Unfortunately, this leads to an overwhelming number of scams and less-than-reputable businesses that take advantage of people, perform poor work, overcharge, or make promises they cannot keep. There is also the possibility that you will find a legitimate company, but their work or style will not suit you.
If you’re considering hiring a website design company, here are a few things to keep in mind and avoid.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
6 Key Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Montreal Web Design Agency
1. Hiring an Agency Without Looking at Portfolio
It can be difficult to locate a reputable Montreal web design agency. Unfortunately, there aren’t any regulations in place, so you’ll have to do some research to find a company that can properly complete your project.
The good news is that several obvious indicators should cause you to avoid a company. Here are the top 6 key mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
As previously mentioned, almost anyone can call themselves an expert web designer. To determine if someone is genuine, look at their experience and portfolio. After all, if someone has done excellent work in the past, there is a good chance they will do so again in the future.
Request that the company provide you with examples of their work. Not only will this show you that they have completed previous work, but it will also give you an idea of their style. Every person and business is unique, and while a designer may do an excellent job, it may not be what you are looking for in your website. Checking out their portfolio can help you determine if there will be a match.
You will also want to learn about their experience. Who have they previously worked with? What kind of projects did they complete? This will help you determine whether they have the necessary work experience.
2. No Reviews or Fake Too Good to be True Testimonials
A reputable website developer will have reviews and testimonials. Unfortunately, it is now easy to fake reviews. In fact, AI (artificial intelligence) has made things even easier. As a result, you’ll need to not only check for reviews or testimonials, but also ensure that they’re legitimate.
How to Identify Fake Reviews
Approximately 90% of online reviews are false. They are frequently created by webmasters or businesses to boost their company’s reputation. This means you’ll have to do some detective work. Read the reviews. Do they all sound suspiciously similar? Are they written in a way that regular people do? Do they use “industry terms” or terminology that ordinary people wouldn’t? When were they posted? A large number of reviews posted in a short period of time may indicate that they are fake.
If you can find other reviews posted by the same accounts, this is recommended. Have they looked into other services or companies? If they haven’t, it appears suspicious.
Reviews posted on a Google Business profile are more trustworthy than those posted elsewhere. Google regularly deletes suspicious reviews and may even penalize businesses that use them.
3. Surprisingly Low Prices for Premium Web Design
You’ve probably heard the old saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” This applies to a variety of topics, including website design. A web design company should be able to provide an upfront quote for its services. You should most likely shop around and get quotes from a few different companies, then compare them.
However, if a price quote appears to be too low, this is usually cause for concern. A company that offers an extremely low price is either inexperienced or is attempting to lure you in with a low quote only to charge you more later. Reputable companies will outline exactly what charges will be required, which are usually consistent with what other reputable companies charge.
4. The Expert or Agency Asks for Full Upfront Payment
A legitimate company will provide you with an upfront quote but will not require full payment upfront. Many designers and developers will ask for a portion (mostly between 25% to 50%) of the quote to be paid upfront, with the remainder due once certain milestones are met. This protects both the company and the customer.
If a company requests full payment upfront before any work is completed, this is a major red flag. There are very few legitimate businesses that will do this, so keep an eye out for it.
5. Poor Communication – Delayed Replies for Days
Communication is critical in business, particularly in web design. You must effectively communicate what you’re looking for, outline your brand, explain your vision, and much more. This process is two-way. If communication with a company feels like you’re shouting into a void rather than working on a project, it can be a problem.
When you first contact a company, how long does it take for them to respond? Are they prompt in responding to questions about their quote or process? Are they transparent with details, or does it appear that they are hiding something? If a company isn’t quick to provide information, you should be suspicious.
6. They Ignore User Experience & SEO
Building a website is more than just making it look great. It’s also about creating a website that works well and helps your business succeed. This entails creating a website that offers visitors a positive user experience (UX). This means a site that is simple to use, accessible to all audiences, loads quickly, and guides users to a specific goal (such as contacting you or purchasing a product).
SEO (search engine optimization) is also important. You want potential customers to find your website by searching for relevant terms, correct? A good web design agency will integrate SEO strategies into your site’s design and structure to make it easy for search engine crawlers to scan.
Conclusion
As with almost any business, if something appears too good to be true, it probably is. If you find a web design company that gives you an extremely low quote, claims to deliver something that does not appear realistic, or makes impossible promises, you should be wary, ask more questions, and probably look around a little more for better options.
