Fingers typing on a computer keyboard.

So, you’ve decided that it’s time to rebuild the corporate website. As a savvy businessperson, you do your research, poll your colleagues, and interview firms. Once you’ve identified the shortlist of candidates, you request proposals., and that’s when your work really begins.

While you may think buying a website is like buying a car, it’s closer to remodeling a home or building a new office. Each agency looks at different aspects of your business and will make a proposal based on their understanding of your business needs. To improve your success rate for hiring a website design firm, follow the 7 steps outlined below.

Know your needs

What was the trigger that led to the decision to rebuild the website? Is the president tired of looking at the same design? Has your company strategy shifted significantly since the last update?

How does the website support your marketing & sales plan? How does the website impact other business functions such as recruiting employees, servicing and retaining customers or attracting investors?

Have a budget

As an agency, we know that every client has a budget. Our job is to determine if we can deliver the quality and outcome that clients expect with the resources available. By sharing budget information up front, you will get more suitable proposals.

Develop an RFP

While tedious to write, a request for proposal can help you to clearly communicate your needs and to standardize how vendors submit proposals. Government and enterprises have used RFPs for years for this purpose. Rather than sending out your RFP for open bidding, only offer it to the selected agencies that you potentially want to work with.

Create a scorecard

A scorecard can help you control the direction of the conversation so that you ask consistent questions of each vendor.

Look at the trade-offs

Does one proposal include brand redesign and video while another includes project management and content development? While some features may sound great, knowing your needs will help you focus on the most important elements of a successful website design. It is tempting to save money by taking on responsibilities such as writing or project management, but our experience shows that many projects that rely on a significant about of in-house resources fail due to over-burdened clients and cost cutting.

Understand the process

Since you are outsourcing the website design, you have recognized that this is not a core strength of your company. Do you want a vendor who expects you to tell them what to build, or do you want a company that has a process, can articulate that process, and has the experts who can guide you through the redesign process?

To find the right guide, look to the agency's thought leadership. A competent guide will share knowledge via a blog and downloadable content, demonstrate proven results through case studies and testimonials, have a strong social media following, and ask thoughtful questions during the interview process.

Are you really ready?

Finally, be sure that you are truly ready to undertake the website design process. Our article, Is Your Company Ready for Digital Marketing?, can help you understand if your company is prepared for the journey ahead.

Even with all of this preparation, website projects can fail. While there are no shortcuts to success, a trusted guide can help you to avoid many of the pitfalls that come during the website design process.


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William McKee

William McKee

As a managing partner of Knowmad, William creates sustainable growth for the agency by leading its future vision, driving new revenue, and empowering team member productivity and well-being.

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