Graphic & Web Design, What Does The Client Want?

OK guys, I do both graphic design and web design (to an extent, I am not a coder or developer, but a designer) so would love to know what is most important when going for a new designer.

Obviously credibility and affordability are major factors.

But although some companies seem to offer a great deal on the money, they may offer an inferior service, and although some seem credible, via fancy sites that promise the world and page one of Google, they are not all they crack up to be.

How do you decide?

Testimonals?

Portfolio?

Local company?

Recommendations?

Examples of work?

Demo of work?

Friendly, "Hands On" conversation & support?

I guess everyone thinks differently, but would love to hear some things on this, as any way I can improve my business to clients, potential clients, would be a great bonus.

Any opinions welcome!

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Web Design Portfolio | Social Media beats SEO

HI Kip
in answer to your question all of the above and most of all no BS.
Mark sure that your services page lists in detail what you do.
I have interviewed about 10 dev companies now and the most of them are cowboys.

What knarks me the most is having to call them and then get this half hearted limped wristed answer.
for example.
Stav: do you do SEO
Dev: Sort of
Stav: Sort of???
Dev: We do soft SEO
Stav: Soft SEO???
Dev: Well we design the site to be SE friendly but we dont do full blown SEO
Stav: So you dont do SEO then
Dev: Sort of
Stav: WTF

Click phone down end of conversation.


DONT BS be truthful and concise on what you offer.

P.S. while I am ranting if you dont go your graphic design in house fine but
find a stratgic partner whose work you know and can trust to deliver the goods. manage the relationship yourself as the last thing your customer
wants is the GD you recommended to disapear mid creative consultation with no real answer as to why he is is MIA as you will look like a complete *** then.


Thanks for that post KIP I needed to get that off my chest lol

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JobsVitae.co.uk - CV Builder - Jobs Blog

Haha, is that the rant over now then?

I confess SEO is not in my tool of tricks, still learning and have my site front page now, but doing that for a client would take ages as I am still learning, in fact in a site just done for a mutual friend, there were a few things he was pointing out to me, some that I dont do till its finsihed and others that I have since added to my own!

Whereas all mine is inhouse (as design is what I a best at) the SEO thing is a learning curve, and I think something best done inhouse by the client, as the highest sites I know are all done by the owners, plus I am sick of seeing front page promises for a a few hundred a month, impossible!

Shall we keep the soap box out for a bit or get off of it

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Web Design Portfolio | Social Media beats SEO

For me, cost is secondary.

I need to see testimonials and a portfolio of previous clients. Is my site going to be a unique design that a designer will convey my thought process, or does the portfolio have a certain standard look and feel to it, which smacks of back bedroom template tweaking.

In theory, you shouldn't be able to reconise a designers work, because each one should be a different style and theme.

I agree with Stavros, SEO is a much bigger factor. In the old days, SEO was seen as a bolt on after the site was built, but nowadays it needs to be crafted into the design stage. Such as the postion of content, headers, any adverts. Stuff that moving afterwards will spoil the design. Thought needs to go into page structure, naming conventions, after all, page titles are the SEO number 1 and a bit of a pain to change retrospectively!

Post design SEO/SEM is where an SEO company gets engaged, and if the design is upto scratch, then it should be mainly leg work and off site, ie link building, article writing etc.

But also important to me is communication. If a project isn't shaping up as I imagined, then I need to be able to contact the designer, as well as try and articulate my thoughts. Most people engaging a designer are doing so because they can't do it themselves, so a good rapport and confidence that your designer understands where your coming from is essential.

Reminds me, I still owe you a testimonial!!

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cheers Steve
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Can you stick it here please Steve

Kip FX Design in United Kingdom ? RatePoint Reviews RatePoint

Like them better off site

__________________
Web Design Portfolio | Social Media beats SEO

'tis done

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cheers Steve
Forum Admin - teaboy and general gofer...

Forum Rules and FAQ's at a glance | Find me on Google+ | or even Facebook!

My Local Services - The UK and US Online Business Directory | JobsVitae - Recruitment Help and CV Creation

If you're here to spam, then expect a ban

Much appreciated, now I shall allow this to get back on topic!

Taken the feedback so far and looking forward to anymore, thanks so far guys, its how we get better!

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Web Design Portfolio | Social Media beats SEO