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What you need to know before selecting a Website Design and Development Agency

November 8, 2024

Choosing the right website design and development agency is a big decision for any business aiming to establish a strong online presence.

An optimised and well-designed website can propel your brand, attract customers, and drive sales, while a poorly executed website can lead to wasted resources and lost opportunities.

To ensure you achieve the best results, it’s essential to be informed about what to consider when selecting the best web agency to collaborate with for maximum online visibility.

This article will explore key factors to keep in mind, to avoid facing unwanted challenges due to poor agency selection, and highlight why Known Design is the first choice for website design and development in Cape Town.

It’s good to do your own research and learn from the mistakes that other brands made when starting out.

  1. If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is!
    We’ve helped local brands that made the mistake of selecting a low-cost agency based on a quick turnaround promise.

    The website they received was built with a visually unappealing WordPress template and lacked essential intuitive features.

    Customers struggled to navigate the e-commerce site, leading to a significant drop in online sales.

    After a disappointing year, the client had to invest additional funds to create a new SEO optimised functional website, which caused delays with their official launch and took them over their estimated budget.

  2. Flashy design is not always best.
    We received a desperate call for help, after another client chose to work with a competitor agency that focused on flashy designs but neglected SEO optimisation.

    The website looked good but was not indexed properly by search engines, resulting in low visibility and poor traffic.

    After months of stagnant growth, the company realised they needed to start from scratch, incurring further costs and delays in reaching their target audience.

  3. Avoid losing your rankings!
    We received the usual ‘Please Help Us!’ call from another local established brand that wanted a new contemporary, mobile-friendly website to improve their Google rankings and grow their brand by enhancing their digital footprint and attracting new customers.

    They initially selected an agency that promised innovative ‘customised’ design but delivered a site that was created with a standard page builder.

    The site was cookie-cutter, looked like every other template website out there, and was not optimised for mobile devices at all.

    As a result, they experienced a drop in foot traffic and online orders after losing their domain authority and previous rankings.

    They were also forced to invest more funds to resolve the issue and enhance their online presence with a brand new custom built website that that worked hard for them.

  4. SEO Research is not just a nice-to-have
    Don’t rush to launch your website with an agency that has little experience working with clients in your industry.

    You might get stuck with a website that is cluttered and difficult to navigate, leading to a high bounce rate.

    The lack of essential features, such as a Blog or even something as simple as a client testimonial slider can undermine your credibility.

    You want to avoid wasting precious time and resources to regain lost trust and customer engagement.

    Your partner web agency should do the standard SEO Research before starting to design and develop a bespoke website that is built around the SEO research results data (The data never lies!)

  5. If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is!
    Never go with the cheapest option for your website redesign.

    We recently helped a new client that worked with an agency that produced a site that was slow to load and was not optimised for Google’s Core Web Vitals.

    The end result was not optimised for mobile and was difficult to navigate.

    They ended up with a website that lacked essential key features like an online booking system, various call to action buttons and user-friendly responsive design.

    Unfortunately they experienced a decline in appointments and customer inquiries.

    We created a professional new customised website that was optimised within an inch of it’s life.

    Needless to say, the end result was positive and we have another happy client.

These examples highlight the risks associated with inadequate research and the selection of a web design agency that don’t follow standard practices. Failing to invest time upfront can lead to costly mistakes and lost opportunities.


Five Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Web Agency

1. Portfolio and Case Studies
Why it matters: A strong portfolio is crucial for assessing an agency’s capabilities and understanding their design style and experience across various industries.
What to look for: Review their previous work for diversity and quality. Look for case studies that demonstrate how their design improved client outcomes, such as increased traffic or higher conversion rates. An agency that showcases successful projects is likely to deliver results for your business.

2. SEO Expertise
Why it matters: SEO is essential for driving organic traffic to your website. A beautifully designed site that doesn’t rank well in search engines will not serve your business objectives.
What to look for: Inquire about the agency’s approach to SEO. They should integrate SEO best practices from the outset, including keyword research, on-page optimisation, and mobile responsiveness. A knowledgeable agency will ensure that your site is built to attract and retain visitors.

3. Communication and Support
Why it matters: Effective communication fosters collaboration and ensures that your vision is accurately translated into the final product.
What to look for: Evaluate how the agency communicates during initial discussions. Are they responsive and attentive to your needs? A good agency will maintain regular communication throughout the project, providing updates and seeking feedback to align the project with your goals.

4. Technical Expertise
Why it matters: The technical skills of the agency’s team directly impact the quality, functionality, and security of your website.
What to look for: Ask about their technical capabilities, including the programming languages, content management systems (CMS), and development tools they use. An agency that stays current with technology will build a site that is robust, secure, and adaptable to future changes.

5. Post-launch Services
Why it matters: A website requires ongoing maintenance and updates to stay relevant and effective. An agency that provides post-launch support shows commitment to your long-term success.
What to look for: Discuss their post-launch services, including website maintenance, updates, and performance analytics. An agency that offers these services will help ensure your website continues to meet your business needs as you grow.


Why Known Design is Your Best Choice
When it comes to selecting a web design and development agency in Cape Town, Known Design stands out for its commitment to quality and client satisfaction. We have established a reputation as leaders in the industry.

Our Awards and Recognition
We are proud to have received several international website design and development awards, including:


Client Testimonials
Our clients consistently express satisfaction with numerous excellent five-star Google Reviews that highlight our friendly services, personal attention to detail, out of the box creative solutions, and professional ongoing support.

Our ultimate goal is to grow with our clients over the long term.

We want to celebrate your success over time, and vice versa.


Selecting the right website design and development agency is essential for achieving your business goals and establishing a strong online presence.

By being aware of the potential pitfalls and understanding what to look out for, you can make a more informed decision and avoid these common mistakes.

At Known Design, we prioritise your success and are committed to delivering high-quality, results-driven websites that are custom designed and tailored to your unique brand requirements.

Our expertise in design, website design and development, and SEO ensures that your website will exceed your expectations.

Invest wisely in your online presence – partner with Known Design and let us help you build a website that works hard for you, and stands out in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

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