The number of companies offering professional web design services is astounding and can be quite overwhelming. Narrow it down by going straight to the heart of the matter – the portfolio. A gallery of sites created by the web design company should showcase its best work. Close scrutiny of the portfolio will give you an impression of the quality, style and content of sites created by the web designer as well as its market potential. Web sites should feature good design components, simple, user-friendly navigation and good search engine optimization. Your web design company should fulfill all these requirements. Please note that these are basic rules and there are always reasons to break the rules at certain times. Certain websites have different goals than others. Not every website needs to be optimized for the search engines.

[1] Basic Functionality:

Do you enjoy the ‘look’ of the site? Consider another portfolio if you find the layout abrasive or lackluster. The web designer isn’t going to satisfy your aesthetic needs.

Does it load quickly? Impatience is legendary amongst web users. The first page needs to load quickly and a good web designer will ensure it does.

Test the navigation. Browse the sites in the portfolio and search for information. Did you find it quickly and easily or were links obscure and unclear? If any sites lack clarity, think twice.

How flexible is the site? Your prospective clients have a variety of monitor sizes and visual acuity. If you change window sizes is the design hampered? Can you alter the font size? If you can, does it disturb the page layout?

[2] Searching the Sites in Your Web Designer’s Portfolio:

Search for the sites listed in the portfolio using the company name. If several other companies have the same name it may not be first on the list but it should be ahead of any with similar names. Search engines are vital tools that keep your company where the action is. If it’s a problem, talk to your web designer.