We know that not everyone has the resources to hire an agency, whether it be AAACBC or anyone else. If we could, we would work with anyone and everyone that expresses interest – but sometimes we have to turn clients away – whether its because our visions don’t line up, the client doesn’t have the resources at the moment, or for any other of a variety of reasons.
As a small business ourselves, we’re always looking to help other small businesses, and this post is an attempt to offer advice to the companies and individuals that we can’t work with directly to get their visions realized while staying within their means.
A freelance designer can be a great option for small businesses that don’t have the budget for an agency. Finding the perfect designer for the job can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t know much about design, or if its your first time seeking professional design work. The following are the first steps in finding the perfect designer for your next job.
Assess your goals and construct a budget
What kind of project are you looking to create? Is it something that just needs to be done real quick and dirty, without too much of your time invested, where a pre-made Wordress template from a website like Woothemes or Themeforest is all you need? Or do you need a fully tailored custom solution? This is where it gets tricky…
Scan through web galleries
If you can, spend time researching the work of as many designers as possible. Scan web design showcases such as Most Inspired, Web Creme and Best Web Gallery, find a handful of websites that interest you, and reach out to those designers for a price quote. Even if you don’t find the right designer off the bat, spending some time looking through a showcase of high-end websites will provide an idea of what great design looks like, and could give you some ideas for your own site.
Ask for referrals
Many times, friends or colleagues will recommend designers they’ve worked with in the past. But before jumping in with their designer, take a look through his or her portfolio and see if the style fits your project. What may have worked for your friend may not make sense for you. Word-of-mouth is a great way to find freelancers, but don’t rely on it as your only tool.
Use freelance marketplaces
If you haven’t been given any referrals and you don’t have time to shop around, you may find what you’re looking for on a freelance marketplace like Equan, 99designs or Elance. However, use caution with these types of services; although you may find the cheapest price, you still may not be getting the best value. An entire website for under $500 may seem like a great deal at first; but if the user experience is poor, think about all the customers and impressions your going to lose. The old saying goes: You get what you pay for. And that definitely applies to web design.
Assess design portfolios
Once you have a few candidates lined up, make sure to take a closer look at their portfolios. Can they write their own HTML/CSS, or do they rely solely on a developer (a designer who firmly understands HTML/CSS will design for optimization like cutting down on load times, SEO optimization etc.)? Also, take time to actually visit some of their previous work. Are the websites they create easy to use? Are they easily scannable? Your website may not necessarily have to look “beautiful,” but it must have a solid user-interface.
Conclusion
Investing extra time to do your homework early on may save you a headache in the end. Ultimately, the best web designer for you is the one who accomplishes (and hopefully exceeds) your goals. Not every web project needs mind blowing design work – sometimes it just needs to work. However, the more time you spend on research and the better grasp you have on your goals, the more capable you’ll be when it’s time to make the best business decision to execute your project.
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