Web Design Agency vs Freelancer: 5 Reasons Web Design Agencies Are Better
Article by J.C. Yee & Miguel Santico
Graphics Design by Ryan Maverick Rivera
The Philippines is a country where companies typically have conservative attitudes towards money and where websites are usually taken for granted. Filipino companies are always looking for ways to save money. And for this reason, they would rather engage web design or graphic design freelancers instead of professional web design agencies.
However, being stingy when it comes to something as important as a website that will push their business forward might not be the wisest thing to do. Unbeknownst to these companies, there is actually an array of benefits that web design agencies can provide for them that no freelance contract can ever give.
Web design is a whole profession unto itself that requires appropriate training, knowledge of the latest trends, as well as an in-depth and technical understanding of how websites and the industry work.
The belief that creating a website only requires someone who has a good touch with graphics is uninformed. So when a business chooses to engage a freelancer only to save money and resources, they are putting their website and brand at risk.
Some companies might just be so tight-fisted that even if they know about the power of a good website, they still refuse to invest in one. Others, though, might not be aware of this power. Nevertheless, it is important for a business not only to know but to understand how a good website can help them thrive.
Below are the reasons why hiring a web design agency when planning to have a corporate, custom, and especially eCommerce website is a hundred times better in the long run. Each point also explains why hiring a freelancer to do the work is highly likely to spell disaster for your company.
1. Professionalism & Credibility
One big difference between web design agencies and freelancers is the working hours. Clients can only expect freelancers to work or reply during their free time, and because of this, there is no consistency.
A web design agency, on the other hand, is comprised of professionals that you can expect to work and attend to your needs during business hours. They have a consistent working schedule where time is devoted to crafting exceptional products that their clients will surely benefit from.
They put a lot of time and effort into understanding your business because they know that your website is a representation of what kind of company you are. They follow a systematic process to tackle not just the aesthetics in creating your website, but every aspect of it.
Gotafflair’s process, for instance, starts when a client avails of their services through Sales. The Sales consultant then refers the client to a Project Manager who works closely with Copywriters, Designers, and Programmers to ensure total coverage of all the necessary elements that make an engaging website.
Having a smooth and systematic process is essential, but there is more to it than that. It is a good work ethic that makes the process work. Professional web design agencies take their projects seriously and work hard at them.
They know the importance of their work and they hold themselves to a great sense of accountability because they know what they can provide for business: more opportunities.
Freelancers, on the other hand, might not have this same sense of accountability and could just turn down and stop responding to a client in the middle of a project. They might not see the responsibility they have when they are entrusted by businesses with work that is valuable and fundamental to those businesses’ success.
Related: 10 Factors to Consider in Choosing a Web Design Agency
2. Efficiency
Compared to freelancers, web design agencies are composed of teams who collaborate for fast turnaround and response times.
It is hard to imagine that an individual freelancer can carry out a project that takes a team to complete. For example, some websites may require copywriting. If a client goes to a web design freelancer, then they would also have to look for a freelance copywriter which would take more time.
If instead, the client engaged a web design agency, they would have been privy to a professional in-house copywriter who can deliver the contents that they want for their site. This easy and necessary access to a copywriter would have made the project run more smoothly without any unwanted delays.
This easy access isn’t limited to just copywriters. Alongside them are expert web designers, graphic designers, project managers and programmers that clients can rely on when they engage a web design agency.
Equipped with the right facilities and tools, they work hand in hand to complete a project in the most efficient way possible so they can deliver it on or even ahead of time.
3. Reliable Expertise
Creating a website is not a task that can be done without the complete and right knowledge of web design fundamentals.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and mobile responsiveness, for instance, are crucial to a website. Search Engine Optimization is how a website shows up on Google search and is a key component in letting people find it on the internet and mobile responsiveness is how well a website runs on a mobile phone.
These are just two examples of fundamentals that web design agencies have extensive knowledge of. They know that these can make or break your audience’s user experience and that their experience with your website will greatly affect how they feel towards your brand or business.
It is their job to have powerful web design knowledge and to be experts in tools and software that are essential in web design and development. They are well-versed in techniques so you can expect them to provide customized services that suit your unique needs and that they will always stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies.
Meanwhile, freelancers have knowledge that is limited. They might be able to make a website look good through design, but they won’t be able to unlock its full potential as a web design agency can.
4. Support
Web design and development isn’t a one-time thing. The internet is always changing and evolving, and if a website doesn’t have enough support, then it will fall behind.
That’s why web design agencies provide long term end-to-end support from sales, project management, design, programming, and after-sales. Beyond the web design packages that they offer, web design agencies provide months or even year-long complimentary maintenance services.
As opposed to freelancers who can just walk away once they’ve been paid, they have a dedicated team of customer service or after-sales professionals who are ready to accommodate any concerns that you may have.
For example, should search engine algorithms change, clients will experience difficulties in adjusting their website because they are no longer in contact with the freelancer who built their website. If instead, they tapped a web design company that is capable of supplying the proper support, then updating their website would have been a breeze.
To give you a more concrete idea, Gotafflair helps clients avoid having to go through the pain of not knowing how to update their content as they provide Content Management System (CMS) training for clients’ newly launched websites.
More than just making sure a website doesn’t fall behind, support is what allows it to be a constantly improving tool and medium.
5. High Return on Investment
Web design agencies make websites that are designed to generate leads, conversions and attract sales because they know that it is not just about making a website look good – it is your 24/7 salesperson.
They know just how important a website is and they commit themselves to make your website stand out, be visible on search engine results pages and attract potential customers for your business’ growth.
When you engage a freelancer, who is likely to be focused only on making your site look appealing, just to save money, you are ignoring the opportunities that a proper website can yield. This ignorance which might save you money now will prove to be detrimental to your business in the long run. Nobody buys a beautifully covered book with no pages in it.
At the end of the day, engaging a professional web design and development agency will deliver a high return on investment as they are able to provide your business with a powerful resource: the fully functional website that you need. They produce not only a beautifully designed tool but also one filled with substance and purpose.
We are Gotafflair, a trusted team of web design and development experts
As a trusted web design and development agency in the Philippines, Gotafflair is home to a team of professional designers, copywriters, and programmers that are always ready to deliver the best for our clients. Our fruitful collaboration has led us to provide qualified services to thousands of projects, and we intend to do the same for you.
Allow us to handle all your website development needs. Contact us at 798 8195 or email us at sales@gotafflair.com for a free consultation!
