How to get more from your web design agency (and when to move on)

Your website is one of the most important ways to market your business. If you are unhappy with your current web design agency, you need to ask yourself why.

Have you ever found yourself thinking …

• My web design agency isn’t proactive. They never make suggestions for necessary updates.
• I can’t believe they never tell us about errors or potential security risks.
• I wish my web design agency was more innovative. They do what we say and don’t offer any creative ideas.
• Why does it take so long for them to get things done? They are so slow.
• I hate my website’s design, but I don’t think my agency can come up with anything good during a redesign.
• Why does my web design agency charge us so much? It always costs a lot of money to make minor changes.
• My agency just hired another new account manager who doesn’t know anything about our company.

How to know if you need a new web design agency

Be upfront with your agency about expectations and visions for your business relationship. If it is currently not working for you, have a meeting to discuss how you would like your relationship to work going forward.

When communication is good and honest from both sides, it should be easy to improve the relationship. Top agencies will recommend having a project lead in your company who works directly with them. If communication is poor and the relationship isn’t working, it might be time to move on.

You keep up to date on industry news and regularly monitor competitor websites to stay informed on what your customers might be seeing when they shop around. You would like to present new ideas and research for consideration, but the team at your web design agency gets defensive when you make suggestions.

If this sounds familiar, a new web design agency might be your best bet if you’re looking for a more collaborative partnership.

You hired your web design agency for their problem-solving expertise and creativity after reviewing samples of their work and checking their client list. Lately, though, it seems like you are the only one bringing new concepts to the table.

If you need a website that helps you stand out from the competition, it might be a good idea to choose a more creative, forward-thinking web design agency.

Your website isn’t the only sales and marketing tool you have. Social media, email marketing, print and radio advertising, sales campaigns, and customer referral programs are also essential pieces of your marketing plan.

What else are you doing to market and sell your products or services? Maybe the issue isn’t with your website but with something else in your marketing plan altogether. If you have done a thorough analysis and determined your website isn’t performing or integrated with your other marketing efforts, it may be time to find a more strategic, experienced web design agency.

Think about the last few things you have asked your website agency to do for you. Do you know how many working hours your requests took to complete? How long was the turnaround time between when you made the request and when they finished it for you? What did they charge you?

If you believe your expectations are realistic but aren’t being met in a timely or affordable manner, it may be time to choose a new agency.

What do you really need from your web design agency?

Every agency has different strengths and weaknesses. One firm may be great for creating beautiful website designs, but their team might be the worst at communicating with clients. Another could be SEO-proficient and great at creating fabulous content, but their prices might be entirely out of your budget or they may not be able to meet your deadlines.

By considering your expectations and prioritizing your goals, you can figure out what you really need from your web design agency in order to reach your marketing goals.

Get professional web design help from TBH Creative

If things still aren’t clicking with your current web design agency or they’re falling short, it might be time to start looking for a new partner that can help you take your website to the next level.

TBH Creative has more than 15 years of expertise in complex web design and development. Our digital marketing agency delivers comprehensive website solutions. Browse our portfolio to see examples of our past work.