Your website is often the first place a potential customer meets your business. Choosing the right agency to build it is an important decision — and the cheapest quote or the flashiest portfolio isn't always the best choice. These ten steps will help you find a partner who delivers.
1. Define what you need
Write down your goals (more enquiries, online sales, recruitment, credibility), the pages you need, any features (booking, payments, multilingual content) and your budget range. A clear brief makes proposals easier to compare.
2. Look at portfolios with a critical eye
Visit live sites the agency has built, not just screenshots. Are they fast? Do they work well on a phone? Are they easy to navigate? Look for work in a similar industry or of similar complexity to yours.
3. Check reviews and speak to clients
Read reviews on Google and independent platforms, and ask the agency for a reference you can call. Ask past clients about communication, deadlines and what happened after launch.
4. Make sure they understand business, not just design
A good agency asks about your customers, competitors and goals before talking about colours. The website should support your business objectives, not just look nice.
5. Ask about SEO and performance
A beautiful site that nobody finds won't help you. Ask how they handle page speed, mobile optimisation, page titles, redirects from your old site and analytics setup. These should be part of the build, not expensive extras.
6. Understand their process
Ask how the project will run: discovery, wireframes, design, development, testing and launch. How many rounds of revisions are included? How will you give feedback? Who is your day-to-day contact?
7. Clarify which platform they'll use
Will the site be built on WordPress, Shopify, a custom framework or static HTML? Make sure the platform suits your needs and that your team will be able to update content without a developer for routine changes.
8. Confirm ownership
You should own your domain, hosting account, website files and design assets. Make sure logins are handed over and that nothing is locked to the agency.
9. Compare proposals on value, not just price
Lay proposals side by side and compare what's actually included: number of pages, content writing, SEO setup, training, hosting, support. A slightly higher quote that includes these may be better value than a low one that charges for every extra.
10. Plan for after launch
Websites need updates, security patches, backups and occasional changes. Ask what support the agency offers after launch and how much it costs. A maintenance plan avoids surprises.
Red flags to watch for
- No portfolio of live sites
- Guarantees of "number one on Google"
- Unclear pricing or many hidden extras
- Reluctance to hand over logins or files
- Slow or vague communication before you've even signed
Choosing Six Cube Technologies
We publish our website package prices, hand over every login, build SEO foundations into every site and offer maintenance plans after launch. See our work or get in touch to talk about your project.
