FAQ: How to find the best web design agency
Want to learn more about the top web design firms, including how you can select the right option from this list? Keep reading while we answer some common questions from businesses looking to improve their web design!
What is a web design company?
A web design company is an agency that provides design and development services to individuals and businesses.
These companies’ services typically include designing, developing, testing, and launching a new or re-designed website for a client. Some website design agencies also include search engine optimization (SEO) and other digital marketing services.
What does a web design company do?
A web design company helps businesses and individuals launch an attractive and functional website.
The best web design agencies also deliver a fast and secure site that follows the best practices for SEO and conversion rate optimization (CRO), so your website will earn more revenue from the web.
What are the types of web design agencies?
Web design is a broad area. Your company’s needs will determine the best web design company for you, so take the time to review these agency types:
- Platform-specific: A platform-specific website design company offers design and development services for certain platforms, like Shopify, WordPress, Magento, and more. If you know what platform your business needs, a specialized agency can make the process seamless.
- Business-specific: A business-specific website design agency partners with certain business types, like ecommerce, enterprise, or startup brands. Hiring this kind of design company that understands the challenges of your business type and size can make the process even easier.
- Industry-specific: An industry-specific web design company works with specific industries, like healthcare, finance, or tech. If you work in a highly regulated or specialized sector, working with an industry-specific web design company can offer some great benefits.
- Service-specific: A service-specific web design agency provides specific services, like web design vs. web development. In comparison, a full-service web design agency offers everything your business needs to complete its project.
How did you create this list of web design companies?
In conducting our research on the best web design companies, we reviewed companies that offer web design as a primary service on Clutch with reviews from past customers. We feel that a proven track record of success is necessary for being considered the world’s top web design company.
We didn’t look at just the biggest web design companies, though, because we know bigger doesn’t always mean better. We looked for companies across the globe to get a sense of what businesses outside of the U.S. have to offer.
After our research, we came up with our own list of web development companies we believe to be at the top of their game.
What makes WebFX qualified to compile a list of the best web design companies?
What makes WebFX qualified to compile a list of 2024’s best web design companies, as well as determine what makes an agency the best web design company out there?
Well, we’ve designed 1600+ websites and partnered with clients in dozens of industries, from healthcare to industrial manufacturing.
Our agency has also received 45 awards for our web design work. Not to mention, we have 1,100+ client testimonials to showcase our work. That’s more than any other Internet marketing agency in the United States!
What makes a web design agency a top web design company?
Defining the best website design company isn’t based on design alone. Not only is web design subjective, but it’s also impossible to rate all the top web design companies based on only that set of criteria.
This means you can’t determine if a company is one of the best based on its design portfolio. There are many other factors to consider as well.
So, if it’s not just the quality of web design that qualifies a firm as a “best web design company,” then what does?
Here are the qualities that we feel the best web design company in the world should have.
1. Award-winning design
This is the most obvious on our list of criteria for the best web design company. It should not come as a surprise that an agency’s work has to be recognized for its quality and effectiveness to be considered one of the best.
National awards available for stellar website design include the Horizon Interactive Awards, the Webby Awards, and the Interactive Media Awards. There are also many awards available in specific regions or states that can be given to the top local web design firms.
2. Innovative approach
Because web design is a constantly changing industry, the best web design companies are those who keep their clients’ sites up to date with the latest technology, from website builder software to web design trends.
Even the coolest designs are bound to feel outdated within a few years, and with modern consumers who are used to constant updates and innovation, it’s important for the best design company to provide cutting-edge ideas that are unique, fresh, and satisfying for the customer.
Some companies may think that simply updating visual elements is enough to make clients happy, but true innovation means embracing change in all forms. To be a top design company, you need to do more than follow the trends — you need to be a trailblazer.
For example, the shift towards browsing the web on devices other than desktop computers led the best web design companies to develop an entirely new approach to design that is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and other devices.
This approach, called responsive design, is now essential for success in search engines.
Although most companies will eventually jump on the bandwagon if a new strategy or trend becomes popular enough, the best web design companies are those who stay at the forefront. True dedication to clients means always wanting them to have the best, and sometimes the way to give them that is by creating it.
3. Expansive portfolio
The best web design companies should have a wide range of past work.
To qualify for the “best web design company” title, a firm needs to show that they’ve worked in a variety of industries. It’s not enough to build and design websites for just one industry or area of focus.
For example, does their portfolio include projects as diverse as a roofing company website followed by an online ecommerce store website? These different designs force the best web design agencies to get creative and change perspective.
In short, the best website design and development firms can display work with dozens of clients across multiple industries. They’ll show strong elements of versatility and adaptation, which are indicative of any good web design company.
The best web design companies can tailor their user experience and results to accommodate the needs of any business, from construction to textiles and more.
The more clients a design company works with, the better! Customers want to know that you can, without a doubt, work with their company to design the best possible website — and design one that’s 10X better than the best website builders.
4. Extensive services offered
It would be easy to rank as the best web design company if the focus was solely on web design. To us, that’s not good enough.
To qualify as one of the best, a web design firm must do more than just web design. The best website design companies offer a full range of services to meet all the needs of clients, from Internet marketing services to web development.
The best website design and development firm should offer services like SEO, web development, pay-per-click (PPC) management, and more.
5. Track record of success
Just like only offering web design, not having proven records of successful work can easily knock an agency off the best web design company list.
To be considered in the running, a company needs to provide proof to show potential customers that their work has continuously satisfied customers.
To make our list of website design companies, a firm requires a history of satisfied clients who report success. Testimonials are an excellent indication of happy customers, as are long-standing accounts and a high client retention rate. Combined with other important elements behind each company, these factors help indicate the best web company.
6. Company growth
Like any successful business, the best design company in the world should be constantly growing and increasing its revenue.
These are both signs of continued development, and they’re good indicators that a company is worthy of being considered one of the best in the industry. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the largest web design company is the best, though.
Continued growth is integral to any business model. The top web designing company will show growth with its customer base, employees, revenue, and other elements which clearly set them apart from their competitors.
Should I hire a web design agency?
Companies often question whether they need to hire a web design company — or if they can handle the project in-house. If you’re unsure which path your business should take, ask yourself these questions:
- Budget: What is the budget for this project?
- Timeline: When do we need to complete this web design project?
- Goals: What is the goal of this project?
- Staffing: Do we have the resources to manage this project internally?
- Skillsets: Does our in-house team have the necessary skills to complete this project?
You’ll likely know what your business should do based on your answers.
For example, hiring a web design company makes more sense if your company has a tight deadline but limited staff. Similarly, keeping the project in-house makes more sense if you have the staff and the skillsets to manage and complete the project in-house, like with a website builder.
If you’re ready to hire a web design agency near you (or far away), check out these guides:
- How to Hire a Web Design Agency Like a Pro
- How to Find a Website Designer
- How to Search for a Web Developer
You can also get started with these quick hiring tips:
- Determine the project’s requirements and estimated budget
- Compile a list of web design agencies that meet your requirements
- Look at each website design company’s history, reviews, and portfolio
- Analyze each web design agency’s website design, SEO, and more
- Request a custom quote or use a tool like a cost calculator to get a rough estimate
Searching for a web design agency near you? Discover some of our locations by city:
With these tips, you’ll have an excellent start to finding a top web design agency.
How much is the average price of hiring a web design agency?
On average, website design services cost between $501 to $5000.
Meanwhile, a website project, which includes design, maintenance, and marketing, can cost anywhere from $1000 to $145,000 on average.
Use our free web design project calculator to get an estimate:
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Whether you’re building your company website for the first time or redesigning it to drive more leads, you can turn to WebFX for help.
Our award-winning team will take the time to know your business and goals before crafting website studies for your review. We employ conversion-focused web design best practices, so you can rest assured that your site is designed to increase your leads and revenue.
Contact us online or call us at 888-601-5359 to speak to a strategist about our custom website design services!