10 Questions Architects Should Ask Web Agencies Before Hiring Them

Your website, and your ability to be found online, is crucial to your architecture firm’s survival. 

Prior to the Coronavirus crisis, many architects we talked with would tell us that they never get new business from their websites and that their firm's success is based on their reputation and working relationships.

While this may have felt true a few years ago, your website is now the first place most potential clients will go to learn about your firm, even when they are referred to you. Online client testimonials are the new word of mouth, and sharing your expertise on your site builds rapport with potential clients.

What purpose is your architecture website serving your firm?

How can you avoid the most common architecture firm web design mistakes? 

Start by hiring web designers who actually understand architects. A talented website design agency can create a stunning, fully-functional, search optimized, and engaging website that’s purpose built to draw in your ideal prospects and turn them into loyal clients.

But not all web design agencies are the same, so how can you tell if the firm you are considering is a good fit for you and your architecture firm? 

Keep reading for the 10 essential questions to ask when considering a web designer or agency for your firm’s website. 

But before we get to those questions, there is one question you need to ask yourself.

What Services Do You Need?

Before investing in a website design or refresh for your architecture firm, start by asking yourself, what do you want your website to achieve for your firm?

Consider spending some time making a list of the features, outcomes, and priorities that are important for your firm.

• Are you looking to attract more clients or new hires? 
• Do you want to improve or refresh your brand image or increase awareness?
• Do you want to show up in search results for the precise queries your ideal clients are searching for online? 
• Do you want to attract a specific type of client?
  
  

Most “web designers” only focus on the website design and development, and this is where a lot of architects make a big mistake, and, unfortunately, are disappointed. 

In order for a website to truly serve the needs of your firm, you need a web designer or agency with experience addressing the specific challenges you are trying to solve.

At Archmark, we have studied more than 550 architecture firm websites, so we know a thing or two about how to create the best website for your needs.

There are so many different elements to an effective website, you want to find a web design agency that can deliver more than just a good looking website, you want to find a partner who can help you meet your business objectives.

Make a list of your expectations and find an agency who can meet and exceed those expectations.

Now let’s get to those questions you should ask your potential website designer.



1. Do You Have Experience Working With Other Architects?

First, it's important to look for a website designer who is experienced working with architects and who understands the unique needs and interests of your industry and clients, and understands how your website needs to work for your architecture firm.

Ask how long they've worked in the industry. Finding a website design firm with specialized experience working on architecture firm websites will give you a serious advantage.

They'll have a better understanding of your target audience, the ins and outs of the architecture industry, and they'll know which design elements appeal to your audience. Meanwhile, they can also ensure your site stands out from other architecture firm websites.

Choosing someone with specific industry experience will give you peace of mind and put your website on track to working better for you.

2. What’s Your Process

Once you find an experienced web design agency, ask about their website design process. If they don’t have an established process in place of your project, it’s going to veer off-course. 

Think of it in the same terms as designing and building your own architecture project. When you don't have a set development process, that project is going to take longer to complete, cost more, and run into a lot more problems than if it had followed a proven process. 

Your website design team should learn as much as they can about your company, clients, and business goals. Without understanding your firm, how you work, what you do, and who you work with, they simply won't be able to deliver a website that gives you the results you need. 

Your architecture firm is unique. You deserve a website that's unique, too.

Web designers and digital agencies all work differently, but for the most part, they should follow a process similar to this:

DEFINE

Discovery: Asking questions and listening to your answers, and those of important stakeholders, like past clients, to get to know your business and goals.

Brand strategy: Brand positioning and messaging, and, if needed, brand identity, including logo design, color selection, typography, layout, and the design of visual elements.

Website Content: Writing website content and gathering all of the assets needed for your website (videos, photos, PDFs, staff bios etc.)

DESIGN

Website pre-design: Determining navigation, pages, and wireframe sample to show a basic layout of how the pages will organize content.

Website design and development: Building the website on the selected platform. Layout of all the elements that will be seen on the page. The set up of all the technical and back-end aspects of the website, including user interface and functionality design, mobile responsiveness, search engine optimization, security, hosting, and much more.

DELIVER

Testing: Reviewing and testing every page, especially links (internal and external), buttons, submission forms, gallery features, etc. and making sure all works as well on mobile as it does on a laptop or desktop.

Launch: Connecting the new site with your domain and site hosting, as appropriate.

Digital marketing: Help with new content, blogging, social media sharing.

Ongoing services, support, and site maintenance: There are varying levels of ongoing site maintenance and support plans. Be sure to discuss this with your website designer at the start of the project so you know what to expect. 

If the designers you're talking to have a difficult time explaining their process, continue your search. There's a chance they don't know what they're doing, which could end up being an expensive mistake for your firm.

3. How Will You Ensure a Consistent User Experience?

4. What Services Do You Offer?

If you’ve taken time to consider what services you need, make sure you ask your designer what specific services they offer and what role you need to play in the process. Find out if they handle all the work in-house or if they partner with specialists for some of the services. 

Similar to designing and building a home, the process and needs are more complex than most people realize, and a good website designer or agency should have a team of specialists within the agency or external partners they work with a regular basis.

If you need ongoing services for content, like blog writing and project case studies, or for social media management, find out if they also provide that support.

5. Can I Speak with Your Recent Clients?

Every web designer will try to convince you that they're the best. You don't have to take their word for it. Instead, ask if you can speak with three of their recent clients. 

Speaking with their previous clients will help you learn more about their services, their approach, and the experience of working with them from someone who was once in your shoes.

You can also find reviews on their Google My Business listing, LinkedIn profile, and their Facebook business profile.

Check their website for case studies and testimonials from real clients too.

6. Can I See Your Recent Work?

Take the time to learn more about their design abilities and design sensibilities. Look through their portfolio and visit some of the websites they've designed.

Ask for recent examples. Many agencies don't get the time to update their own website portfolio, but will have a list on hand to send to people interested in hiring them.

Does their work meet your expectations? Just like architects, many web agencies will have a distinctive design style. 

If their style and approach don’t match up to your standards or preferences, scratch them off your list. 

7. How Many Revisions Are Included?

8. Can I Get a Copy of the Contract?

Ask your preferred web design agency for a proposal and a copy of their contract. Read the contract thoroughly. If you've discussed pricing at all, make sure those details are in writing. 

Having a written copy will help you avoid potential disputes and make the outline of your project crystal clear. 

9. What’s Included in the Pricing? What’s Not Included?

Most web designers will provide you with a fixed price for your project. Different agencies price their work differently. Some may give you an hourly rate with an itemized list of their services and how long it will take. Others will give you a quote for the project based on the results they can deliver. Both approaches to website design pricing are common in the industry.

Discussing the pricing ahead of time will help you manage your expectations and their scope of work: You'll know exactly what you're paying for.

10. When Are You Available to Start?

Before hiring a web designer, ask when they're available to start. How many projects are they currently working on? Good web designers are in demand, you can expect to wait a couple of weeks before your project gets started. Make sure you have a defined project timeline - if you're relaunching your site for a big anniversary or a specific date, make sure the designer knows this and can meet your deadline. 

What about costs?

You may have noticed that we omitted an important question: How much will a new website cost? 

As an architect who is often asked “How much do you charge to design a house,” you know that it depends on the requirements and scope of work, so the only way to answer that question is to define the scope of work. 

It’s the same for web designers and agencies. We have to understand the parameters of what we are being asked to do before we can give an accurate idea of costs.

It’s also the case that there are a lot of different levels of service providers. You may be able to find a website for less than $1,000, but it’s likely that it won’t serve your specific needs.

For a full-function, effective website that serves an important role in your firm, including helping your firm get found online by ideal clients, expect costs to start around $9,000-15,000 dollars.

For a lead-generating web presence, that brings in a steady stream of high quality opportunities through email, blog articles, videos, social media and more, expect to pay double, triple or even more.

Again, it’s all about your requirements and the scope of work. 

Ready to Start Your Architecture Firm Website Project?

If you want to make sure your architecture firm website (and marketing) is successful, we recommend asking every one of our top ten questions before hiring a web designer or agency. 

Hiring a website designer doesn't have to be stressful. These questions will help you find an experienced, talented web design team for your architectural firm's website, and ensure you get the most out of your investment. 

Our team at Archmark can provide professional answers to these questions as well as help your firm build an attractive and functional website tailored specifically to meet the needs and future goals of your architecture firm. 

We would love to work with you - just schedule a meeting with our team today. 

We're looking forward to meeting you.