It seems that everyone from the 15-year-old kid to their Grandmother
is able to design a web site these days. You could also build the
site yourself using a word processor or other web site program;
however if you choose this route, plan on spending quite a bit of
time learning, to get your site to look professional.
Creating a web site is not as simple as typing a letter.

If you want your site to https://www.alexandremthefrenchy.com/ look professional, it is imperative to find
a designer that will be with you from the start to the finish of your
web site and will also be there in the future should you need changes
or updates to your site. So how do you distinguish who is a good
designer or a bad one?

Here are some important steps to take before making that important
decision:

1.Credentials – does the person or business have professional
qualifications in Web Design and the Internet? Are they certified in
any particular area of web design? You can often check this out by
going to the “about” page on their web site. If they have taken the
time to gain the qualifications, then you know they are serious about
their business.

2. Experience – how long has the person or business been designing
web sites and working with the Internet? If it is only a short time
then they may not be familiar with all the technologies available in
designing a web site and may not be around to take care of your
future needs.

Look at the design of their web site and other sites that they have
designed by going to their portfolio page. Do the colors and text
look balanced? Do all the links work, does the site load fast and is
it easy to navigate the site? Do all the pages have a consistent look?

3. Testimonials – this will give you a good idea of the service and
design you can expect. Look through the testimonials of satisfied
customers. The testimonies should have the email address and the web
site address listed (so you can contact them if need be). Beware of
fake testimonials in which just the name is listed but no email or
site address.

4. Vision – create a basic plan of the type of web site you want. Do
a search of other sites on the Web, to get a rough idea of what type
of site you are looking for, that is unique to your business, (not
just a copy of someone else’s). Sketch your ideas out on paper, so
that when you contact your designer, you already have a good idea of
what you have in mind.

Decide what kind of web site it should be – will it be an
informational web site, a web site that will continue to expand as
you develop your business, or an e-commerce web site with a number of
products for which you accept online payments?

5. Technology – if you want to use advanced technologies on your
site, such as flash, shock wave, database integration, make sure your
designer is familiar with them and how this may affect your site.
They are often expensive to implement and may not be needed for you
to set up your business on the Web.

6. Contact – make sure you can contact your designer by phone or
email and see how long it takes for them to get back to you. If it
takes a long time, then this may be an indication of what your future
contact with them will be like. Are they helpful, professional,
polite and friendly? I find this always makes it easier to do
business and less stress on yourself, since you will want it to be a
strong and stable relationship.

7. Free Consultation – once you have a plan of what you want on your
web site (or even if you don’t know where to begin), contact your
designer for a free consultation before you set up a contract. Most
web designers will give you a free consultation if they want your
business. This will help you clarify what is expected in the design
process.