Outsourcing web design services, whether that means hiring a designer on Fivestars or another site like it, an individual freelancer, or an entire team of virtual designers, can be a confusing process.
There are so many factors to take into consideration when making this decision. How much work do you have, and how much time do you want to invest in the project? Do you trust yourself enough with visuals and knowledge of what your website needs to handle in order for the virtual designers to understand your ideas? Will you need their services again in the future, or is this just a one-time thing? The list goes on!
Outsourcing anything can be tricky, but outsourcing web design services may seem even more challenging. Fortunately, there are some things that you can keep in mind before making that final decision to make sure it’s worth it in the long run.
Shop around for a few different quotes
This one is a no-brainer, but it never hurts to shop around before making a final decision. You may not be able to get quotes from all of the remote teams, but you can at least get a few from the ones where you feel most comfortable. If you are working with an individual, you may not have the luxury of comparing multiple quotes.
However, taking the time to shop around for the best rates can save you a lot of headaches in the long run. While you don’t necessarily want to focus on the lowest rates, you do want to make sure you’re not being taken advantage of.
Decide how much you’re willing to pay up-front
This is something that you don’t want to rush. While you don’t want to spend hours upon hours on this, you do want to put enough thought into it to ensure that you’re getting the best deal that you can. When hiring an individual, you’ll want to put a little more thought into this than if you’re hiring an entire team.
When hiring an entire team, you’ll want to look at a few factors. How long has the team been in business? Are they an established team? What types of clients have they worked with in the past? What are the team members’ specialties? How much do they charge per head? What do you get for your money? All of these questions will help you make a well-informed decision that you can be proud of.
Hire based on portfolio and communication alone
If you have a particularly large job that you’re outsourcing, you may want to hire someone based on portfolio alone. You may not have worked with an individual long enough to know how they work, how they think, or if they can handle the job.
If that’s the case, look at their portfolio and make sure you’re happy with what you see. If you can’t find anything on their website, ask the person if they have a portfolio and if they can put it somewhere where you can easily find it. Make sure you’re comfortable with the work that you see. If you’re not entirely sure what you’re seeing, ask questions.
Ask to see work in progress along the way
This is a great way to make sure that you’re getting what you want. If you’re hiring an individual, you might not feel comfortable asking for work in progress. However, if you’re hiring an entire team, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting what you’re asking for.
If you decide to hire an entire team, you’ll have the option of hiring a team with a dedicated project manager. You can ask that project manager to see work in progress so that you can make sure that the team is on track. You can find out if they’re getting stuck on anything or if they’re having any issues with the work in progress.
Conclusion
Hiring a remote team can be a wonderful experience. You can get access to designers and developers who may not be able to find work in your area. You’ll also have the opportunity to hire people who may not be able to work in your area due to disabilities. If you’re outsourcing, you want to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth in the long run.
You don’t want to hire someone only to find out later that they don’t do quality work or that they’re not willing to work with you. When hiring for web design services, make sure you shop around for quotes, decide how much you’re willing to pay, hire based on portfolio and communication alone, and ask to see work in progress along the way. These are just a few things that you can keep in mind when outsourcing.