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5 top tips for buying website services

The new year is a great time to revamp your website, but it’s a decision that cannot be taken lightly. We are constantly bombarded by offers for cheap SEO, web design and other website services but how do you know if you need it and if any of them are actually worth the money?

For most people nowadays their website is key to the success of their business so getting things right without wasting money is vitally important. However, there are steps you can take to ensure the service you receive is valuable.

Think about your requirements

You know your business better than anyone else so you must think about exactly what you require. If you are not already using an analytics tool (there are free options available) then you really should implement one as soon as possible. Analyse your stats and if you can quickly identify an area where your website isn’t performing, such as in SEO, then you know can quickly work out what service you require.

Do your research

As in all walks of life, you shouldn’t just opt for the first offer you receive – do your research. Chances are if a particular provider is hawking their services for next to nothing in a spam email they aren’t going to add to much value to your site. Do your research and shop around before you decide - search engines make this process very simple! If it’s website design you’re after have a look around the designer’s website – if their website is awful then they’re probably not the best choice!

Consider your budget

When choosing a provider you must keep your budget in mind. Obviously you want quality but you have to be realistic. If your budget is on the smaller side then you may be better off using a freelancer, who won’t have the overheads of a large agency. There is a great selection of sites you can go to, to find a provider.

Ask for recommendations

Recommendations are a great way to find a reliable provider. Ask around your friends, family, colleagues and clients if they can recommend someone to you, because you can’t always tell how good and easy to work with a person or company is from their website. If you don’t get recommendations from someone you know then ask your chosen provider for testimonials, examples of their work and case studies to see the quality of work they produce.

Write a detailed brief

Many projects fail as a result of miscommunication, so once you have identified exactly what you need make sure that you write it down in a structured and coherent way. This will not only focus your mind to exactly what you want but will also make it easier your provider to understand your business aims and what you want to achieve – this is particularly important in web design. It should include examples of what you do and don’t like and why, and is a great starting and reference point for your chosen provider.

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