The web has been around for approximately 19/20 years depending on who you ask. Let’s say for the sake of arguments, circa 20 years. Whilst the techies give us AJAX, Web 2.0, iPhone 3.0, Google Wave, the rest of us are still quite happy with web design 1.0.

If you work in the world I do, it can be easy to forget that not everyone is up on their internet jargon and very few people know how to build a good website. When I say “good” I mean it satisfies the following:

• Search engine optimisation – few people will see it unless they can find you on the search engines
• Online marketing – no one will find you if you don’t put yourself out there
• User experience – i.e. making it easy to use, getting what you need done quickly
• Plain English – well written, structured content which is easily readable
• Accessibility – ensuring anyone can access it, regardless of any impairment
• Aesthetically pleasing – not necessarily flashy, but pleasing on the eye, relative to your audience
• Built well - ensure code is up to standard and just as neat as the text on the user’s screen

This is not a definitive list, but it covers the fundamentals which can be applied to any site, big or small. This article focusses on giving the smaller business good web design advice.

There are many challenges that face the smaller business when it comes to building a website. The most contentious issues will be:

Budget

Generally, we don’t do everything for ourselves because we don’t have the time and/or knowledge. It becomes more frustrating when you have one and not the other, which is how I often feel! That’s why you might be looking for someone else to build you a website.

Once you’ve made this choice, the pivotal factor is budget. It’s likely that a small business will come with a small budget. That’s OK; you don’t need a big budget to get a good website. Remember that when you’re deciding on an agency!

So, getting yourself a website:

There are many talented web designers out there. Finding the right one is easier than you think:

Decide why you want a website – to sell, to inform or to show off? If it’s the latter, prepare to waste a lot of money for little or no return on investment.  If you want to sell your goods then this will demand a larger budget. If you own a shop, then my advice would be to stick to informing potential customers about your business and get them in-store rather than trying to sell online.

Remember you’re the client – be realistic about your budget and stick to it. Think about it like going into an auction, or to buy a car; know your limits. Search around online for local web design agencies with terms like “web design brighton” for example, and compare prices. Some won’t offer their prices straight up, but call or email to get an idea of what they might charge. Even go and have a chat; they’ll be happy to do so.

Be guided by the experts - let your agency guide you about the best solution for your business. Any agency worth their salt will want the best for you and your business. If you’re a small business and they start offering you e-commerce solutions costing tens of thousands of pounds, then walk away. At the same time be sure to listen to their advice and go with your gut instinct.

Check out their credentials – all businesses have to start somewhere, but you need to make sure your designer knows what they are doing. Ask for previous client examples, look at what they did for other clients and judge their work on your standards.

Selecting the right agency – chose a few which feel right to you. Meet the team, get a feel for their businesses and weigh up your options. It’s not always about price, as you need to work well with your agency to get the best result.

Choosing any agency/web designer is like any relationship; you have to get along and trust and respect each other. As they say in the dating game, there are plenty more fish in the sea so don’t settle for second best.

This post was written by Jeremy Jacobs, owner of The Digital Consultant