With so many design firms out there, how do you decide who to work with?
Building a website for your rentals is a big responsibility. You can’t skimp on your website because it defines your web presence and business. Creating a customized website helps strengthen the brand of your company, making a one-of-a-kind site that is tailored to your company’s needs.
With so many web design firms out there, how do you go about choosing the “right” firm for you? Patrick Camacho from 38 Media provided us some insight to how to picking a firm to design your rental website.
Tip #1: Identify what you need.
Before contacting web design firms or designers about building your website, figure out what you want, first. Determine the color scheme, the “style” (modern, contemporary, minimalist) and the general structure of the website. Don’t worry, these ideas won’t be set in stone – it’ll just give designers an idea of what you’re envisioning.
Tip #2: Pick a good designer.
Look for designers that have a portfolio with a style you like. “Don’t go to Craigslist,” Camacho warned. Good designers don’t need to resort to Craigslist for work, customers go to them.
“Go to sites like Dribbble.com, DeviantArt.com, or Sortfolio.com,” Camacho said. These are websites where designers showcase their work. Use one of these sites to find a professional designer that matches your preferences.
Tip #3: Understand their methodology.
Effective communication is crucial in the relationship you have with your designer. How do you figure out whether you’ll have good communication with a designer? “Figure out what their process is,” said Camacho.
Figure out how frequently you meet and how you will collaborate to build ideas off each other. See if they grasp the concepts of what your ideas are. If you and the designer envision two different things, then maybe you should seek a different designer. “Good designers won’t just take your ideas and echo them back,” Camacho said, “Firms with good designers will take your ideas and expand them.”
