Getting a new website is exciting and often a nerve wracking time for small businesses.  You have to input quite a chunk of money before you see any results, and with poor execution, a new website can end up being a bit of a disaster.

It is vital that you do your research before booking any designers to create your site.

Location

do you want your website design team to be in a location nearby, or are you happy for them to be fairly remote, or even in a different country? It is perfectly possible for you to get a great website made by people who are not nearby, and these can often be better value for money than those within your city (London is a prime example!).

Styles

Check the designer portfolio before you commit to them. If you see that all their designs are pretty samey, or a bit dull, you might want to look elsewhere! You want your website to truly reflect you and your brand, not the design capabilities of your web team.

Price

Finally, agree on a price BEFORE you sign on the dotted line.  Chances are there will be some additional bits and bobs which need charging for at the end, but if you have a written agreement on the overall cost of the web build, you will invariably stick to this price.