Avoid recruiting the wrong web design agency for your physical therapy web design project. Hire the best hands using the down-to-earth tips discussed in this guide.
The two problems every physical therapist faces when hiring a web design agency are:
If you want a world-class website, your best bet is to hire a web design agency with a team of experienced individuals that functions perfectly as a team. You don’t have to break the bank to attain this feat. All you need to do is follow the steps discussed later in this guide.
While hiring individual web designers on Fiverr or Upwork is cheaper than agencies, a team of professionals across different fields is usually more efficient than one web designer. Plus, there’s more to web design than making a website and linking it to the domain name.
In a web design agency, some professionals handle UX design, frontend and backend development, art director, photography, web development, creative director, and project management.
No matter how many “how to” articles you read on web design, there’s a high probability you’d make many costly mistakes when designing your first website. Such errors can cost you time, money, and customers.
With the abundance of online website builders like WordPress, Wix, GoDaddy, and Weebly, you might be tempted to go the DIY route. However, there are some traps you might fall into as an emerging web designer, such as:
We understand you have a limited budget, but if you love your brand, you wouldn't want to create a substandard site. The best route is to be patient until you have enough money to hire a reliable web design agency.
A web design agency takes the web design process a step further. They help with website structure, content creation, website maintenance, branding, and SEO optimization.
Of course, the roles of the agency will depend on your agreement with them. However, they should be capable of the above-mentioned roles.
A website design agency that is filled with only web developers is incomplete. The major reason any business owner would want to hire an agency instead of one person is to ensure that all aspects of website building are fulfilled, like SEO optimization and branding. They would also normally provide ongoing management for these services.
A standard web design agency should have the following individuals.
A case study is an extensive report that breaks down the client's problems and how the agency solved them. In a case study, every claim is backed by data and research.
After going through their report, visit the sample sites provided by the agency. If 5-10 sites look the same, then that's an indicator that the agency treats every illness with the same medicine. That's not a good thing.
Why? Every brand is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all web solution for all brands, even if they are in the same niche, medicine.
The second red flag to look out for is the lack of a proven track record. Hiring an agency that cannot provide evidence of its expertise is the same as gambling.
The qualifications of its members are of little use if they have no team experience that makes them stand out.
When going through an agency's portfolio, ensure that the companies they worked for are well-stated and verify that they are real companies. Also, you can check the reviews of the agency on the platform where you discovered them, e.g., Fiverr, Upwork, Linkedln, or Facebook.
Having wide experience in several industries sounds cool, but you should be invested in finding an agency tailored to solve your problems.
A web design agency with a great deal of organizational intelligence and knowledge in physical therapy is more valuable to you than one with experiences in other fields.
The challenges linked with physical therapy are unique and require a professional web design agency that has worked for many successful physical therapists.
In addition, if your business goal is to gain ground in your locality, you must find a web design agency with experience creating web solutions for local markets. The opposite is true for the global market.
If you have no idea how you want your website to look, whatever the agency offers would seem cool to you. On discovering better designs in the future, you would wish you had known better earlier.
Your business goals will determine what type of website fits you. Websites widely used in different industries include eCommerce, business, portfolio, membership, community, startup, consulting, informational and non-profit websites.
A website can be designed to serve as a/an:
In general, a good website should not confuse the users. It must be easy to use and explore. The fonts should not be too small to read or too big.
The icons must be simple, branded, and relatable. You cannot use icons that users do not understand or aren't familiar with.
Also, safety is essential for every website. Web design agencies encrypt sites with HTTP protocol and SSL certificates to protect clients' data.
As we mentioned earlier, ensure you check their sample sites' responsiveness when going through them.
A responsive site adapts and offers great user experience regardless of the device or screen devices it's being accessed with. For instance, a responsive site can seamlessly adapt to a mobile, desktop, or tablet view.
You can ascertain the responsiveness of a site by following the five steps below.
CMS is the acronym for the content management system. It is a software application used by designers to initiate, manage, and launch digital content on a website with ease. It is an essential web design tool that no web design agency should lack.
It is not advisable to hire agencies that lack CMS.
The digital world is sporadic and fast-changing. The web formats that were the rave of the time in 2013 are irrelevant in 2023.
Old heads are experienced but outdated web designers who are allergic to change. They stick to outdated web designs and become furious when you ask them for revisions. They are no fun.
Being current is not just about knowing the latest designs; it's also about the ability to incorporate new features into the designed websites that allow them to function in the modern world.
Online review platforms can save you from hiring the wrong people. Even though these platforms can be manipulated, you can always use your discretion to filter fake reviews.
Based on the factors we discussed earlier, we assume you know what a web design agency does and what to expect from a standard one.
Coupled with your taste, you should now be able to communicate your web design needs to a web design agency.
The rate of response to an email or call also counts. Any agency that seldom responds will stress you after they've been hired.
Don't forget to ask for their portfolio, case study, and sample sites during the interview.
We’ve spent over three minutes detailing the deliverables you can expect from professional web design agencies. This is the part where we discuss what they can expect from you.
Aside from your brand mission and website goals, you need one more thing – money. Your money will “decide” the number of roles the web agency will perform.
In addition, you should note that most web agencies have readymade website packages divided into various tiers. The more the budget, the better the outcome.
Before conducting an interview, you should have a rough estimate of how much you’re willing to spend on web design.
We understand that money might be a major constraint. However, with the aid of this guide, we believe you know what to expect from a physical therapy web agency and an individual web designer.