The demand for websites has never been higher. It seems like the internet boom of the late ninety’s is back, but more stable. People are lining up to have websites built by the masses, and thus design firms are increasingly finding ways to produce websites cheaper and faster. The true purpose of web design is being lost to myths and misrepresented claims. The weight web design once had is being lost to other terms such as SEO. Although there are more, I want to discuss a few myths that cause these problems, and my own experienced-based rebuttals.
Myth 1: As long as I have a lot of traffic, my design doesn’t matter
With the magic word “SEO” becoming the new internet gold rush, companies and individuals are increasingly believing that design doesn’t matter. As long as the herds of consumers are coming to their site, there is no need to worry about design research, color schemes, navigational structure, or usability. Before I am misunderstood, I am not bagging on SEO’s at all. My brother is a well-respected owner of 97thfloor, an SEO firm. Even he has told me that some of his clients would be better off having their website rebuilt or redesigned, to increase website conversion, before starting such a large marketing campaign. Every company, whether a mom and pop shop or Wal-Mart can benefit on a design that is created around conversion and the user experience. With that said, it is often that companies come to me and say “We have put a lot of money toward advertising, we rank high on Google, but we are not seeing the sales or conversion we had hoped for.” My reply, “Your design and user interface scream lack of money, lack of research, lack of care.” Web design isn’t a slipshod process. It isn’t just a matter of “getting something up”. It is much more than that.
Myth 2: Since web design involves programming, any firm can do the work I need.
A smart business would never allow a cousin, friend, acquaintance etc… to make important business decisions with lack of experience. However, people allow these same people to create their companies websites all the time to save a buck or two. How often have I had to redesign a site, a matter of weeks after their first round, because their first designer didn’t create what was needed. In these cases, they loose time (which is money) having to start from scratch and redevelop something new. This time by someone who knows what they are doing. With how important the internet is these days, companies have to pick design firms that are experienced in designs that create customers out of site visitors.
Myth 3: If I tell a web company my budget for design, they will up their price to match it.
This one happens frequently. I ask every potential client that comes to me, “What budget have you set aside for this project?” As I wrote in a previous article, if they don’t have a budget this is usually a red flag for me. This means that 1. They really haven’t sat down and thought how much energy, time and resources they want to put into their project, and 2. The company may hiding it to try and narrow down design firms based on how cheap they are, not by how well they can take their budget and turn it into something fantastic. I like companies to have a budget for two main reasons: 1. It tells me they are organized and serious about their project, which gets me more excited to be a part of it, and 2. I can give them options of what is possible to deliver within that budget. It may make more sense to break a project into phases and work on them as sequentially. So companies, please let us know you are serious by figuring out your budget before you expect design firms to seriously look at your project.
Basically, we design firms need to find new ways to show our clients that we are different then the run-of-the-mill firm, or their neice. We need to show them that our design will increase profits, help to magnify their brand, and improve their business as a whole. If we can somehow put the value back in web design, businesses will be happier having received a design that accentuates their goals… and true designers will be happy taking on projects of value, while being compensated for their time.
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November 30th, 2007
Most businesses are used to RFP’s and bids being included. Especially the bigger they get. Most businesses want people to bid on their project just as contractors bid on a multitude of other business needs.
In short, I disagree that they should state their budget. Even if they do state it, I still think it’s completely professional to request RFP’s or bids.
For those that don’t know an RFP is a Request for Proposal.
December 4th, 2007
Great! I am not a webdesigner, I am a young graphic designer.. Imagine those myths in Brazil.. (where I am from) this is much bigger! People just don´t value this work.. but things are starting to change. I think we have a lot of great design agencies rising with their talent… so the future clients will be more well-educated by the impact of the good design in well succeded companies.
February 6th, 2008
I second that!
Each time one of my clients has a friend or relative doing their web design, I know it’s 1) going to be sloppy 2) going to take a very long time.
With so many affordable options to get a clean, simple and effective design, there’s just no excuse in my book.
Having said this, I set up my own website using a simple wordpress template with the help of a few design elements from my designer. It’s not perfect, but it works really well. But I can’t wait to re-invest in a re-design and upgrade soon.
Thanks for your post!
Karin
June 26th, 2008
This is intended most respectfully, since I think your work and blog is very good indeed, but something that’s also important in creating a good impression is correct English. Your headline is missing an apostrophe: it should be “Let’s put the value…”. In myth 2, you wrote “loose time” where it should be “lose time” with one O.
Best wishes,
Zarg
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