If you are one of those people who walks into an auto mechanic's shop expecting to hear something that wouldn't be less clear if it was explained to you in Turkish (or some other language you don't speak), and then walks out spending twice what you expected, then you're ready to jump head first into the process of finding a business web design team.

Does that sound overly pessimistic?

Maybe, but we can guarantee that it's close to the way a lot of business owners and executives feel when shopping for a new web site or online marketing team.

For one thing, they aren't always familiar with the tools and ideas that are being thrown around. They might know they need a better looking site, or one that has a blog, but when it comes to what's under the hood – in terms of content management systems, custom programming, and other features – they often aren't sure what they should be looking for.

What's more, they might not be positive that what they're looking at represents a truly great value. It isn't unusual, unfortunately, for a traditional advertising or web design firm to recommend something that results in a lot of short-term billings, even if it isn't going to show the client the best return on investment over time.

So how do you cut through the clutter and spot a good value in web design when you see it?

Here are a handful of tips to get you started:

1. Learn a bit about the market

Don't worry, we aren’t expecting you to become experts in the field of web design. But, by reading a handful of helpful articles (like the ones you find on our blog), you can learn the basic concepts of search engine optimization, content management systems, online marketing, and such. It's all there for the learning. We want to make it easier for you to explain what you're looking for, and to understand what you'll get for your money.

2. Ask the right questions

Next to "How much will my new business website cost?", the question we're most likely to hear from a new client is: "What will it look like?" These things matter, of course, but don't forget to ask whether your new business web site will include an online marketing plan, whether it can be scaled up if your business grows in the future, and how durable or compatible it is for mobile web users. Don't forget about tomorrow. And don't be afraid to outline your business web site needs. What follow-through activities are available after launching a shiny new site? These will give you a better insight into how long your site will last, how easily it can evolve with your business needs, and how you will feel about what you've paid for your new business web site a year from now.

3. Follow up on case studies and testimonials

While we would love to tell you that all business web design and development teams are incredibly honest, straightforward, and client-focused, that's just not the reality of some members of this industry (shady individuals can be found anywhere). For that reason, it's important to follow up on success stories and testimonials you get from a web design or online marketing firm. Make the effort to find out whether past clients still feel like they got a good long-term value, whether their sites stood the test of time or not, and how they feel about the relationships that were developed.

4. Look for the right relationship

Speaking of relationships, realize that a great web team should be with you for the long haul, not just hoping to make a few dollars off of your current project. As you get to know each other better, your company and your online team become more valuable to each other, you are able to execute ideas faster, and fewer back-and-forth conversations are needed to get your company where you want it to go. Isn't that what you're looking for in a business web design team… or any vendor you work with? 

To find out what real value in online marketing and business web design looks like, call 1-855-228-2525 or schedule a meeting with a member of our online marketing team today.