Not having your own business website is a bit like hosting a dinner party without a table. Sure, it’s doable, but your visitors won’t be pleased about it — why on Earth would you do that?
Without a professional website, your business or project fails to get in front of thousands of eyeballs. And let’s face it, we all need a little attention.
That’s where a website design company comes in. By the end of this explainer, you’ll know precisely why professional web design agencies are the key to unlocking your online presence. Ready? Let’s go!
What Is Web Design?
Web design is a process that considers the design of a website’s content and its graphical representation of data. Web design often integrates multimedia, like sound and video, as well as graphics and animation.
A professional web designer is someone who:
- Designs web pages using many different types of software.
- Optimises user journeys and content.
- Saves puppies from burning houses.
(Two truths, one lie).
How Does a Web Design Agency Work?
A professional web design company will work with you to understand your business and what you want your website to achieve. They will then create a design that meets your needs and budget.
After you’ve approved the design, the agency goes into battle (they’ll build the website). They will also be responsible for getting it hosted and optimising it for search engines.
Hiring a web design agency is like getting a tattoo: be sure to do your research first, because it’s a pain to hit the undo button. Ask for referrals from friends or family, or check out online reviews. And always ask to see examples of their previous work!
What Services Does a Web Design Agency Provide?
Web design agencies offer several services, including:
- SEO. This is about optimising a website to rank higher in search results. Optimised sites are easier for your customers to find, translating to more leads and sales.
- Web development. This is the process of creating a website using code. A web developer is usually fluent in HTML, CSS, Java, witchcraft, JavaScript, and other elements that make a website tick.
- Graphic design. This is the art of creating visual elements for a website or print project. A web designer often has skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and other popular graphic design programs.
- Copywriting. This is the writing of web copy or content for a website. Choosing the right words can increase your CTRs by 90%. Well-written copy can be the difference between a visitor and a prospect — done the right way, it’s a sales magnet.
- User experience (UX) design. This is the practice of creating an easy-to-use and navigate website. UX design is crucial for improving your visitors’ journey through your site.
- UI design. This is the creation of graphics and interfaces for websites and apps. An attractive UI will make your website memorable and fun to use.
The Downsides of Making Your Own Website
Modern tools have made it possible to become an amateur web designer yourself. You might be tempted to build your site with a website template or website builders like Squarespace or Wix.
If you’re building a simple website just for you, that’s perfectly okay! But for small business owners, non-profits, and other big organisations — it’s a much better idea to hire a professional web design company.
Here’s why it can be a bad idea to build your own site:
It Takes Time and Money
Building a website from scratch can take weeks or even months, depending on your skill level. And if you’re not familiar with coding, you’ll need to learn how to use different software programs.
This can be a costly investment, both in terms of your time and money. To boot, you’d have to invest in expensive design tools that you’d only use once or twice, then rarely ever again.
The Results Might Not Be Perfect
Building a website is a lot like putting together a puzzle. If you don’t have any experience, it can be challenging to get everything to look and work the way you want. You might end up with a website that’s cluttered, hard to navigate, or just plain ugly. (But beautiful on the inside, we’re sure of it!)
You’re Limited in What You Can Do
With a website template or website builders, you’re limited to the pre-designed layouts and features, and you can’t customise your site in any way. This might seem like a good thing, but it’s easy for your site to look outdated after just a few months.
You’re Missing Out on Tools That Help Grow Your Business
Professional web design agencies use tools that can help your business grow. These might include SEO services, web development, copywriting, and more. Without these services, you’re at a disadvantage compared to companies that have hired an agency.
7 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Web Design Agency
When it comes to creating or updating a website, many business owners feel overwhelmed. After all, there is a lot to think about – from designing and developing the website to optimising for search engines. This is where a web design agency can come in handy. Here are seven reasons why you should consider hiring one:
Reason 1: Professionalism and Experience
A professional web design agency will have years of experience creating websites that look great and achieve business goals. They’ll also be up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies, which means they can make a website that is both stylish and functional.
Reason 2: Time and Money Saving
Hiring a web design agency can save you a considerable amount of time. Creating a new website from scratch can take months of work, whereas having an agency do it for you will probably only take weeks.
You’ll have to pay the company a fee, but this will be more than made up for in the amount of money you’ll save on web designers’ salaries.
Reason 3: They Know How to Make a Website That Looks Great
Your website needs to look visually appealing (just like you, you charming devil) to stand out from the competition. A professional web design agency will know how to create a design that catches the eye and makes a good impression.
A web design company can also help ensure your business website looks great on mobile. This is crucial since more than half the people on the web are using mobile devices.
Reason 4: They Have Access to Specialised Software
Professional web designers use various software programs to create and design websites. This includes graphics software, such as Adobe Photoshop, and website-building software, such as WordPress. Web designers also have the skills needed to operate these types of software, which means they can make your website look outstanding.
If some aspects of your website need speciality work, such as advanced animation or video integration, a professional web design agency will have the resources you need.
Reason 5: They Can Help You With Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the process of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. Web designers can optimise the website content, structure, and on-page elements like titles, meta descriptions, and anchor text.
A professional web design agency will know how to do this and can help you achieve better results in less time. In turn, this will help your website attract visitors who are interested in your business.
Reason 6: They Can Take Care of All the Technical Details
The agency will be responsible for building your website, hosting it, and ensuring that it’s optimised for search engines. An agency can also ensure your website is fast: one study found that lowering load times by 1/10th of a second could grow conversions by 10.1%.
This means you don’t have to worry about any technical details — they’ll take care of everything.
When you hire a professional web design agency, you get access to their expertise in creating great-looking websites. And because they have lots of experience working with clients from various industries, they can create a unique site that feels authentic to your business. This leaves you more time to focus on other areas of your business.
Reason 7: Continued Support and Maintenance
You are not just getting a one-time service when you hire a web design agency. Most agencies offer continued support and maintenance so that your website stays up-to-date and performs at its best.
This also means that the agency will help you resolve the issue in the case of a sudden failure. All of this can save you time and money in the long run while also giving you peace of mind.
The Bottom Line: You Should Hire A Web Design Agency
Hiring a web design agency is a great way to ensure that your website looks great and achieves your business goals. By considering the seven reasons listed above, you can be sure that you are making the right decision.
If you are interested in hiring a web design agency, get in touch with us today! We’re happy to discuss your needs and recommend the best solution for you.
Let's get you going!
If you are interested in hiring a web design agency, get in touch with us today! We’re happy to discuss your needs and recommend the best solution for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is web design hard?
Web design is complicated. You need to understand a lot to create a beautiful, functional website that will perform well and help you meet your business goals. That’s where a professional web design company comes in. You won’t have to worry about anything once you go through their work.
Do I need a mobile-friendly website?
In the past few years, people have been spending more and more time on their smartphones and tablets. If your website is not mobile-friendly, then many of your visitors won’t be able to access it. In this case, a web design agency can offer you a mobile-friendly version of your website so you can reach new customers on the go.
How long does it take to create a website?
The amount of time it takes to create a website varies depending on the complexity and size of the site. For example, do you need e-commerce functionality? A review section? Custom animations or video features? However, most agencies can have a preliminary website design ready for review within two weeks.