Why choose a dedicated web agency?RSS

Being the owner of a web agency, you might well think I am writing this article from a biased perspective.  Well you would be right, but there are some genuinely important reasons why dedicated web agencies should be used.    

I often get asked by prospective clients, “why should I choose a specialist web agency when my branding/creative/advertising agency also offer web services”. My answer is always the same. 

It all comes down to specialism and using the right tool for the job. The majority of so-called full service agencies tend to come from a pure graphic design background. They have built their businesses up creating brands and designing for print. Along came the web and suddenly these agencies felt they had to offer web services as well. But in reality they often know very little about the digital marketplace and what works and doesn’t work on the web. Often, you will find that the creative design work is done by the agency and then they outsource the technical development to a third party.

You might wonder what’s wrong with this approach. Well, it might be sufficient for a small five page brochure website, but when you want something a little more professional, a dedicated agency is the only answer.  

Developing a professional and hard working online web presence is a skilled art. There are so many elements that need to be covered to achieve the best results; What are the project goals? Who are your target users? What is their demographic? What is the structure of the site going to be (Information Architecture)? What core functionality is required?  What devices are we designing/developing for (desktop, mobile, tablet)? What hosting infrastructure is required? How are you marketing the site? Is there a search marketing strategy? Do you require ongoing technical support of the website?  Are we integrating with third party systems? What about accessibility requirements?

I could go on forever, but I won’t. I just want to highlight the factors that need to be considered and understood when designing and developing professional websites. There is a lot more involved than simply putting together pretty pictures.  

Dedicated web agencies have the specific expertise and knowledge to advise clients as to what will work best for their organisation. So if you are keen on achieving the very best online results, I’d always recommend using a specialist agency. 

Author: Jonathan Woods

Any comments/questions please email blog@studio24.net.

This story was published on 20th January 2012