Good strategy to get multiple quotes, but the key is in how you compare them. You’ve contacted several web design companies, presented them with your needs, and now you have two, three, or four web design proposals in front of you.
They may sound similar, but they are definitely not the same service. Comparing them as if they are the same service, however, can be costly for any business looking to build a new website.
Here’s how to compare web design proposals side by side so you can choose the service based on value, not presentation or price.
Standardize Your Request
To compare web design proposals, you must first compare the requests made to each company. Were your needs presented differently to each company?
Were some companies asked to provide a quote while others had to answer many questions? A quote derived from many questions is likely to be much more accurate than one derived from only a quick five-minute phone conversation.
A good web design company should ask about your target audience, business needs, branding, content, desired functionality, and technical requirements before providing you with a quote. If the company skipped these steps and provided you with a quote anyway, then you should be careful, as this quote is likely to be inaccurate.
Related: Should you retain web designers?
Build a Comparison Framework Instead of Comparing Prices
If you didn’t present the same needs to each company, then you must go back to each company and ask them to read a standardized written brief before you compare their proposals.
The biggest mistake made by business owners when comparing web design proposals is to compare the final quote, or the bottom line.
Skip the guessing and instead develop a simple comparison matrix and evaluate all quotes based on the same criteria. A simple set of criteria might look like this:
Deliverables and Scope
- – What number of pages are included?
- – Is it a custom design or based on templates?
- – What features are included (contact forms, booking systems, live chat, e-commerce)?
- – Is copywriting included, or is this part of my responsibility?
Technical Foundations
- – What platform/CMS is being used to build the site?
- – Is mobile responsiveness included?
- – What are the page speed and performance guarantees?
- – Is SSL configuration part of this package?
SEO Setup
- – Is structured data/schema markup part of this package?
- – Is URL structure optimization part of this package?
- – Are meta titles and descriptions part of this package?
- – Is Google Analytics and Google Search Console setup part of this package?
Project Process
- – What number of revision rounds are included?
- – What is the approval and sign-off process?
- – What are the project milestones and project timeline?
Post-Launch Process
- – What kind of support is included after launch and for how long?
- – What are my options for future changes and updates?
- – What are my options for domains, hosting, and code ownership?
By using this matrix to compare quotes, it is much simpler to understand pricing differences and why one quote is significantly lower than another.
Examine What Is Not Included as Much as What Is Included
Veteran business owners understand that it is often as important to understand what is not included as it is to understand what is included.
A quality quote from a reputable Kuala Lumpur website designer should be comprehensive enough that you do not have to ask questions about the obvious.
If you are unsure if mobile optimization is part of this package, if there are any additional costs associated with hosting, or if SEO is part of this package, then it should have already been addressed.
Common omissions to watch out for:
- Content creation – Quotes often assume that content creation is included. If not, it may be an added cost to factor in.
- Testing and quality assurance – For a professional website, it is essential to test it on various browsers before it goes live. If not mentioned in the quote, it is best to ask if it is included.
- Redirects and migration – If migrating from an existing website, it is essential to map all the redirects to maintain existing SEO rankings. This is usually not included in the basic quote.
- Training – Will there be a walk-through on how to update your website after it has gone live?
- Third-party licenses – Some premium plugins or fonts may require an additional cost to be paid annually, not included in the quote provided.
A web design agency Kuala Lumpur-based that covers all of these aspects of website design Kuala Lumpur-based demonstrates professionalism. If a quote provided to you has more questions than answers, it is an indication of how they work.
Evaluate the Proposal Itself
The actual proposal document is similar to the agency’s working style. It is one of the best measures to gauge the quality of your working association.
Some questions to ask:
- – Is it customized to suit my business, or does it look more like a standard template with my details filled in?
- – Does it reflect that they have actually gone through my brief and understood my requirements?
- – Is it easy to understand, or does it contain ambiguous terms and phrases such as “cutting-edge solutions,” “seamless user experiences,” and similar marketing jargon?
- – Is it presented with a project timeline and milestones, or is it just a flat fee with no details on how it is being calculated?
- – Does it look like it has been put together by a professional website design agency in Kuala Lumpur, addressing my requirements and issues, and explaining their solutions to my problems?
The fact that the agency has generic proposals means that they treat each and every client the same, which means they will not be giving your project the attention it deserves.
Review Portfolios with the Same Critical Eye
Every agency will want to show you their best work. Your task will be to determine if their best work is appropriate for your needs.
When reviewing the web designer KL or website design Kuala Lumpur agency portfolios, consider the following:
- Industry — Have they worked with businesses like yours? For example, if you are looking for a professional website, don’t be impressed if their portfolio consists of mostly online stores.
- Live sites — Check each item in the agency’s portfolio. Do the sites work and are they fast? This could be a sign of an agency with poor work ethic or one whose sites are no longer functional.
- Variety of designs — Do the sites look like they were designed individually, or do they all look the same? Each website should be custom designed to fit the client’s unique brand.
- Content Quality: Is the content clear and professional? A good digital marketing agency is concerned about the whole user experience, including content.
Jakob Nielsen, the famous usability expert, wrote extensively on web design and user experience. He found that users make their first impression about the site in just 50 milliseconds. This is not just about the look and feel; it is about the performance of your business.
The portfolios should convince you that the chosen digital marketing agency understands this.
Assess Communication Quality Before You Sign Anything
Communication style is the best indicator of how the digital marketing agency will work with you.
Some signs to look out for:
- Did they get back to your initial inquiry quickly and professionally?
- Did they ask good, relevant questions about your business?
- Were they eager to explain their process and pricing without becoming defensive?
- Do they want to schedule a call or meeting to discuss your needs extensively?
- Do they follow up without becoming pesky?
A good web designer Kuala Lumpur will work with each and every potential client with the same respect and care they would want for their own business. If communication appears to be slow, cold, or transactional before the contract is signed, chances are these dynamics will only continue and perhaps worsen once the project has commenced.
Understand the Web Design Contract Terms Before You Commit
The proposal and the contract are two different documents, and the contract is the one with the legal implications.
Before committing to any web design Kuala Lumpur agency or web developer KL, ensure you understand the terms and conditions of the contract, which include the following:
- – Ownership: Who will own the website, the code, and the intellectual property rights after the project’s completion and the payment has been made?
- – Payment terms: What are the payment terms and conditions?
- – Revisions: How many revisions are included, and what happens if additional revisions are required?
- – Cancellation: What happens if the project has to be canceled?
- – Liability: What happens if there are any problems after the website has been completed and launched?
Any good web design company in KL will be more than happy to provide you with a clear and fair contract. Don’t be afraid to read through it and ask for clarification on anything that’s confusing to you. This is your investment, and protecting it is only reasonable.
The Final Decision: Price in Its Proper Context
After all the other factors have been weighed and measured, price enters the equation as just one more variable.
In other words, the question is no longer “What’s the cheapest quote?” but “What’s the best value for what my business needs?”
In some cases, that may mean paying a little more up front for someone who has a more thorough process, more references, and clearer terms.
In other cases, the middle quote may be the most balanced solution after all.
In only the rarest instances will the lowest quote be the best solution for your business.
Selecting the right web design company for your needs is one of the most important decisions for your online presence. Take the time to compare and choose the web design company that earns your trust, not just the company that asks for the least.
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