You get what you pay for

With the rise of cyberspace as a world of it’s own (see A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace) we humans now have nearly instant access to seemingly limitless resources.  As a result of this vast cauldron of data there is a fantastic number of freelance design firms operating solely on the web. These firms promise you everything that you could ever want for 6 low payments of $19.99. And while there are firms out there that do deliver, the vast majority are duds. I have worked with enough “second-hand” designs to know that you get what you pay for especially when it comes to web design and development. Now it’s not that these companies don’t have good designers or are intentionally ripping you off, it’s just that they lack on critical aspect of the client firm relationship.

Personality!

The one thing which these firms cannot offer: the people factor. Now unless you enjoy working with cybermen (Delete! Delete! Delete!), aka impersonal robot designers, web based firms are not for you.  As I’m sure you know, design is a very creative personal process and the only way to truly understand a client is to meet with them in person. A designer must understand the client, their customer base, and their business. When your Midwest based business is working with someone from Albuquerque or Honolulu an in-person meeting is not an option.

Summary

To summarize, here are the benefits of “the people factor”

1. Personal relationships create personal designs
2. Personal designs means a unified brand.
3. Personal designs reduce the amount of changes
4. Reduced changes means lower costs.

So, find a good, local, design firm and stick with them. In the long run you will be rewarded.  And if you’re in need a good design firm, give us a try!