Clio Websites is a full-service website design company in Calgary. We have vast experience in responsive website design, website maintenance, WordPress development and support, and online marketing.
The first thing you should look at is the web design company’s portfolio. Some of the things to look for are:
We take a lot of pride in our work and make sure each website is custom and distinguishes you from competition. Take a look at our portfolio for examples.
REFERENCES
Not having good references and reviews should be a major red flag when selecting a web design agency. Always ask for references, look for reviews on their website, check Google, and follow up with the references they have provided. We cannot emphasize this point enough!
Retention rates are also a great indicator of how happy their clients are with their services.
We post a lot of our testimonials on our website and also have 5/5 on our Google reviews. Clio would also be happy to provide references that you can follow up with to find out what it’s like to work with us.
THEIR APPROACH
Does their approach make sense and does it fit with your business goals? For example, when we develop websites and work with clients, we like to use an iterative approach. This means that you will be involved during each step of the way and provide feedback before it’s too late.
Most companies will gather your requirements and you won’t hear from them for a few weeks while they work on your project. We have found that this not only results in poor results, but it can frustrate both the client and the company you are working with. This is why we keep the clients involved each step of the way and do frequent check ins to make sure we are on the right track.
USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES
This one may sound not important to you as a business owner but hear us out. Understanding and using modern technologies and frameworks ensures that your website will be supportable and transferable.
If you decide to switch providers in the future you will have a hard time finding resources that can look after your website if you are using legacy technology.
Also, newer and supportable frameworks like WordPress ensure that your website stays secure and responsive. This is why you want to make sure your website is using the latest and greatest technology stack.
ONGOING SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
What does their support and maintenance look like after you launch your website? Are there any costs and fees after going live? Ongoing support and maintenance costs can quickly add up if your website isn’t performing well or it’s not easy to update.
WordPress gives clients the ability to update their own content without hiring a web developer. Recently we wrote about startup costs of launching a website. Keeping your website secure and loading quickly is important for SEO. Therefore, you will want to make sure that it is getting properly maintained and updated often.
BEYOND WEB DESIGN
There are many aspects to launching a successful web project. The design has to be appealing, the website needs to perform well, it has to be accessible, and it has to generate leads or sell products. This is why it is important to hire a company with a proven track record that understands all these aspects and can apply them effectively.
You need to ensure that the company you decide to work with understands the following about your business:
Generating leads and lots of traffic to your website will require ongoing investment. You will want to ensure that the agency you select has experience working with companies in your industry. They should also be able to guide your investment where it makes the biggest difference. Their references and portfolio should be able to reflect their experience.
