Whether you own a startup business and you’re planning to go digital or you already have an existing eCommerce website and you’re looking for ways to spice things up, it is most likely that you’re on a hunt for a professional web designer. After all, the web designer you will hire plays a crucial role in improving your online visibility and enhancing brand recognition. But with a large pool of talents easily available online, from freelancers to different web design agencies, choosing the right one for the job can be pretty confusing. The question “Do I hire a freelance web designer or a web design agency?” still remains.
Web design isn’t just about creating a platform that’s pleasing to the eyes and then launching it for the world to see. There’s more to it than just colours, fonts, images and layouts. In fact, there are many aspects involved in web designing. You also have to think of complex processes such as building a sound marketing plan and dealing with tedious maintenance. A freelance web designer and a web design agency may differ in terms of dealing with these tasks and the processes.
In this article, we’ll talk about how a freelance web designer and a web design agency differ by comparing the kind of service and expertise they offer.
Freelance Web Designer
Cost
One of the biggest differences between hiring a freelance web designer compared to a web design agency is affordability. Since freelancers do not work under management, they can set their rates and even offer flexible pricing. In addition, they do not have to deal with overhead costs such as employee salaries, office rent and software that are typically considered in a web design agency. Most often, freelancers charge by the hour so hiring them can save you quite a lot of money.
Although hiring a freelance web designer is generally cheaper than working with a web design agency, you also have to consider the kind of services you will need. The cost of hiring a professional web designer may vary depending on the type and size of the project you have in mind. For instance, if you are planning to launch a big project, most likely you will have to work with more than one freelancer.
Flexibility
Flexibility is one of the reasons why working with a freelance web designer is so popular nowadays. Freelancers have complete flexibility in terms of time and craftsmanship. Since they typically do not follow any regular work schedule, they have more flexible working hours. This can be an advantage if you are working on a limited time frame and you want to make urgent adjustments to some parts of the project.
Niche Specialisation
If you are planning to add a specific feature to your website such as banner animation, unique illustrations or video content, hiring a freelance web designer is the way to go. Many freelancers have specialised skills. Whatever you need, there’s always a freelance specialist who can do the job perfectly.
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Credibility
One of the major advantages of working with a web design agency is that they have credibility within their community and their industry peers. As such, they have a reputation to uphold. This gives you a guarantee that you are in good hands and you’re working with the right people.
Most reliable web design agencies commit to meeting deadlines and completing the project at all costs. They value their brand image, hence, you can expect they will do everything in their power to be the best in their craft. They won’t risk having negative words spread around about them, making them a more suitable choice.
Experience
Established web design agencies have years of experience behind them. They also have a team of dedicated professionals such as a web strategist, a web designer, a project manager, a web developer and a copywriter. Each team member offers a different skill set, hence, you no longer have to worry about hiring multiple people to complete one project.
Resources
If you’re looking for optimal performance, designing your website can be your best bet. However, dealing with web design especially if you’re building your website from scratch is a major undertaking. Fortunately, a web design agency can give you access to better technology and resources needed to complete the project.
The cost of hiring a web design agency comes with good software and advanced tools that can get the job done faster and more efficiently. Thus, saving you time, effort and money in the long run.
Choosing the Right Option for Your eCommerce Website
The right web design specialist may vary from one client to another depending on various factors such as budget, turnaround time and requirements. For instance, if you’re looking to add a new feature or simply make small changes to your website, hiring a freelance web designer can be the right option for you. If you’re looking to make an entire website starting from the ground up and you have the budget for it, opting for a reliable web design agency is the best way to go.
Contact us at (65) 8687 8143 or send us a message at hello@smmile.com for more details.
Chris Anne
Smmile is a Digital Marketing Agency in Singapore with over 10 years of experience in the industry.