Don’t Send in the Clowns (Tips to Help You Avoid Sketchy Web Design Companies)

So you’re a small or mid-size business owner or marketing director and the challenging task of choosing a web design agency lies before you. Choose right and you’re in for a smooth, budget-friendly, exciting process that will help take your business to the next level. Choose wrong, and you’re in for a whole big world of hurt!

And the sheer number of agencies out there can make an already difficult task feel overwhelming – especially if you’re in the NJ & NY Metro area like we are. How do you know you’re talking to the right people? Well as a public service, we at Ascent would like to give you some pointers that we’ve picked up through long careers of witnessing bad things happen to good people.

Here are some of our favorite red flags to help you identify and avoid clown web design companies:

1. They don’t shave yet (see also: they live with their parents)

   Inexperience is guaranteed to lead to problems… that the inexperienced can’t solve.

   We’ve met and worked with many very talented, very young developers. We love working with them & love the creativity & passion they bring to the table. But that’s because we’re experienced and seasoned & we enjoy mentoring hot shot up & comers. They explain modern slang to us and make us listen to horrible music, and in return we teach them how to actually develop for the real world.

   You and your small business on the other hand, should not be the guinea pig project for a rookie’s first solo flight. You will surely encounter problems and challenges that the person won’t be equipped to solve, and you’ll be stuck – with wasted time and wasted money. We’ve even heard countless stories of immature, inexperienced, or overmatched web developers abandoning projects: “flaking out,” changing their number and disappearing, or just giving up and walking away when a challenge comes along.

   Make sure that the team working on your project has at least a few wrinkles & gray hairs mixed in. Gray hairs are the color of victory, and every wrinkle was earned by solving a problem. Make sure your agency’s team has the experience it takes to get the job done right.

2. They make you play by their rules

   While every agency has strengths & core competencies, and every agency will make recommendations for approaches they believe will be best, be wary if you’re presented with a fast food menu that limits you to only a handful of options. Some web design companies force you to pick from a handful of templates. Others force you into pre-fabricated package deals that really aren’t a fit. Some force you to use their proprietary software or hosting platforms, and you lose everything if you want to leave (YP.com, Wix, Squarespace, Thomasnet, Advance Media & Townsquare Interactive are a few of these bad guys).

   The fact is that a strategy that works for Company A may not be the right fit for Company B. So choose an agency who will truly put the needs & goals of you & your business first – and serve your unique needs rather than forcing you to slot into one of their generic, ill-fitting plans.

3. Their proposal doesn’t have enough detail

   A vague proposal means that you can’t be sure what you’re actually going to get. It also usually means that the web design company isn’t actually sure how (or when) they’ll actually get your project done. The less details are in your proposal, the more opportunities there are for a clown company to give you “the Joan Collins Special” #simpsonsref

   Fuzzy, unclear proposals are proof that the company hasn’t put any real thought into your needs, and hasn’t made the effort to form a recommendation that would truly address those needs. It means that they aren’t seeking your best interests, and it’s an indication that they don’t value a long-term relationship with you.

   Furthermore, a poorly defined scope of work can lead to overage fees you never expected, since assumptions about the scope are made on both sides. In worst-case scenarios, we’ve scene projects result in long delays, litigation, and even complete failures to launch while companies attempted to sort out these types of conflicts.

   If you’re not impressed by the thought, care, and level of detail contained in a company’s proposal, and it all looks vague and “canned,” pass on that company. Wait for the proposal that makes you say, “Wow, they thought of everything!”

4. They are going to charge you significantly less than their competition

   Put on a helmet, get in crash position, and brace for impact – because you’re setting yourself up to be disappointed by the quality, execution, and results of your project. A lowball proposal is a guarantee that the company doesn’t understand the real scope of work that is involved in making your web design project successful. It’s an indication of some combination of incompetence, desperation, intention to outsource, and the general dominion of evil.

   NEVER buy into a web design company solely on price. Most of the time, a small business owner does not represent the lowest cost provider in his/her own industry, and he/she usually takes great pride in the distinctions that justify their higher costs (most often, stressing their fantastic customer service). Yet too often, these same individuals will shop for the lowest cost provider for web design or online marketing services, ironically forgetting that you get what you pay for.

   The lowest bidder is a bottom feeder for a reason, and you’ll likely be throwing your money away.

5. They can’t (or won’t) tell you who will be working on the project, or let you talk to him/her

   One of the best questions you can ask any small business web design company is, “Who will be my designer (or developer, or SEO – or all of the above)?” If the company gives you the runaround, prepare to be outsourced!

   The simple fact is, outsourced “talent” is always poor talent. Even the best outsourcing providers are far inferior to the quality of developers that great agencies hire. Whether the company uses employees from Russia, the Ukraine, India, Argentina, or anywhere else – their staff simply don’t have the creativity, problem-solving skills, or initiative to produce high quality work. Remember – the driving factor behind outsourcing is that it’s cheap labor – work is performed by individuals who are paid very poorly. It’s buying from the lowest common denominator. Remember – the truly outstanding designers and developers in those countries are able to get better employment opportunities for better pay. So the folks working on your project won’t exactly represent the best & brightest.

   Take the threat of outsourcing seriously, and don’t let it happen to your website. If you want to serve your customers steak, don’t buy your beef from McDonald’s. Protect yourself by finding out who will be on your project, what role they’ll play, where they are, and what skills they bring to the table.

6. They have high staff turnover or low morale

   There are agencies out there, near & far, who are in turmoil. Falling apart. Toxic work environments. Problem employees. Roles they just can’t keep filled. We’ve heard the horror stories. We’ve even survived a few along the way. Heck, maybe you have to.

   You need to make sure that the team working on your project isn’t living a nightmare, and that there’s a minimal chance of continuity issues with the human resources on the team. So do your research.

   • Ask for recent references. Call the references, and in addition to the usual questions about professionalism and quality, ask the names of the folks who worked on their project. Do those people still work for the agency? Did they treat you well? Did they seem like they were well treated by their own company?
   • Visit the office. Does it feel right, or is there “something in the air?” Listen to the chatter. Is it positive? Are team members collaborating? How is everyone’s body language? Are there rolling eyes, slumped shoulders, or grumpy frowns? Pay attention to how the president/owner interacts with their team. Is there mutual respect, creative synergy, & good vibes?

   Don’t get involved with a web development company that has major internal issues or high staff turnover. You could end up being the collateral damage in their civil war.

7. They can’t show you any sophisticated or custom website projects

   That’s probably because they haven’t done any. A web design company that exclusively focuses on using plug & play components to churn out a string of run-of-the-mill websites hasn’t had to conquer any real challenges, and likely couldn’t conquer them if they had to. Avoid agencies that can’t demonstrate their serious chops.

   Make sure your web design company has a track record of successfully delivering a variety of challenging custom solutions – even if you feel your site is an easy one. It’s well worth choosing a web design company that can grow with you, so that you won’t have to part ways with because of limitations to their skill.

Let’s Review, Shall We?

Choosing the right web design company makes a huge impact – so don’t take the decision lightly. Do your due diligence and make sure you’re not considering any clowns.

At Ascent, we’re only limited by a client’s vision and budget – never by creativity or skill. We are totally focused on providing the best possible blend of great service & great skill, to get the greatest possible results. And we’d like to think that our pricing is so competitive that there is no reason to even consider sending in the clowns anyway. Leave them to their fellow carny folk. You deserve better. So give us a call @ 908.989.0577 or contact us today.