For those not wanting to tackle the project of creating their own website, there is one big decision; web design company vs freelancers. Notice we say freelancers, plural, as opposed to freelancer, singular. Let’s delve into that seemingly simple word difference, and more, to help you make the best choice.
A Few Things to Consider
Before jumping into the pros and cons of each option, take a moment to think about your situation. Do you have a big budget, but tight deadline? Are you running closer to your margin than are comfortable with, but a website isn’t time sensitive? Do you have experience with project management or really want to be hands on? Or are you completely open to outside ideas and opinions? Or did your business partner simply look at you one day and say “we should really have a website”? Maybe you have an existing website that needs an upgrade and refresh.
Be sure to have a few things in mind before approaching a designer such as budget, any existing logos, fonts, or images your company already uses, and questions! You’ll want to check reviews and references before hiring anyone. It’s perfectly acceptable to request an initial consult to see if your personalities and ideas mesh before putting any money down.
Freelancers
It is rare to find a freelancer that specialises in more than one area of web design. This means you may find yourself playing project manager with several freelancers to get the results you want. That being said, freelancers tend to work at a lower rate than large companies. So let’s take a closer look at what hiring freelancers offers.
Pros
- Dedication to you- Many freelancers, especially new ones looking for positive reviews, only take on one or two projects at a time. This means quicker response time for any communications you may send and more focus on perfecting your website.
- Only 1 point of contact- That might not sound too exciting, but knowing exactly who to go with an issue saves valuable time. It also keeps clear the vision for your site as there aren’t people relaying messages or misinterpreting instructions.
- Lower fees- Because freelancers don’t have the cost of a large office space, they tend to have lower fees. For budget conscious customers, this is the real selling point.
Cons
- It’s hard to say “no”- For every freelancer with a low client load, there is one who just can’t say no. If you end up with some who already has eight or nine projects in the works, your website could end up low priority. Especially if you are a new client.
- Only 1 point of contact- Yes, this is both a pro and a con! In instances of sickness or emergency, there is no one else to work on your website. This means what should be a quick turn around ends up going on for months.
- Fewer resources- Working solo can mean there is less equipment for testing and there is no one to bounce ideas off. Also, there is a good chance that they will only have one specialty which means you will need to coordinate different elements of your website between several freelancers. For busy people, adding project manager into the mix isn’t an option.
Web Design Company
Big design firms have headaches of their own, but obviously they became big and successful for a reason! With employees for every task related to your website from coding to SEO, they keep everything in house. Of course, there are pros and cons there, too.
Pros
- A team of experts- While a large web design company could have hundreds of clients at a time, they have the people power to handle it. And they have a reputation to uphold. So rest assured the work will be top notch.
- The perfect person for the job- At large web design companies, you may have a point person for every phase of your website. This means you can speak directly with the person in charge of every aspect of your design, content, etc.
- Only 1 bill- Rather than trying to wrangle with payment to multiple freelancers, you will simply pay the agency for the entire process. This is perfect for people who hate the headache of bookkeeping and don’t want to be billed at different steps along the website designing process.
Cons
- Too many cooks can spoil the broth- An entire team can be wonderful for bouncing around ideas and smooth collaboration. However, it can also end in stalemates within the team or team members asking you to choose sides.
- A person for every job- At large web design companies, you may have a point person for every phase of your website. Which means things can get muddy, confusing, and lost in translation. It will be up to you to ensure the message is clear with every team member.
- What exactly is on the bill- A big agency with a big building and a big staff makes money through higher fees. Including nickle and dime-ing some things that a freelancer might consider part of the package. Be sure to clearly communicate about fees before signing a contract.
So where does that leave you on the web design company vs freelancers debate? You’ve seen a few of the positives and negatives of both, but there is a third option; smaller web design companies. Smaller company equals smaller fees. Even better, they still have the capabilities of large firms without the massive client load. Is it the best of best worlds? Why not contact us for a quote and decide for yourself?
