The reasons for hiring a professional web designer are the same reasons as hiring any other professional. You want someone who is knowledgeable in design, user experience and usability. The designer should be able to understand the needs of your clients and translate them to an online experience. As such a professional web designer will create a site that not only meets your needs but also the needs of your customers.

I’ll Just Get Joey From Down the Street

With the advancements in WYSIWYG editors, open source themes and the multiple books on websites, HTML is becoming a household word. Elementary schools have even started showing students how to develop their own web page. It is no wonder why so many people are calling themselves designers. So, Joey from down the street might be an HTML whiz. But what are the chances he knows how to properly create a user interface. Or how to leverage your site to enhance your current marketing and business goals. What about assisting you in determining your site’s purpose?

You Do Have a Purpose?
You have a site for a reason. Or if don’t you need to. Having a site for the mere fact that you have a site no longer is a legitimate reason. What purpose will your site serve? What benefit would your customer receive from visiting your website? Who are the users that will view your site? A professional designer can help you answer these questions as well as, establish goals and objectives.

Web professionals understand the fact that with so many choices of sites out there your site must stand out. It must also speak to your customers. Establishing a purpose will result in a better designed site. Leaving a lasting impression with your customers.

Even more so a web designer will help you establish a purpose for customers to come back to your website. Each time you get a customer to come back you will establish more mind share than the time previous. And so on.

Study Your Competitors

So now that a purpose has been established it is time to create the look and feel. One of the best ways to get started is take a look at your competitor’s sites. Make a list of things that you like about the site, feel work well, or things that you feel don’t work well. Your web designer should also research your companies’ competition. Challenge the designer to make your site better then what is out there already. Be it a more professional look, better usability or more functionality. Whatever the case maybe you want your designer to make your website better than that of your competition.

The Big Issue

As with anything cost is a driving factor in most company decisions. It will come as no surprise that Joey from down the street will create a site cheaper than a trained professional. But what will the end result be? How well will the site reflect your company?

Customers are quick to judge the book by the cover, so to say. If your website isn’t up to par chances are good that your potential customers will leave before they go any further than the home page. If they get frustrated or discouraged by your website, it won’t leave a very good message about your company. This result could end up costing way more than the cost of a professionally designed website.

Not Intentionally Bad

No one intentionally designs a bad website. And I’m sure that a Joey from down the street somewhere has designed a gorgeous, functional and well-structured site. Chances are however, that you will get a better ROI if you go with a professional designer.