Proliferation

Jun 02
0

Fiverr, Freelancer, or Fusion: Who’s the Best Pick for Your Site Design?

By | web development, website design | No Comments

There are a lot of ways to get a website built. You can build one from ones of those janky site builders or hack one together on your own with WordPress and a $90 template. For a lot of small businesses in Utah, that might seem like a solid web development decision, but for those who want to stand out, it ain’t gonna cut it.

The best thing you can do is build something fresh from scratch. If you want to stand out among millions of businesses from Utah to Ukraine, it’s the only option you have. The question is, then, who can make it happen?

A lot of businesses are tempted to use freelancers, and several websites have popped up over the last few years that promise to set you up with a professional to get things done. But can they make the cut when it comes to web development?

Fiverr

Fiverr allows you to buy five dollar services from experts. The catch, of course, is that five dollars will usually just get you a quick fix on an existing website. Building something from scratch probably isn’t really feasible. For getting small, quick changes to what you already have, Fiverr might not be such a bad idea, but proper web development for your Utah business? Nah.

Freelancer

Freelancer connects you with an expert or experts who can complete an entire web project. You post information about the job, the scope, and your budget, and wait for someone to pick up your assignment. The trouble here is that while you can pay Freelancer to help you find people, you may not be totally certain about their skill set, ability to understand your needs and so forth. Finding a reputable, experienced freelancer can be a challenge through services like these.

Fusion 360

The awesome thing about hiring an agency for web development (particularly one based near you in Utah), is that you can find one with a proven track record and one that has lots of work samples. An agency such as Fusion 360 has a much, much more hands-on approach as they get to know your brand and we offer supplementary services outside of basic protocol. Content, video production, custom imagery and more are all things we can provide in addition to just the site design.

Ultimately, it’s up to the individual business whether it’s worth it for them to go the inexpensive route and risk being frustrated with a dull site, or find a firm that can deliver the killer digital properties they’re really looking for in a web design.

Apr 07
0

The Alpha and Omega of Web Development

By | Utah, web development, website design | No Comments

Although almost every Website is different (or should be), the basics of the Web development process stays relatively similar. From the beginning phases of planning and gathering information through the end steps of development, testing and delivery, the Web design process involves several integral processes.

Research and Information Precedes Design

An appropriate amount of research must be done before the design process can begin; inadequate background information could result in a haphazard end product. As perhaps the most important aspect of the Web development process, research involves several different tangents. Before design and development can begin, the purpose and goals of the project must be completely designated. Is the purpose of the site to provide information? To sell a project? What are the goals of the site? After these items have been finished, you can identity your target audience and specify the type of content you want on the site.

Create a Design for Your Target Audience

After the initial planning and research phase is complete, it’s time to move onto the design portion of the Web development process. Perhaps the most important aspect of this step involves creating a design for your target audience. A retail site developed for younger audiences will have a much different design approach than a site targeting a financial planning audience. Whatever your target audience may be, your web design process should adequately reflect who you’re targeting.

Develop and Test for Different Browsers

Development immediately follows the design phase. Typically, the home page is designed first, immediately followed by an outline for interior/subpages. This template harbors the main navigational structure for your site — including the site map, page navigation and CTAs. After the development phase is complete, it’s time to move on to the testing and delivery phase. Before a site goes live, your Web designer will test the functionality of the site to ensure that all forms and scrips are functioning correctly, and will also test compatibility issues. This critical testing phase is done to ensure that the site can be viewed properly across a large range of different browsers.

Nov 16
0

5 Things to Look for When Hiring a Web Designer

By | website design | No Comments

So, you’ve decided it’s time to take your business to the next level by way of a new website. Perhaps this is a first-time project or you’re simply seeking to improve the overall professional look of things—either way, you’re going to need to bring a talented website design specialist or agency onboard to turn your creative vision into a reality.

That said, with so many candidates, how can you filter through all the noise and find the perfect website design guru for your particular needs? Relax—though somewhat intimidating, the process needn’t be a confusing one. Cling to the following five points and you’re bound to see success:

1) Thoroughly Investigate a Designer’s Portfolio

During the time in which you’ve been running your business, you’ve probably been tasked with the recruitment of new talent. Obviously, résumés are a major part of this process. You take a look at a résumé and, if things check out, you bring a potential employee in for an interview.

Seems simple enough, right?

Well, as far as the field of website design is concerned, though how impressive a potential creative looks on paper is important, what really matters is the portfolio. Sit down and take the necessary time to thoroughly review a designer’s portfolio before offering a formal contract.

By so doing, you’ll have a decent idea as to what the end result might look like should you extend an offer.

2) Check Out Each and Every Reference

Instead of waiting around for a website design expert to magically appear, be proactive and surf the web to find a site that you admire. Using a business’ contact page, reach out and ask for a name or two as to who might be able to help you with your new project.

When done this way, you become substantially more effective with your search. Essentially, you’re in control and aren’t left at the mercy of what craigslist can produce for you. Once you’ve found a couple with whom you feel comfortable, ask for a few references and—here’s the shocking part—actually check them out.

Do your due diligence. This is by far the best way to avoid any unpleasant surprises when it comes time for a project to begin.

3) Discuss Where Your Site Will Be Designed

There’s never an exception to this rule—always ask where the development, design and coding of your website will take place. Sure, more than likely, you’re more concerned with who will be taking care of your website than where it will be built. But, if the location is neglected, you could very well find yourself in a world of hurt when an emergency arises.

Imagine hopping online to check out how things are going with your new site and having the ever-dreaded “HTTP 404 Not Found Error” thrown in your face. So, what do you do? You pick up your cell and call your designer.

If he or she is working in India, your phone call will go unanswered due to the time difference. While certainly an outlying situation, this sort of thing happens more often than you might think.

4) Be Upfront About Deadlines and Budget

In any sort of working relationship, whether it involve website design or not, it’s best that mutual understanding takes place before a project begins.

Providing more information about this important tidbit, says Travis Bennett, managing director at Studio Digita, in an interview with CIO.com, “When discussing your project with an agency [or designer], make sure you’re clear on the scope of what will be delivered, the amount of changes you can request, what’s required from your side to provide and the timeline for work to be produced.”

That way, in the end, nobody’s disappointed. So, during your hunt for the ideal website designer, be upfront about both the budget you’re working with and the timetable for what’s to take place.

5) Ensure You Are the One Who Owns the Design and Content

Just because you’re paying an ad agency or website design wizard to build you a custom-made website, doesn’t mean it’s legally yours.

In fact, while looking for a designer, you’ll need to make certain that the person or entity who’s taking on your project is willing to sign over all intellectual property rights.

If you bypass this step, when—and if, mind you—it comes time to sell your business, you could have a hard time bringing in the investment capital you deserve. More often than not, this isn’t an issue. If it is, look elsewhere for help.

Yes, the process of finding a talented, reliable website design professional can be a tedious task. But, when it’s all said and done, if you take the time to do things right, you’ll be more than satisfied.