[Sandeep]

Hey Everybody

I am interested in find out the thoughts of a range of business people like the many on this forum on how they have gone about choosing their web/digital company?

As we all know everyone now days has a website, be it created by an established agency, a friend or even by your self.

The competition in the web industry is rife, so with so many companies out there, how have some of you set your criteria in choosing the company you have eventually gone with... what have been your experiences and by what metrics have you judged?

Looking forward to everyone's responses!

[zed]

why are you asking such a question on a web designers forum? why would a web designer be looking for an agency?

[Sandeep]

I did think of that but there are many agencies who contract out to other agencies, plus i assume there are also people on this forum who are searching for an agency to use.

[pandadoodle]

This sounds like a poor attempt of picking up work, i would not outsource or recommend a design company that can not even design its own website...

Quote

Copyright 2011 DigiDragonfly

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Designed by: Web Hosting Yes and Premium Wordpress Themes

[Sandeep]

Yep having used a template isn't a crime, especially if you are a start up company looking to cut cost, surely that's just intelligence?

[Sandeep]

And secondly, a poor attempt to pick up work? Gathering information on the impetus behind a choice is simply listening to the public. As for your comment, it's therefore highly valued, thank you.

[pandadoodle]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:12 AM, said:

Yep having used a template isn't a crime, especially if you are a start up company looking to cut cost, surely that's just intelligence?

LOLOLOLOL

So your a web design company and you cant even design your own site as you need to "cut costs" just another wannabee "agency" then?

I don't think you understand the market at all.

This post has been edited by pandadoodle: 10 October 2011 - 10:17 AM

[Sandeep]

well yes, many start up web design companies have used templates and gone on to expand them over time, its a quicker route to market, a template which gives you structure but not content... simply a reference point, don't you agree?

[roothost]

That's a new one! Why can't 'web designers' just design their own sites? Templates are meant for people with no experience to simply add text and images, not for so called designers to cut costs and try and be something they're not!

[pandadoodle]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:17 AM, said:

well yes, many start up web design companies have used templates and gone on to expand them over time, its a quicker route to market, a template which gives you structure but not content... simply a reference point, don't you agree?

No your talking a pile of s-hit. Your in a rush to enter a market you have no knowledge or experience do you look in the mirror every morning and talk your self up? Or need your mother to tell you how good you are?

[roothost]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:17 AM, said:

well yes, many start up web design companies have used templates and gone on to expand them over time, its a quicker route to market, a template which gives you structure but not content... simply a reference point, don't you agree?

No, not at all. All that does is promote the fact that you/your agency simply cannot generate your own work, so what could you possibly have to offer clients?

[roothost]

pandadoodle, on 10 October 2011 - 10:19 AM, said:

No your talking a pile of s-hit. Your in a rush to enter a market you have no knowledge or experience do you look in the mirror every morning and talk your self up? Or need your mother to tell you how good you are?

Is that copyrighted or can I steal that comment? lol

[Sandeep]

your portfolio?

[roothost]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:20 AM, said:

your portfolio?

Both are in the sigs....

[pandadoodle]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:20 AM, said:

your portfolio?

is not a template, correct

This post has been edited by pandadoodle: 10 October 2011 - 10:21 AM

[Sandeep]

BTW..I do appreciate the feedback don't get me wrong, always seek criticism and not praise as the saying goes

[pandadoodle]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:22 AM, said:

BTW..I do appreciate the feedback don't get me wrong, always seek criticism and not praise as the saying goes

BTW you will get more as other members start to read this post so thats good to hear...

[pandadoodle]

Quote

Digi Dragonfly is London’s newest and brightest full service agency for businesses wanting to establish or improve their online presence. We provide complete packages for design, set up and launching of ecommerce sites, WordPress blogs, forums, galleries, social media sites and more

How can you sell the above services if you don't even provide them for your own business?

May I suggest

Quote

Digi Dragonfly is London’s newest and brightest out sourcing agency for businesses. We provide 50% complete packages for design, set up and launching of ecommerce sites, blogs , forums, galleries, social media sites and more

[MikeChipshop]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:22 AM, said:

BTW..I do appreciate the feedback don't get me wrong, always seek criticism and not praise as the saying goes

My first comment is... create your own site!
Using a template is the first sign of a dodgy shunted together business that can't produce its own work. Would a photographer be allowed to use stock images in their portfolio? No is the answer.

[Sandeep]

For arguments sake lets say you are gaining clients and adding them to your portfolio as time goes on..and clients re happy with the service you provide, and you have the intention of revamping the site after a point depending on revenue/profit/targets ect..

Would you still not consider a company who has not designed their site but delivers good work? ( not getting defensive here just trying to get a outlook from the experienced members)

[zed]

you're still asking designers who run their own business whether they'd outsource. And I reckon most here wouldn't.

[pandadoodle]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:36 AM, said:

Would you still not consider a company who has not designed their site but delivers good work? ( not getting defensive here just trying to get a outlook from the experienced members)

If I could find someone who delivered good work (developer wise) id employ them. But If I wanted a designer no way would I even consider contacting them if they can't even spend a week or six focusing on making as much impact as possible on his / her owns web site.

Your in London, you can't get away with a template not if you wish to last more than 3 years or be taken seriously as a design / ad agency after 12 months templates don't cut it.

[MikeChipshop]

What it comes down to is that if you're an agency then you should be able to slap together a decent enough looking portfolio without having to resort to the use of templates from an outside source. If you're an agency specialising in web design/development then you already have the skills to get this done pretty damn quickly.
Also when a client comes to your site they WILL automatically assume it was built by you and no amount of small footer text will change that. We all know that, and i'm pretty sure you know that too, so in this way it seems pretty underhand of a web agency to use a template or anyone else's work.

Spend the next few days knocking up a portfolio, ditch the template and then come back here and i'm sure the members will be a lot less heated about it all.

To be honest, the template you've chosen isn't that great anyway and wouldn't it be nicer to have something bespoke for you?

[pandadoodle]

IF you want a bespoke template ill sort out out but you have to code it...

[MikeChipshop]

Oh and would i outsource?
Only to designers/developers who have a proven track record of good work and a good attitude, normally to dedicated people on here to be honest.

[Sandeep]

sound advise guys thank you

[MikeChipshop]

pandadoodle, on 10 October 2011 - 10:41 AM, said:

Your in London, you can't get away with a template not if you wish to last more than 3 years or be taken seriously as a design / ad agency after 12 months templates don't cut it.

In fact, the use of a template (as you've discovered here) is more likely to harm your business than increase it.

pandadoodle, on 10 October 2011 - 10:43 AM, said:

IF you want a bespoke template ill sort out out but you have to code it...

Haha but that's no different to using a template really.
Or did i miss the lulz?? :s

[Renaissance-Design]

In order to sell design you must understand the value of design. Design is not decoration, design is communication. Design is the process of visually enhancing the content - content comes first. A template does not know what the content will be, how it will be structured (besides the very broad generalities of "heading, some paragraphs, a menu").

A company selling design services is the last company I'd expect to see using a template. Are you planning to use a template for your clients? If so, I'd tread warily about using the word "design" in your service offering. "Providing websites" would be a better wording and one not likely to fall foul of the Trade Descriptions Act.

You can't sell design without a designer, so either learn before you practise or hire one, but be prepared to let your designer make decisions for your business that fall under the purview of his/her skills and knowledge. Like Andy Rutledge says, hire only people who are smarter than you and get out of their way.

[Sandeep]

I have to say, your site Panda Doodle is freaking insanely awesome

[oakleaves]

MikeChipshop, on 10 October 2011 - 10:44 AM, said:

Oh and would i outsource?
Only to designers/developers who have a proven track record of good work and a good attitude, normally to dedicated people on here to be honest.

That's a very good point Mike.

Sandeep, if you'd come on here and got involved, had a bit of banter, given the odd bit of carefully constructed advice here and there and showed us the odd piece of work (assuming it was good) you may have had people wanting to work with you and vice versa.

I like how you have taken the punches and kept your dignity (to be honest you did kinda get what you asked for here) just learn from it and I'm sure you'll do ok.

All the best

[Sandeep]

oakleaves, on 10 October 2011 - 10:52 AM, said:

That's a very good point Mike.

Sandeep, if you'd come on here and got involved, had a bit of banter, given the odd bit of carefully constructed advice here and there and showed us the odd piece of work (assuming it was good) you may have had people wanting to work with you and vice versa.

I like how you have taken the punches and kept your dignity (to be honest you did kinda get what you asked for here) just learn from it and I'm sure you'll do ok.

All the best

Thanks! : )

[pandadoodle]

MikeChipshop, on 10 October 2011 - 10:46 AM, said:

Haha but that's no different to using a template really.
Or did i miss the lulz?? :s

lol

Well no one would know I done it for a start mike and you would be surprised how many agencies are using my work at the moment...

[Sandeep]

Panda Doodle, mind if I PM you?

[rallport]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 10:17 AM, said:

well yes, many start up web design companies have used templates and gone on to expand them over time, its a quicker route to market, a template which gives you structure but not content... simply a reference point, don't you agree?

I can't disagree with that anymore that statement.

If you're pushing yourself as web designer then why are you using pre made templates - I mean what's the point?

I'm no designer, but a web design is there as a way to encourage conversions for a website. To get conversions, the site needs to effectively push/sell that particular product/service. I honestly don't see how a template can do this?

It seems totally pointless to me.

[rallport]

Sandeep, on 10 October 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

I did think of that but there are many agencies who contract out to other agencies, plus i assume there are also people on this forum who are searching for an agency to use.

This forum is full of designers/developments - I'm guessing a high proportion are freelance.

I honestly can't see why they outsource work to another agency. Designers, outgoing their design work out to other agencies. Developers outsourcing their developmwnt work to other developers.

It's insanity. You'll deluded if you think that's the norm