Your website is probably the first thing a prospective client or customer sees when they’re learning about your business. What impression are you creating?
It’s no secret that a strong web presence is a practical requirement if you’re doing business in the 21st century, but so many companies still aren’t putting their best foot forward when it comes to their website.
Should I Outsource Web Design?
For some companies, it makes sense to maintain an in-house design team. Others may choose tools that utilize a bevy of templates and then progress to more customized web designs. Many businesses can save money, time, project management headaches, and future maintenance costs by outsourcing their web design. Web designers can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000+ depending on the scope of the design project and needed development services.
How Do I Outsource To A Web Design Company?
If you’re looking to outsource a web design company, take the time and effort necessary to properly vet potential companies, and the web designers, web developers, and project managers they have available. Ensure that the companies you’re considering can tackle your project in time and on budget. Then, speak with different designers and choose a designer that’s passionate about your project and confident that they’re the best firm to execute it.
Questions To Ask A Web Design Company Before Outsourcing
1. What are your specialties? Decide if their specialties and past work history align with your business goals.
2. How will you communicate? If you have outsourced your web design needs to a remote freelancer, consider how you will communicate. Is email, project management software, or a team communication tool like Slack the best option?
3. Who will be the project manager? Think about who you are communicating with on their end, and who will be the main point of contact for your marketing and design team members.
4. What is their design process? How will they investigate the values and goals that you have for the web design project, and will any user testing be needed? These type of questions depend on the size and scope of the project.
Advantages Of Outsourcing Web Design & Web Development
- Access to an unlimited talent pool of web developers and designers with years of experience
- Cheaper than an in-house team
- Requires very little commitment
- Allows you to focus on your core competencies
- Faster and easier interview process
- Requires less internal management
Disadvantages Of Outsourcing Web Design And Web Development
- Communication is less efficient with off-site collaborators
- Potential safety and security concerns
15 Best Companies To Outsource Web Design
For businesses that love the idea of using a freelancer marketplace, but are worried about the quality of talent they’ll have access to, we suggest Toptal accepts only the top 3% of applicants to become part of their team, ensuring that they have some of the best, high-quality talent available to handle your design or web development project.
Toptal has over 500 employees in over 100 different countries, and they’ve worked with over 10,000 clients to date. From web design and development to app design, IoT, marketing, finance, and more, Toptal makes it easy to find top freelancers with the right skillsets for your next project.
As one of the largest and most well-established freelance marketplaces, Upwork gives you access to thousands of incredibly qualified freelancers across many different verticals, including design and development. Web design is a popular skill, with a seemingly endless supply of designers using Upwork to land their next gig.
Millions of businesses, including Microsoft and GE, have used Upwork to tackle projects in their development process, and the company has financing from venture capital heavyweights like T. Rowe Price, and Jackson Square Ventures. Still not sold? Upwork maintains an impressive 4.6/5 on ClearlyRated out of over 800,000 reviews.
With two offices in the United States and a third in Italy, Digital Silk has established itself as one of the best web design agencies that deliver industry-leading websites for businesses as a top outsourcing company.
The brand brings with them a client list that includes NASA, IBM, Xerox, and many more. If you’re looking to establish a best-in-class web presence, you may want to consider requesting a quote from Digital Silk.
When it comes to outsourcing web design and outsourcing web development, Freelancer.com has been a secret weapon for thousands of businesses. Freelancer.com has thousands of designers ready to take on your web project. Millions of users and counting turn to Freelancer for everything from website design to 3D parts modeling and engineering.
Microsoft, SAP, and Intel all use Freelancer.com to handle some of their projects, and your business can follow in their footsteps by selecting your next web designer from the Freelancer marketplace.
Specializing in website design and development, Bilberrry has been making waves from their offices in Seattle and Ukraine. For businesses that need a global perspective for their next web project, Bilberrry offers design services that are worth a closer look.
The company has an impressive client list that features Pepsico, The University of Washington, Tax Credible, and Taco Time. Bilberrry prides themselves on their team’s agility, so they’re a possible option for companies who need their web project turned around quickly.
For B2B businesses looking to carve out their place within a crowded marketplace, Bop Design is a firm worth looking into. They specialize in B2B web design, and their before-and-after transformations are worth a look.
Bop Design is a woman-owned business with offices throughout California and New York, and they’ve taken home honors from the American Marketing Association, Graphic Design USA, and the Webby Awards. Bop Design also has an impressive rating on Clutch.io.
Arguably one the industry leaders when it comes to eye-catching best of breed web design, Lounge Lizard has offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to serve their diverse American client base across multiple time zones.
The firm has taken home awards for its work with businesses ranging from bootstrapping startups to Fortune 100 companies, and they have an impression 99% client retention rate. They also have certifications from Hubspot, Google, and SalesForce, so they’re a potential match for e-commerce companies and brands looking to grow their reach with advertising.
Since 2000, State Creative has been a premier web design and development agency in Oakland, CA. They’ve worked on award-winning projects for a diverse, global group of clients. Businesses in financial or professional services appreciate what State Creative brings to the table, as they have experience working in these verticals.
Since 2003, Tiny Frog has been producing websites for some of the world’s largest companies. Tiny Frog has over 1,000 sites under their belt, and they’ve done work for companies like Boeing, Cox, and Rakuten. Based in San Diego, Tiny Frog builds sites across almost every imaginable industry, and customers seem to love their work.
10Clay
Clay is a San Francisco-based digital product agency specializing in web design, UI/UX design, branding, and content creation. For businesses that need an agency that can provide design services beyond a website, Clay may be one of the best companies in the marketplace.
Clay also possesses one of the most impressive client lists of any designer, counting Facebook, Uber, and Google, among its satisfied customers.
11Guru
For businesses looking to outsource web development or design through a freelance marketplace, Guru is another reliable option. On Guru, you’ll find thousands of qualified developers and designers that can take your project to the next level. Guru boasts an impressive customer satisfaction rate, so you can rest assured you’ll receive quality service.
Guru has been used worldwide by over 800,000 different businesses, and thousands of skilled web designers can breathe life into your project. Getting started is as simple as posting your project, reviewing applicants, and awarding your project.
For companies across the pond looking for a freelance marketplace, People Per Hour may be your choice. The site has connected nearly one million companies with millions of freelancing professionals, and there are thousands of web designers for hire available on the platform.
The company has been featured by BBC, Forbes, CNBC, and other outlets, and their growing user base is a testament to the work these freelancers are doing.
Located in Lviv, Ukraine, Dops is a firm specializing in web and application design, and they work with an array of global clients ranging from small and mid-sized businesses to enterprise clients like Visa and FIFA. The firm has a great rating on Clutch, with many glowing testimonials from past clients.
A best-in-class winner at the 2018 Interactive Media Awards, Amasta Media, is a fast-growing design company that’s turning heads in the industry thanks to their attention to detail, fast turnaround time, and world-class designers.
This Oakland based firm serves an international client-based, and their holistic approach to web design and ongoing service has earned them a perfect five-star rating on Clutch.
This Denver-based web design and digital marketing agency specializes in many web design, SEO, digital advertising, and hosting services, and they’re a viable option for anyone looking for a U.S.-based web design firm that has a reputation for producing visually stimulating work for numerous industries
Conclusion: Which Company Is Best For Web Design Outsourcing?
Now that you’re armed with more information on some of the world’s best web design agencies and services, how do you go about selecting the best designer for your company?
Be sure to evaluate each designer on the criteria below, and you’ll be well on your way to choosing the right designer for your project.
Reputation
When you’re looking to outsource a web design company, the reputation of the company is critical. Web design companies make their bones on their reputation, and the cream always rises to the top in this regard. The best web designers all have a top reputation for quality and service.
Quality of Clients
The quality of clients that a designer attracts is also a strong indicator of their work quality. The best designers attract work from the best companies. It’s that simple. Check any potential designers portfolio carefully, and make a note of any significant clients in their portfolio.
Quality of Projects
Not only should a qualified designer be working for top-quality clients, but they should be bringing that company’s vision to life and communicating their brand clearly and concisely. When you’re looking at a designer’s portfolio, make sure they’re producing the work you would want.
Location
Where a designer is located can offer significant cost savings on your project. Domestic designers tend to command much higher fees than those who work abroad. If you’re looking for the highest quality work for the lowest price, you may want to consider a designer from a developing nation.
Service
Websites aren’t a one time cost. Upkeep and maintenance are necessary to keep your site running on the cutting edge. Make sure the designer you choose has a reputation for providing impeccable service after delivery, and make sure they’re comfortable servicing your ongoing web development needs.
Budget
A quality website can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands. You need to enter the arena with a well-defined budget in mind for your project. This will help to provide cost certainty, and it will shrink your search to designers that fall within your budgetary range.