Whether you are an established investment firm with 30+ years on the books, or you’ve just successfully launched your career as a business owner, have you considered who will be managing your website? After all, not all entrepreneurs are IT professionals, website designers, or marketing experts.
The price of website design aside, here are a few questions to help you determine the best website and marketing agency when it comes to maintaining your website (aka: your most valuable marketing and lead-gen tool)!
Do we even vibe?
How do you know if a contractor, vendor, or agency is the right fit for you?
GO WITH YOUR GUT, FOLLOW YOUR CONSCIENCE!
When you don’t vibe with someone you’re handing hard-earned cash to, you are setting both you and your contractor up for failure. If you’ve established that you don’t like them, then you don’t trust them either.
- If you don’t vibe with an individual on their LinkedIn or fail to find value in their posts, they are probably not the right fit.
- If your conversations seem forced and the website developer speaks in IT terminology that you can’t seem to follow, they probably aren’t the right fit.
- Do your tickets and emails seem forgotten or pushed to the back burner if you’ve signed with them? Do you feel ignored? They aren’t the right fit.
- Does the design team push back at every turn?
Sometimes the answer is right in front of you.
As Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, says,
If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no.
Ask the right questions
Beyond personality, you also need to understand your own needs and the needs of your website.
Understand your needs
- Are you running proprietary software on your site that will need frequent updating? You’ll need someone who manages the updates without being prompted by you.
- Do you blog or post regularly and need an active partner to schedule them for you? You’ll need to look for a website manager who messages regularly for your content.
- Are you a self-proclaimed math whiz but aren’t sure how to put ideas into words? Having a content writer on their team may be the peace of mind you needed.
Unless you have a minimalist and static website that never gets updated and a barely-there presence on the web, consider a company that offers a smaller monthly or yearly retainer. However, keep in mind that Google algorithms LOVE new content, and an expert design agency may advise you otherwise.
Questions to ask your potential future website management company
- Do you have a designated content writer?
- Do you perform regular backups?
- What type of security do you employ to prevent spam and hacks?
- What is your turnaround time for content changes?
Questions to ask yourself after RECEIVING the bid
- Do they have an eye for design?
Take a look at their portfolio. Does it mesh with your style? - Do they possess a fair understanding of internet technology, hosting, and domain registration?
You would think this goes without saying, but in your RFP ask for their recommendations and compare to see if they know what they are talking about. - Do they have the ability to update and backup the site?
They should! - Will they advise me and push me towards staying modern, or are they comfortable and complacent?
Don’t hire a pushover—you won’t see results. Find an agency that you think you’ll mesh with and can form a partnership with. - Will they advocate for my business and treat me more than a number?
Do they have a follow-up proposal for you that would include a maintenance plan or retainer? How many projects are they currently taking on in your proposed timeframe?
Sometimes it really does come down to that gut feeling. If you find yourself with a little FOBO (fear of missing out) that may be the sign you need to sign with the designer.
You also need to understand why you are hiring someone to offload this work to in the first place. A good designer will be an expert and advocate for you.
Trust their judgment. Trust your gut & don’t forget to contact us.
