Eight things to ask a Web Designer

Do not contract a Sarasota web designer whose websites are built using old school HTML table layouts. Web design using HTML table layouts became obsolete in 2006. Unfortunately a large percentage of Sarasota website designers still use these obsolete coding techniques, which hinder search engine visibility, reduce browser compatibility and are difficult to update. Tableless CSS based web design is the modern standard and is especially relevant if search engine ranking is important to you.

PHP/MySQL web application logic is the status quo for modern website development. If your Sarasota web designers use alternative web application logic, such as .Net, ASP or Cold Fusion, your website will cost more in regards to software and hosting, have limited to no compatibility with other Internet applications, and will be lacking in overall performance. PHP/MySQL is by far the most common web design application logic, and is utilized by the world’s top websites, such as: Google, Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo, Wikipedia, and WordPress.

Modern websites are much different than the old school static HTML websites of the past two decades. Sophisticated CMS software, or content management system, such as WordPress, is the status quo for web design in Sarasota and abroad. A CMS is a PHP/MySQL database application framework in which your website is built and powered. CMS software like WordPress allows the website owner to login from anywhere in the world and add/edit/delete text ontent, photos, videos, calendars, etc. WordPress in particular, is the world’s number one website content managent system, as it has built-in search engine optimization and with the easiest, most user friendly content editing interface of any CMS. WordPress also possesses unlimited scalability and power with an advanced software plugin architecture. WordPress is updated more often than any other CMS, usually every quarter, so a WordPress website owner can always be on the cutting edge of Internet technology.

Search engine optimization is not part of the web design process, and is thereby rarely included in a web design quote. However Sarasota web designers should take SEO into consideration during the website design process. To do that a Sarasota web designer must be fluent in the complex methods and techniques of search engine optimization. Sarasota web designers who use WordPress have the automatic advantage of WordPress’s built in search engine optimization friendly architecture.

Your Sarasota web designer should have thier own website, populated with plenty of website design samples, as well as links to live Sarasota web design projects they have completed. A Sarasota website designer should have client testimonials posted on thier website, as well as references that you can contact to inquire about the Sarasota website designers quality of service.

Do not contract Sarasota website designers without signing a written contract. A web design contract protects you, the client, and helps to insure that you are satisfied with your website design investment. A Sarasota web designer contract should include the following:

• A simple summary of the overall web design project.
• A detailed inventory of the tasks and items to be performed during the web design process.
• Where the website will be developed, either your hosting server or the web designers hosting server.
• The timeline of the website design production, usually a range, like 30-60 days.
• The cost of the web design production, as it pertains to the defined tasks and items. The cost should be a single dollar amount quote, as well as an hourly rate should the client request new tasks or items that were not previously defined in the contract. This way, you the client, knows ahead of time what the costs are. It is standard industry policy to for Sarasota website designers to collect a %50 downpayment of the quoted price prior to beginning the website design production. Never pay the web designers down payment until you have received your copy of the website design contract, whether it be emailed via PDF or delivered in person.
• Any add-on functionality that may not be part of a standard website design production, such as content management system, photo gallery software, audio and video player software, calendar and/or scheduling software, email contact forms, etc.
• Costs and/or subscription fees for any additional services that are not part of the actual website design production, but you as the client may want; such as website hosting, search engine optimization, SSL security certificate, etc.

Make sure your Sarasota website designer is actually located in the United States.

Besides the fact that it takes jobs away from Americans and damages the United States economy, contracting a foreign web designer introduces unavoidable complications.

• You cannot meet with them in person, and you’ll have to wake up at 3am to talk to them.
• If you are lucky enough to reach them by phone, you may have difficulty understanding them.
• It is difficult to confirm their credentials and references.
• Your website will most often be hosted on a server located oversees, which may introduce poor website performance and frequent website outages.
• Quality may suffer, as with most other industries that outsource to foreign countries.

Make sure your Sarasota website designer does not use foreign contractors.

As with the previous item, this practice takes jobs away from Americans and damages the United States economy. And because contracting a foreign web designer introduces unavoidable complications, your Sarasota web designer may have to cover up for the foreign web designers mistakes and delays. A Sarasota website designer who outsources your website production to foreign web designers, doesn’t know who is working on your website. They don’t know whether the foreign website designers are qualified or reputable. They do know that the foreign web designers are extremely inexpensive, which in turn results in a very significant profit margin for your Sarasota web designer.