The Problem
Round the UK there are over 20,000 website designers, including freelancers that work from home up to large London based design agencies that offer top end design and website design packages edge facilities to businesses round the UK. Who is the correct one to select?
Any website designers website will appear attractive, giving great testimonials from satisfied clients, showing good examples in the portfolio which makes it hard for you to stand from another.
Pro's Of Hiring A Freelancer
Cost is the main factor when contemplating employing a freelancer. Due to lower overheads most freelancers work from home (or rented offices) and have lower profit margins than larger design agencies with staff costs, building costs etc.
Experience is frequently an advantage, many freelancers have a varied experience and can turn their hand to a variety of design projects sometimes with years of design experience (at an inexpensive price).
Flexibility is usually something which freelancers provides, working to tight deadlines, working within the weekend or bank holiday's and ready to go the additional mile when asked.
Con's Of Hiring A Freelancer
Resources are normally a limiting factor as numerous smaller designers do not need the application packages or design programs which are necessary for specific projects.
Reliability is sometimes a concern as numerous freelancers will chop and change between employment and project based work. Also getting projects done to spec is an issue as legal issues are not the same just like a large agency that's VAT registered etc.
Some freelancers may have to outsource specific areas of a style project which they either do not need experience in or have resources to accomplish (coding, typographics, development etc.)
Pro's Of Using An Agency
With most website design agencies, you get what you see; they've a history with references (that could be spoken to) with a fixed office that can be visited.
Most agencies could have a group that will support a project internally without the need to outsource or subcontract areas of the work.
Most agencies have additional facilities that can be called in to compliment design work (SEO, development, PPC etc.) that ensures that the project is managed and controlled without multiple contacts.
Cons Of Using An Agency
Cost is the main factor with using an agency, as their fixed costs are higher than the usual freelancer (staff costs, building costs, profit margins) so the price could be 2-3 times higher for the same results.
Agencies could be swayed by larger projects, so when you yourself have a smaller job with them and they get a bigger client in, your project could be dropped in the priority scale.
Loyalty sometimes is less with agencies, clients can you should be job numbers rather people; there is much less of the'personal touch'involved.