4 Reasons to Outsource Web Design if You Own a Small Business
- October 6, 2023
- Zaktualizowano 31 Sierpnia 2023
As a business owner, you probably have enough responsibilities, and designing a website doesn’t need to be one of them. Discover why and how to outsource web design services.
You’ve understood that having a website can grow your small business. Now, you’re ready to take the plunge and build one for yourself. But how do you go about it? Should you create a website yourself or maybe outsource web design services instead? Since your approach can determine your website’s outcome, it’s a decision that demands careful consideration.
Explore four main reasons to consider outsourcing web design. Also, learn the cost impact of building a website independently and how to outsource web design effectively while staying within budget. Finally, discover the different web design outsourcing options available, including free web design services by WAcademy interns.
Designing yourself vs. outsourcing web design services: 4 main reasons to outsource web design
Not every small business has the luxury of hiring a full-time web developer or an in-house web design team to bring their visions to life. For many small business owners, outsourced web design is the ideal solution to creating a professional and effective online presence.
If you’re unsure whether outsourcing web design is the right choice for you, here are four reasons to help you decide.
Reason #1: Your budget and resources are limited
If your budget is limited, hiring full-time web designers or a web development team is financially impractical and unsustainable. Your expenses must cover salary payments and staffing benefits, including health insurance, annual leave, training and more. This can strain your financial resources and divert funds from other essential aspects of your business.
On the other hand, using an outsourced web designer or web design agency allows you to access the necessary design expertise without the expense of hiring a full-time in-house designer. You can work with outsourced professionals on a project-based or hourly rate agreement. That way, you only pay for the specific services you need and can allocate your budget more efficiently.
In addition, international outsourcing provides access to a vast pool of talented designers across the globe, enabling you to save money on currency rate differences and obtain quality work at a competitive price point.
Reason #2: You don’t have web design expertise
As a small business owner with a busy schedule, adding a web project to your list of responsibilities may not be the best course of action. If web design isn’t your primary area of expertise, it’s best to leave it to those with specialized skills revolving around web development and design.
Web projects require diverse skill sets, including visual design, interaction design, coding knowledge and user experience optimization. Proficiency in design tools and programming languages may be essential, and these core competencies take time and dedication to master.
Without the necessary knowledge, attempting to design your website yourself through a trial-and-error design process can quickly lead to frustration. A smart approach is to delegate the design and development process to professionals with a proven track record of delivering high-quality work.
When you outsource website design to specialists, you can free up your time and energy to focus on what you do best – running your business.
Reason #3: You want a top-notch website
In today’s digital landscape, your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. Complex websites that are difficult to use and navigate can leave a negative impression and cause visitors to seek services elsewhere.
On the flip side, a well-designed website that ensures a user-friendly experience can give a positive, lasting impression, encouraging visitors to stay longer and explore what you offer. When you utilize a web design outsourcing service, you can work with qualified professionals and get a website that is easy to use and optimized for conversions.
Web design experts stay up-to-date with the latest design trends and understand user interface principles, composition, layout, colors, fonts and other critical web design aspects. As a result, they can make informed design decisions that ensure your website is tailored for achieving business objectives.
Reason #4: You want a faster turnaround
A web design project involves many tasks – from design and development to market research and competitor analysis. When it comes to web designing, a tight schedule can distract you from your core business activities and cause your entire project to drag on indefinitely.
Working with a website design outsourcing partner allows you to tap into the speed and efficiency of professionals who are well-versed in the intricacies of web development. For example, a web design company may have different designers and developers supporting various aspects of your project requirements simultaneously, accelerating the workflow.
With focused efforts, you can speed up the entire design process and meet tight deadlines. This becomes especially crucial if you want to revamp an existing website and minimize downtime to your core business operations.
4 popular web design options
Now, let’s discuss what designing a website yourself involves and the several options available for outsourcing website design.
Option 1: Designing websites independently
If you choose to build your website yourself, you can leverage website builders like Wix or Squarespace. These tools offer a range of pre-designed templates that you can customize using a drag-and-drop functionality. Without coding or technical expertise, you can pick a template that suits your needs and edit it by adding your content, images and branding elements to create a website.
Using web builders requires an ongoing monthly fee payment for as long as your website is running. While the initial monthly payments for using website builders may seem reasonable – typically in the $20-$30 per month range – these costs accumulate over the years your site is running.
In the long run, the total amount spent on maintaining your website through a builder could significantly exceed the costs of other design methods. Moreover, as your business expands, you might outgrow the capabilities of a website builder, necessitating migration to a custom-built website.
Therefore, while website builders offer a DIY approach to creating a website, you need to consider your long-term business scalability and cost implications before settling for this option. Also, do not dismiss the fact that templated websites are never going to offer a unique edge.
Option 2: Outsourcing web development and design to freelancers
Small business owners seeking professional web design services can outsource their web design projects to independent professionals, such as experienced freelance web designers.
Outsourcing web design work to a qualified freelancer can get you a website that aligns with your business objectives. However, it’s essential to consider the potential drawbacks of this approach, especially if you have a limited budget.
Hiring a freelance web designer can be costly, with prices typically ranging around the $1,000-$3,000 mark for a specific website design project. Web design costs can vary based on the complexity of your website design and the expertise level of the freelancer you choose.
Additionally, finding the right professional web designer can be a time-consuming process. The hiring process involves posting a job ad, reviewing applicants, organizing interviews and negotiating terms that work for both parties. While working with a freelancer can offer excellent customization and personal attention, you will need to carefully assess your financial capacity before proceeding with this option.
Option 3: Outsourcing to web design agencies
Partnering with a web design and development agency is another way to outsource web design work. A web design outsourcing company can typically offer an in-house design team with access to such professionals as web developers, project managers, SEO and marketing experts and copywriters. This diverse skill set allows agencies to offer a comprehensive solution to establishing an online presence.
With a full team at your disposal, you do not need to worry about finding separate experts to create graphics for your website, craft copy for your website pages or handle other web design aspects. Of course, since a design agency can bring a wealth of expertise to your project, their services typically come with a hefty price tag. Depending on the size of the project, you can pay anywhere from around $5,000-$10,000 per project or more.
Needless to say, many small businesses with tight budgets will find working with agencies unaffordable. So, before working with web design agencies, carefully evaluate your budget and assess whether their fees align with your financial capacity.
Option 4: Outsourcing to web design interns
An often overlooked option for creating a professional website on a limited budget is outsourcing web design to web design interns. As they are in the early stages of their careers, beginner web designers are often eager to gain real-world experience and showcase their skills.
For the opportunity to build a professional web designer’s portfolio and establish themselves in the industry, emerging talents may be willing to work at reduced fees or without compensation.
Regarding this option, concerns about quality control might be a consideration for business owners. However, interns often bring fresh perspectives, creativity, innovative thinking and a deep understanding of current design trends to the table. Their enthusiasm and dedication brought forth by interns can result in a website that not only meets your needs but also stands out in terms of originality and flair.
If you need help finding motivated and talented interns for your design project, consider joining WAcademy. Our EdTech company specializes in training web, graphic and UX design interns and matching them with projects from small business owners.
WAcademy web design services: Full customization meets tight budgets
Small business owners aiming to create an impressive online presence without breaking the bank can outsource website design services to our talented WAcademy interns, who are enthusiastic, motivated and ready to bring your vision to life.
Our interns are driven by the opportunity to gain real-life experience and build their portfolios. This makes them a valuable resource for small businesses seeking high-quality website design without the usual hefty price tag.
Once you register for your spot at WAcademy, we verify whether our interns can support your project’s scope. If they can, a project manager matches you with a trained intern who works hard to ensure a swift turnaround by delivering the first draft of your website in just 20-30 business days.
With WAcademy, you do not have to compromise on quality or customization. Our interns can design a unique website tailored to your business needs. In the end, you not only get free web design services but also play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of web design professionals.
Ready to take advantage of our free website design services? Click the button below and register today.
