A functional, intuitive and beautiful website is the modern equivalent of the good, old-fashioned paper business card. But how to achieve that at low cost? Here are some thoughts on how to cheaply outsource web design.
Why web design matters
The way your company presents itself is very important. Web design is like a good first impression on a date – if it is charming, the whole thing can be turned into something meaningful and lasting. An ideal website should tell a story of what you offer your potential and current customers, how you help them achieve their goals and satisfy their needs, what credentials you have and what the cooperation may look like. Therefore it should be informative, but also intuitive and well-designed.
Modern web design is not only about looks, but also about user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). Navigating your site is as important as the colour palette you choose for your branding. Your website should be clear and run smoothly to give the impression of what your business cooperation will look like with the customer-to-be. It can also give them specific call-to-actions and direct them to make a purchase or at least use a contact form. All of this should be done with the end user in mind, in a user-friendly manner.
Finally, your website gives your business credibility and enhances your trustworthiness. Giving your website a look desired by your audience builds your reputation in the industry and translates to higher success rates. Examples? A rising-star tech company might want to showcase their cutting-edge ideas and have a minimalist, but full of gimmicks site that intrigues the user and informs about the scope of activities of the company, whereas a wedding photographer’s site will focus on the portfolio and presenting the most appealing shots from recent shoots. These are only some examples of why your web design matters – now it is time to learn how to outsource web design cheaply.
Cheap ways to outsource web design
In this economy saving simply matters. We all want to get the best service at the best rate and we are all searching for ways to optimize company costs. Before the start of your project – either revamping an old site or building a brand new website – set out a list of needs and expectations, plan your budget, strategy and do some market research – see what others are doing and if you are aiming for something similar, totally different or a brand new idea.
When planning a website you need to take three necessary steps:
- Plan the budget – how much you are willing to pay for the design and work done by the freelancer. What are your marketing costs, do you have a big or small marketing budget?
- Decide on the timeline and deadline – is it a last minute thing or can the subcontractor take their time and work on your project for a few months?
- Create a brief describing the style, desired content and features you need to include – this document will come in handy when you start actively reaching out to freelancers.
Now onto the next stage – finding ways to cheaply outsource web design!
Where to look for if you want to cheaply outsource web design?
One thing is doing your own research to find agencies or freelancers that can help you out with your dream website. It is natural to try that at first, but it might be tedious and you might miss some great opportunities for collaboration from web designers who are not on top of the search engine results list. Another option is going with a trusted platform that actually takes care of your wallet by listing available freelancers or allowing you to post your own ad and setting your own framework for cooperation.
An example of that is Useme.com, a platform designed to help you cheaply outsource web design.
Cheaply outsource web design with Useme
Useme is the go-to platform for various freelancers, including web developers and designers, among other creative professionals. They are able to offer their services, present their portfolio, link to the projects they have created and even post references from other collaborators. You, on the other hand, are able to view all of that information, browse their previous works and decide if their style, pricing and scope of work they provide is what you need. By choosing the best-suited freelancers, you are able to cheaply outsource web design.
If you do not want to browse freelancers’ profiles, you can take another route. As a business-owner on Useme you can create a very specific assignment, post the brief on the platform and get proposals from freelancers responding directly to your ad. If you want to outsource your web design in a budget-friendly manner, you can even negotiate with them. That way you can save money on designing a new site for your business. Shortlist the best offers and review their past work, while bearing in mind the cost criteria. By striking the right balance, you will be able to achieve great results for your business.
If you already have established business relations with web designers Useme can help you with keeping accounts..Using the Useme platform to navigate your cooperation with web designers guarantees lower expenses. In this scenario, there is no need to sign a job contract with the subcontractor. The freelancer also benefits, as they get a higher payout. Here you can invite your freelancer to Useme.
Last but not least, Useme allows you to take care of all formalities necessary when cooperating with freelance developers and designers. You do not need to hire an in-house employee to do the webdesign work – you can have a cheaper alternative to that, while not losing any quality of services. Such cooperation via the Useme platform is less expensive than hiring on the basis of a permanent work contract; and for the freelancer it means a higher payout – a true win-win situation.
Outsourcing – a powerful tool in building your company brand
Platforms like Useme can help you not only cheaply outsource web design. You probably realize that a website has to be filled not only with eye-catching graphics, but also with actual content. If you want to grab the customers’ attention with an appealing layout, you need to keep their attention with snappy slogans and captivating narratives. Outsourcing the writing is another area in which Useme can be helpful. Who knows, maybe when you succeed in cheaply outsourcing web design, you will want to outsource copywriting, marketing or administration as well. If you’re thinking about this approach and want to hire more remote employees read this.
