Company Secrets

Portfolio
Don’t think that just because a web company has a long list of websites in its portfolio that they are any good. Ensure you view their portfolio. Are their sites well designed? First impressions count! Check if their sites work on different web browsers. Not everyone uses Internet Explorer! Do they only undertake basic brochure sites or can they provide e-business/e-commerce systems? Not all web companies can do the latter and moving companies at a later date can cause unnecessary problems if you want that e-commerce system after all. This Christmas nearly as many sales were completed over the web as through retail stores, so think beyond your initial requirements.

Skill Set and Support
Be aware that the company you commission to undertake your website may not have a sufficient skill set to understand your business and offer the added-value support often required when setting up a website. A website is an integral part of the way your organisation does business. Ensure the web company can advise you on what is the most suitable website design and functionality for your business. Can a company assist you with a range of added-value services such as hosting, electronic and traditional marketing techniques and copywriting?

What support do they provide? Are they contactable when you need them? Some companies only operate via email, so will their response times suit you?

Cheapest is not always best!
Be mindful that cheapest is not always the best. Always obtain more than one quote, especially if your knowledge of websites is minimal. Some companies can charge way above the market rate for just a basic brochure site.

First place positioning
Regarding search engine listings, don’t be fooled by companies who guarantee first place positioning. There are no guarantees of this unless you use pay per click. How much you pay for pay per click will depend on how much competition there is amongst other advertisers in your category. As with all marketing, the golden rule is to TEST and measure the results.

Accreditation
Finally membership of professional governing bodies relating to website companies give the appearance of credibility. Some accreditation requires no more than filling in an online form. Often a website will not even be visited by the governing body a company is signing up to, indicating that quality checks and credibility criteria do not exist. Look at the criteria web companies have to meet to attain that accreditation.

These points just skim the surface of what you should be aware of when choosing a web organisation to develop your website. For further information on any of the above points and any additional questions or concerns you may have, simply call us on
0845 8385295 or email enquiries@haechar-internet.com.