So you’re looking for a new website design and build, and your first port of call is to have a quick search on the Internet to find local companies and designers in your area. The chances are many will come up, and they will be a mixture of studios and freelance designers and developers, but which do you choose?
All of these companies will have their pros and cons, as some agencies specialise in a certain aspects of design and marketing. For example they can design your website, however they may not have the resources or knowledge in marketing to get the website to your target market, meaning you will have to find another company to do this aspect. If you are a company that is looking for a high media presence in both print and online, then this may be something to consider, as moving tasks between different agencies could cause you more headaches in the long run.
At a full service design and marketing agency, they will have designers, web developers and SEO specialists on hand to help you with your every need. They will be able to take the process right from the beginning of the project to the final product, be that a SEO or adword campaign, an updated website or a social media campaign. They will have a pool of knowledge to pull from as generally they will have a range of employees who have different skillsets and experiences to draw from, making sure you get the best all-round service available.
When considering whether to use a design and marketing agency, take a moment to think about the time that would be spent if you decided to try and create the logo or manage your social media yourself. Hiring a professional to do these sort of tasks and management for you will save you time. You won’t have to muddle through Facebook trying to find time to schedule engaging posts, they will write and manage this for you, leaving you to get on with the important things, such as running your business.
With the above in mind, they are also a more cost-effective option. Many studios offer a monthly-retainer option, meaning that you will pay a fixed monthly fee that will cover an agreed amount of hours work per month. This will mean you can be safe in the knowledge that if something comes up that needs to be looked at, you (most likely) won’t have to pay any extra to that fixed monthly cost.
When considering whether to hire an in-house marketing manager or to outsource to an agency, consider the cost for the two options. The cost of employing an in-house marketing specialist will be significantly more than the monthly retainer cost of an agency, and they are unlikely to have the same level and range of skills that an agency will have.
Here at The Studio 4, we are a 15 strong staff who have a wealth of knowledge and experience between them, and will be able to assist you with all your needs. From design to SEO, we can help boost your business and get you where you see yourselves being in the market place. Contact us to find out more.