At what stage of business should you hire a web designer
For a number of reasons, you might feel like it's time to enlist some help with web design. Perhaps your business is growing, and you want to step up your design game to match. Or your site feels outdated, and some visual polish sounds like a good idea. Or you're delving into Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and want to increase visibility on search engines. But wait; there's a time and a place for everything. In this case, there's a time to hire a web designer and a time to wait. How will you know which is which? No worries, we're here to help with just that. So when should you hire on a web designer?
The pros of professional web design
First, let's briefly go through some of the main benefits of web design. Not so much to convince you of its merits – if you're reading this article, you likely know them well. Instead, to put the benefits into perspective and find out when is the best time to reap them.
#1 More user-friendliness – and lower bounce rates
First, there's a reason SEO minds user-friendliness so much; your audiences do too. It takes moments to get the first impression of a website and just one click to leave it. In fact, as Google/SOASTA research finds, visitors will bounce even before your website finishes loading if it's slow.
So, both aesthetically and functionally, robust web design helps visitors find your website, stay on it, and navigate it. It makes for a better first impression and user experience, lowering bounce rates.
#2 Higher conversion rates
After that first step, conversions come into play. In other words, enticing your visitors so much that they convert into customers. Here, too, web design plays a crucial role and can drastically help improve your chances. In fact, the decision to hire a web designer often comes up when website owners don't see enough conversions. To outline just how web design affects conversion rates, simply consider some crucial converting qualities:
Speed and responsiveness
User-friendliness and accessibility
Visual appeal
There's no going around it. A basic website may suffice initially, but perfecting these qualities requires a professional touch.
#3 Better branding
And finally, branding is a staple benefit of proper web design. It is undeniably crucial whether it's about communicating your business's identity and values, exciting new audiences, or cultivating customer loyalty.
Of course, branding goes far beyond the visual. It's a massive process with a few too many factors to outline here. Still, a consistent and polished brand presence is invaluable – and robust web design can best showcase it.
When is the right time to hire a web designer?
With the above in mind, let's determine which stages of business might call for a web designer's help. While only examples, consider the five criteria that follow.
#1 When you're seeing growth
We're starting with the most obvious one, as business growth may be the most crucial factor. Your business has taken off properly, achieved a steady income, and is now growing. Expanding your audience size, offerings, website content, and more will only naturally follow.
In these cases, business growth pretty much requires an attentive eye on web design. You'll need substantial website traffic, optimal conversion rates, and a stellar brand image – all of which web design can augment.
#2 When you're too busy yourself
The basic web design isn't beyond the capabilities of many website owners. An array of potent web design and site builder tools is available to get the job done.
However, you may not have the time, especially if you're seeing considerable business growth. There are a million other things to see, from SEO and paid ads to content strategies and more. There's only so much time in the day, and ambitious web design takes quite some time. In this case, too, a web designer can free your hands.
#3 When you're able to budget for it
Thankfully, when you're seeing growth is also when you can most likely be comfortable with budgeting for outside services. It won't typically break the bank to hire a web designer, but it can still strain tighter budgets.
Naturally, how much such services will cost varies significantly. It depends on the agencies' or freelancers' prices, the exact services you need, and so on. Still, feeling comfortable putting money aside for web design is a great indicator you need it, too.
#4 When you've established your brand image
An equally valuable indicator is your own brand image – and your confidence in it. If you've solidified your brand image by now, chances are high that you're at a business stage where web design can elevate it and your business further.
If anything, having an established brand image is somewhat necessary. Web designers can work much better toward your goals if they know exactly what your brand is all about. Conversely, they can only do so much without a clear vision to inform their creativity. And, of course, the last thing you want is to give anyone too much creative freedom with your brand image.
#5 When you can spare time for results
Finally, it's just as necessary to have the time to spare for such lengthy projects. Not just because web design often takes time but because having this comfort should mean your business is stable.
Frankly, having time to spare should mean you're planning and have solid long-term goals. It should mean you're not counting on a swift hotfix or rushed patchwork that's "just good enough". Rather, you're comfortable in your current position and can wait for results – and that's the best time to seek such help.
What might suggest the time to hire a web designer is coming?
That said, you might not be there yet. Still, before you find yourself in urgent need and with a ticking clock over your head, you might check for some early signs. Among others, consider the three main ones.
#1 You feel like a visual refresh is in order
Polishing your website's looks is typically not quite urgent, and your business seems like it doesn't need it. Still, if you're starting to feel some polish is in order, it might be a good time to examine why. Say,
Are you looking to modernize your brand?
Are you hoping for more growth?
Is your website becoming outdated, visually or functionally?
If these are the underlying reasons, and especially if your business goals and analytics agree, perhaps the time is coming.
#2 You're not seeing the growth you're expecting
Similarly, you might be consciously striving for growth that isn't yet coming. You've set your strategies in place, advertised far and wide, and expanded your offerings, but business isn't booming. In that case, you can start examining if, say,
Visitors are leaving your website quickly
Your pages aren't seeing enough engagement
Your pages aren't converting
In these cases, dig into your analytics; Google Analytics, website heat maps, or anything else at your disposal. If you can pin down your lack of growth to poor design, it might be time to hire a web designer.
#3 You're being told to
Finally, you might just be told to show your website some love. Not by random people on the street, of course, but by your audiences. You may get such direct feedback through, for some examples:
Surveys
Customer support inquiries
Social media comments
Reviews
In-person discussions
Of course, that's qualitative data, so you must approach it with caution. But if enough of your existing or potential customers suggest visual or functional improvements, take that to heart. You may not need to act on it immediately, but it's often a fantastic, reliable hint.
Conclusion
There's the right time for everything. Web design takes time and resources and may not be necessary for your business at the moment.
However, if the points above sound familiar, it may be time to hire a web designer. Their services can help resolve performance problems or avoid ones before they emerge. Robust web design can facilitate growth or take your current development to the next level.