurity to page one or two, guaranteed!!!
4. The Intangibles
When you hire someone, you are investing in yourself. What are you worth? What does your business mean to you? Do you want to cheat yourself of getting the best you deserve? Hire someone low cost and get a site that screams cheap? It certainly will not help your business!! First impressions are crucial.
If you receive a high quality site, logo or promotional materials, your business will reap the rewards, not just once, but over and over again. This is part of what is built into the price of a good designer who values what they do, knows what they can deliver and is truly a professional, meaning you get everything mentioned here.
5. Trust
Lastly, what price can you put on trust? A web designer often has access to many of your passwords and accounts. It is crucial you can trust the person to whom you are handing over that kind of information!!
Whether you are in need of a logo, a website or print collateral, take the time to plan. Research what you want and the type of person you would like to work with. It will pay off in the end!!
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