Selecting an interactive or Web design agency is not an easy task. With thousands of companies to choose from and estimates with variations in pricing and timing that will blow your mind, it is very important to know what to look for in that potential partner. Working on both the client and agency side I have seen where many of the breakdowns could occur and how many of them can be avoided. So before you go selecting your next Web design firm I suggest you consider the following advice.

Experience Rules -- And Don't Take Their Word For It

Saying and doing are two different things. Many Web firms claim to have worked on a variety of Web sites often including high profile names, when in reality they have only a done a really small portion of the site or none of what you see at all (i.e., banners, interstitials, hosting, e-mails, etc.). For example, if I simply created a basic script for a portion of the Web site or simply provided the Web hosting, would it be fair for me to use that dot-com as a featured site in my portfolio? I don't think so.

To make sure you're getting the full story, call their references. In addition, make sure you call the references of the sites that were highlighted as their featured work. The reference would be able to tell you not only what their role was, but also give you an assessment of their quality of work.

Who's Working on Your Account?

The salesperson, many times, is not the one working on your account. Their job is to sell and to tell you all of the great things that their company can do for you. Who you really need to see and hear are the folks that will actually be working on your account. What's his or her experience? What accounts have they worked on, and how many are they working on now? How many simultaneously? Remember, it's the salesperson's job to make you happy where it's the actual account manager's responsibility to get the job done.

Process Rules

A clear, defined process in developing Web sites or interactive media is one of the most important components for an agency to possess. Make sure you ask potential agencies how their process operates and the steps that would be involved in developing your Web site. If they can't clearly define this, how can they give an accurate timeline and budget? Odds are, they can't.

Define Timeline and Budget

If you clearly define your needs, the agency should be able to outline an estimated budget and timeline according to their process. Make sure you get a clear estimate upfront, along with a corresponding timeline, of what the project will entail. Understand that most will charge by the hour leaving you open to paying exorbitant billings if you don't clearly define the project from day one. If this is not clear and in writing, you could potentially be left with a half completed project and an exhausted budget.

Credentials

In addition to their client base, check for additional credentials that can help gauge their quality of work. Press mentions and awards or recognition are often good assets for a company to have, considering it supposedly gives an unbiased view of their work.

Chemistry

After you have reviewed all of the above, it all comes down to the gut feeling you get when speaking and meeting the firm. Even if they have the best portfolio, 1,000 awards and the cheapest rates, if you don't get a good feeling about the agency, they may not be a good fit for you. A successful Web initiative involves teamwork and an open channel of communications between the client and the agency and if you don't feel comfortable from day one with the agency in question, I recommend looking elsewhere.

                                                                                                                            BACK TO NEWSLETTER...