With the recession apparently still in full swing, it is important that we keep track of our earnings as closely as possible. Plenty of companies and businesses have felt the wrath of the ‘credit crunch’ and gone under as a result. The companies who have survived are experiencing a daily struggle to keep up. It can be no coincidence that those businesses who have a strong online presence are the ones which have stayed afloat, as they can easily adapt the the ever changing economic climate.

It seems like business has boiled down to one simple fact: if you’re not online you can’t keep up and you will get left behind. It is unfortunate that many business owners are not sufficiently literate in the ways of the web and don’t possess the necessary skills required to build a basic website. If you are one of these people then there is no need for you to worry as there are any number of companies both large and small who will be able to assist you in getting your business online. Before you shop round for a suitable company here are a few important factors you should consider.

Your website should have a user friendly control panel. It should be simple and intuitive to add and edit webpages. If you are a complete web design novice then a user friendly content management system should be at the very top of your checklist.

Research some similar websites to the one you are after and decide what features you are looking for. Some web design companies may try and sell you the simplest website possible with only the bare minimum of features so it is important that you fully understand what you want and need from your website. For example your site may require a shopping cart and a suitable gateway for customers to purchase products from you. When you meet up with the design company express all your ideas to them and see if they have the skills available to produce the website you want. Bear in mind that your website will be a reflection of your business’ image so it is important that the design company realises that.

You will want to find out about the reputation of the design company so it would be a good idea to ask for some references. If the design agency has nothing to hide then there should be no reason why they wouldn’t be able to provide you with some testimonials from previous clients.

If your website will be storing a lot of important customer information then it is vital that there are adequate security provisions. The web developers must also back up all important files and data. If this isn’t done and your website is left vulnerable to an attack then this could result in a disastrous situation for your company. Again, it cannot be emphasised enough the trust that must exist between you and the design agency.

It is also important that you are comfortable at communicating your ideas with the agency. Bear in mind that it is likely your vision for the website will not be entirely realised as there will always be compromises.

Author Bio: Trevor Richards is writing on behalf of the Cheap Web Design Company.

Category: Business
Keywords: web design, design agency, marketing, website, web developement