When it comes to your website, design matters. You want a site that will catch the attention of viewers, but a really good site does much more than that. You can have all the flash and dash in the world but if your website isn't easy to navigate or leaves the viewer wondering about anything, it has failed. The key to making all components work is to hire an experienced web designer. Easier said than done? Check out our tips on hiring a web design company for your business or organization.

Know What to Look For

You may think they're all the same but there are a few key differences between web designers, web developers and Internet marketers. Web designers are experts at determining layout, graphics, text and navigation of the site, responsible for creating graphics, colors and fonts, says Forbes.com. Website developers pick up from there and write the code to actually implement all those components. Internet marketers focus on boosting traffic to the site through practices like SEO. However, these days, no one can take such a singular approach; therefore, oftentimes professionals in this realm will handle all of the above phases as one unit.

Reputation

Word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to find a web designer. In fact, Forbes says this is the single best way to ensure a good match: getting a recommendation from someone you know in the business. Why? The designer will have more incentive to do an amazing job, knowing he comes highly recommended by a friend or colleague. That accountability can spur the professional on, as he is aware you're in contact with his clients. On your end, you get greater confidence in the designer's ability to handle the task because he comes with glowing reviews from a trusted source.

Portfolio

Of course, this doesn't mean you don't have to go through all the other items on your check list. Always check out a potential web designer's portfolio. This is a collection of website designs the professional has created in the past, and consequently, this is where you'll know at once if a designer is right for you. If your styles match up, then move on to the next steps in your search.

Proposal

It's smart to get a written statement of work or proposal that outlines the entire process, from budget and timeline of project to the minutiae of what will go into your website. This document will outline exactly what the web designer will build so that everyone is on the same page from the get-go. It will include the objective of your website, number of pages, custom headers, image rotations, custom forms, image gallery’s; anything that will on the website from brochures and e-commerce tools to sign ups and selling tools.

Research

In your quest for the best designer, you can never do enough research. If you've narrowed down your search to one designer, don't stop there. Research their competitors so you can visually illustrate examples of your likes and dislikes. Once you've hit all these steps, you can be confident you're choosing the right web designer for your business.