Let's face it, New Zealand as a nation are pretty much into the belief that we can DIY our way into anything, often on the smell of an oily rag, and with a real number eight wire philosophy. However if you are planning to have an excellent online presence then you are going to need help with your web design.

For the same reason it's best to get a mechanic to look at your car, or a electrician to wire your home, it's best to use experienced and qualified web designers to make you and your business look good on the web. There are so many factors to investigate, and it's relatively simple to miss out something important such as placing text in a certain place, choosing the colours to use and even thinking about usability.

As Kiwis we like to do things ourselves, but we also know that things change and we therefore don't want to lose control of our websites. For this reason it's important to find a company that use an easy to understand content management system which allows you to change content and images as you need to update your own site. If you don't have this it is simple to rack up thousands of extra dollars over the years by having to get the company to change every little thing as it crops up.

Web design in New Zealand has a good reputation for being easy to read, and engaging to the reader. If you are trying to select the right company for you, one of the best places to start is by looking at their portfolio or testimonials page, which should be accessible online. This can show you what sort of companies and businesses they have worked with before, and whether the web design styles they have developed are compatible with what you have in mind.

You also want to feel that you're working with a team of web designers who can talk to you in your own words and not use too much jargon, as this will leave you feeling as though you aren't sure what you have signed up for. The key is to be as clear as you can about what you want, and then trust them to deliver it. Then you'll end up with a website you are proud to put your name to.