As a web design provider on LinkedIn’s ProFinder service, I’ve noticed many entrepreneurs, marketing directors, and established business owners have an unrealistic expectation about the time it takes to design/redesign a website. Requesting a website design within two weeks (the typical LinkedIn timeframe) or even a month is a rookie mistake and tells a professional web designer:
- You don’t view your website as a vital part of your business.
- You don’t have a purpose, vision or strategy for your site.
- You don’t understand the amount of work required by you or the designer.
- You don’t care how your customers will interact with the site.
Entrepreneurs, engage a design professional at the start of your venture, not in the middle, and certainly not near the end.
A professional designer can provide valuable insight into more than visual elements. They can create a brand strategy, craft an effective identity, and define your target audience. They can advise you upfront about scope, schedule and cost requirements to visually execute your product or service across multiple platforms and mediums. They will save you a lot of money in the long run by helping you avoid common branding and design pitfalls.
Website design and development is increasingly complex. Give yourself and your designer months, not weeks, to create a site or you will be dissatisfied with the results. Engage them throughout the startup process, keep them on retainer after your launch, and inform them of business strategy shifts that may impact your brand online.
Want to learn more? Read the professional association for design, AIGA, Client’s Guide To Design.