Online Graphic Design Buyer's Guide

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Online Graphic Design

Online graphic design purchasing advice

Wouldn't It Be Cheaper to Hire the Kid down the Block to Build Your Web Site?

Hiring "the kid down the block" certainly would save you money in the short run. If your goal is to publish a basic Web site with only a few pages and no special features, you might indeed benefit from paying a student or a novice to create your site.

For more advanced projects, however, cut-rate Web developers may not be able to do the job. Large Web sites require developers who understand how people will use the site and how best to set up the site's navigation tools. Scripting, multimedia and other advanced features can wreck a site if they aren't used carefully -- for example, a script that works perfectly on one user's machine might crash another's. Graphic design issues raise another challenge: It is surprisingly hard to prepare images that download quickly but still look good, or to select color schemes that make your site attractive and easy to read.

Don't forget your competitive situation. If your competitors offer sloppy, thrown-together sites, you've got a great opportunity to wow customers with a professional design. If you're competing against first-class Web efforts, can you afford to offer anything less?

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• Watch out for non-refundable deposits. Before paying upfront for services you haven't received, check industry practices and the company's reputation. And pay with a credit card so you can dispute the charges if Focus on what matters. Sales pitches can be rife with flashy features that obscure yoru company's basic message. Keep your focus on keeping things simple unless your company is in a high production values industry.
• Balance low prices with good service. Do not simply purchase the lowest price deal - seriously consider the quality of work ongoing service you will receive.
• Flesh out all the fees. Very attractive pricing that is asterisked with "additional fees may apply" should be thoroughly investigated before you sign up.
• Make the most of references. References can be a tremendously useful source of information about your potential vendor. Ask them specific questions about what works and doesn't work with the vendor. To ensure a similar experience, speak with businesses comparable to yours.