Unfortunately, there are certain preconceived risks about website designers and companies; some are true, others are false, and some are unseen but there are certain risks to using website designers over a marketing firm. Disclaimer: I am not bashing all website designers or companies, there are really good ones out there.

1. You Get What You Pay For

I feel that this is one of the little known risks of selecting a website designer over a marketing firm. If you are paying very little, you should expect a simple process that usually ends in a simple website. The designer will ask you what sites you like. They will “take your order” by collecting content from you. And they will build a site using your exact content. If you would prefer a marketing-spin put on your content and website, from edited “call to action” content to “obvious next step” design, use a marketing firm instead of a website design company.

2. No Communication

I have heard many horror stories regarding lack of communication from a designer or company. I have a buddy in IT whose previous referrer completely disappeared and all of my buddy’s client’s websites started to shut down. The web designer’s phone was disconnected and he no longer worked at his main place of employment. Many clients over the years have shared that the “web guy” does not return phone calls or emails, and that it was refreshing to be able to contact me and see me out-and-about in public.

3. Cookie Cutter Websites

Along the lines of You Get What You Pay For, several website companies use template based website tools like Wordpress, Drupal, or other pre-designed system that allows the template to change to modify the colors and some of the functions of a website. This results in cookie-cutter websites that look like everyone else’s.

4. Oversight

Many web designers work for themselves, meaning that they work alone. Working solo is not always a bad thing however, it eliminates the ability to have another set of eyes review a project before it goes live. This can increase typographical errors and website function errors.

Again, I am not saying that every web designer or web design company acts in the above manner, but there are enough to label these things as risks. Be sure to research your “web guy” carefully, check references, and look and see if their work is what they portray it to be (custom-designed vs. template-based). And when your budget affords it, consider a marketing firm over a web design company to ensure that your message is impacting, your investment encourages buyers toward a purchase, and you are able to review measurable results.

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Brockwell Bone is the founder of Bone Marketing, a full service marketing firm based in the City of Central, Louisiana. Since 2000, Bone Marketing has provided clients across the nation with quality yet affordable marketing solutions. For more information, please visit www.bonemarketing.com.

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