This blog Floor wrote specifically for Frankwatching. In case you missed the blog there, feel free to read it here. It's pretty handy, if we do say so ourselves.
Good, a new website So. You obviously don't want those just like that. Maybe...
- ... the current website is not working as you would like it to (think: not responsive, slow, too limited for what you want to say, etc.)
- ... the design no longer fits who you are (read: corny or no longer in line with your corporate identity)
- ... you want to blow your competitors away with something unique (who doesn't want that?).
Whatever the reason, you need a good partner with whom to develop your website. After all, a good website can't be bought but created together with your web partner. But how do you find the perfect partner in the jungle of freelance web builders, Internet agencies and digital agencies?
Know what you're asking (even if you don't actually know)
If you know what you need, it is easier to choose between different partners. But determining what you need is often difficult. Because if you already know everything, you don't need a partner anymore, right? Still, it helps to write down for yourself what your needs, regarding your new website, are. Think about:
- Target audience: who are you creating a website for?
- Objective: What do you want to achieve with the website (think: inform, enthuse, sell, etc.)?
- Brand story: what story should your website tell?
- Content: have content available (are there already texts, do you have useful photography, videos, etc.) or would you like your partner to help with this as well?
- Functionalities: Are there specific functionalities that should be included (e.g., a news or blog functionality, registration process or certain links to other systems)?
- Other wishes: anything you can think of that is important to your website.
- Budget: what should a new website cost?
It is often difficult to answer these questions well in advance. A good partner will help you with this. But if you want to use your budget as efficiently as possible, it helps to have your wishes in focus before you get started.
“A good website cannot be bought, you create it with a partner.”
Freelancer, small Internet agency or large(er) digital agency?
Which type of partner suits you depends on several things. Whereas a freelancer can develop a website for relatively small budgets, larger agencies can easily cost you more. On the other hand, they often have more expertise and a larger development capacity. In addition, the dependency of your website can also determine who you let develop your website. Is your website ‘just’ a digital business card, or do all your sales take place online? A big difference that requires a different partner.
To get you started, I list some pros and cons of working with the different types of partners. Although I categorize myself as a ‘small internet agency’ from Tweekoppig, I have also spent 10 years ‘on the other side’. From larger corporate organizations, I worked with several large ‘digital agencies. I sincerely believe that nothing is as important as a good feeling with the company you work with and that there is a ’one size fits all‘.
Back to the differences:
The freelancer for the small, static website
Perfect for the self-employed or smaller SMEs who don't depend on their website for income. Freelancers work fast, have no overhead and you always communicate directly with the builder. So no noise on the line. They often work based on a template or design provided by you. If you can tell what needs to be built, you can have a beautiful website quickly and for a relatively small budget.
The downside? A freelancer is alone (dûh?!) and thus needs to focus. You can't expect a freelancer to be both an ace at building a reliable website, designing a slick design and optimizing your content. There are designers, seo specialists, content marketers, copywriters, etc. for a reason.
Personal attention & a unique design? Choose a small internet agency
A website that really speaks for you deserves a unique design. In this case, a template will soon no longer suffice. A small Internet agency is your perfect go to. By hiring a small team of experts, you often enjoy both the technical knowledge needed to build a website and the know-how to create a suitable design. They often even have a (number of) additional areas of expertise in-house. Think of copywriting, campaign management or content creation. Perfect if you are really going to use your website as a marketing tool that contributes to achieving your goals. In addition, small agencies are often nice and flexible. Need an extra feature you hadn't anticipated? They can often squeeze it into the schedule. Which is nice, because there is no such thing as a perfect design, you learn as you go.
Are there any drawbacks? Well, there always are. After all, you are dealing with a small team here which always makes you vulnerable. Is your business highly dependent on the website, for example because you have an online store? Then I would definitely recommend choosing a larger agency that you can fall back on 24/7 and not depend on ‘that one specialist’.
Web store, serving multiple audiences or complex back-end links? Go for a great ‘digital agency’
You have thousands of visitors a day, serve multiple audiences and offer information in multiple languages. All ingredients that make your Web site complex. Add in a few links to backend systems, and you have a website with a high dependency. In this case, it really pays to work with a larger partner. These agencies often have multiple experts in the same field, a large team of developers and strategists to help choose the right direction. Now and in the future. Ideal right?
Still, there is a but. While entry-level rates may be ‘doable,’ costs can add up quickly. An additional functionality? Wasn't budgeted for and not planned for. So additional costs and longer lead time. Also, schedules are often less flexible. So you have to think ahead and ‘buy time’ on time. Even if you don't yet know exactly what you want to have made, you often have to commit your sprint anyway. Logical if you work on large projects, but it often feels less flexible and personal anyway.
Gut feeling: trust it!
Comparing different parties remains tricky. Even if you think you know what you want, offers can never be compared one-to-one. The most important tip I want to give you: trust your feelings! A new website cannot be pulled off the shelf. Figuring out exactly what you need and how you want to design it takes time. You enter into an intensive cooperation with your web builder. Then you had better make sure you have a good click and can trust each other.
Have fun developing your website!
