You have a good domain name. Now is the time to find a good web design firm to create your online presence.There are many reasons to have a website and knowing exactly what you want to achieve with your website before you try to find a company to create it is imperative. The whole website creation should focus on the goals that you have for it.

Here are a few reasons you could want a website:

• present your company’s information online to as many people as you can
• have an online store to sell your products
• have a blog or a place to post articles
• create a network to make money online, through affiliate programs, advertising and other online money making programs
• put your portfolio or bio online (if you are an artist) with pictures, videos and/or music tracks
• have forms for your customers to fill out, either for appointments, register for your services or so that you could build a database

Knowing all those details first will make it a lot easier to create the hierarchy of your website. Even if it is possible to add stuff after, it is always easier to build everything (or create a space for it) right from the start so that you don’t have to modify the look of your website after it is done. Write down your ideas. Even things that you maybe think are not important could help the designers throughout the process.

Once you have that, start contacting web design firms and don’t be shy to ask a lot of questions. If a firm doesn’t seem to be receptive to your questions or if they try to silence you or say that they will just take care of everything, be careful. A company that really value your satisfaction with go out of its way to answer your questions and make sure that your are part of the creation process (unless you clearly state that you don’t want to participate in the development of your website). You should have the following list of questions with you when you meet a company for the first time:

• how long have they been in business for?
• what is their level of competence, the kind of technical background that they have? (can they do databases, flash, shopping carts, graphic design or anything else that you think you need for your project)
• when could they start your website?
• how long would it take until completion?
• do they offer other services? (like marketing, SEO/search engine optimization, updates on your website, technical support,…)
• do they have testimonials on their website or references that are legitimate? (that you could verify)
• can you see their portfolio? ( they should have links online, if they don’t, ask for a list of the most recent websites they have done. Make sure those websites prove somewhere that they are the designers. You can even contact the company who owns the website to ask.)
• ask them if they provide you with a contract clearly stating in detail everything they will do for the amount of money you will be paying for, and if there are any other charges that could be added later (hidden fees)
• how do they estimate the price of a website?
• are there any set-up fees? (to put your website on a server once it is completed)
• do they offer hosting? (if you don’t already have a server to host your website once it is completed). If yes, how much is it?
• what is the procedure for paying the website? (do they require a deposit up front and the balance upon completion, and if yes what is the amount% for each?)
• if the website has technical issues after it is done, do they provide some technical support for free or is there a fee, and if so how much?
• what are the fees after the website is done if you want to make changes to the website or add content to it?
• do you have to provide all the content (images, text and other documents) or do they build the website from your brochure or printed information?

This is a good base to start, and you can add all the other questions that come to your mind. Just watch for the reaction the people from that firm will have when they see you have a list. Like I said, if they roll their eyes when you say you have a list of questions, it’s not a good sign!

Don’t choose a company too quickly. Take the time to meet with a few different ones to compare what would be the best deal FOR YOU. It’s not because it is cheaper at one place that you will have the best deal there. Sometimes it is worth paying a little bit more and be sure that there will not be a bunch of other fees later on. Then, once you decide on a company, just make sure that they put in writing everything they will do for you and what it will cost in details.

If they require a deposit, make sure you know what their policies are regarding refunds or in case you want to change things from the original plan…The deposit is usually 50% of the total price and not refundable, to make sure you will not change your mind after they started working on your website. Also make sure that they follow the deadlines. It is normal if it takes a bit longer than expected, a couple of weeks maybe,  but it shouldn’t be over a month.

Your website is now finished, the next step is hosting