OK. So It's Time to Hire a Website Designer.
Should be pretty easy.
Right?

Not exactly.

Just because there are more website design companies than $.25 cent corner lemonade stands does not mean they are qualified to do the job you need for the market you serve.

Finding an optimal website design firm takes a bit of leg work - even though there are really good ways to cut down the time.

First, remember that there are hundreds of thousands of website design companies as well as freelancers - many of which will also come highly recommended.

It is necessary then when sourcing a design firm to expect that you will have to commit and devote a certain amount of time to both online research and word-of-mouth referrals.

In addition to asking fellow business owners about designers they've used for their own sites, you may find it useful to examine the sites of companies similar to yours for stylings, features, and best practices in your industry.

Look carefully for websites that are user-friendly and that really stand out to you and speak to your inner muse. You want to put yourself as well in the shoes of your customer and look at the sites from their perspective to make sure you are not just judging sites based on how you feel.

Once you've found a site you like, then also find out who is the company or designer that created it.

After compiling a list of good sites you should check their portfolios to find out what other types of sites this person or team has built, as quite a few specialize in certain types of websites, and it would be ideal to find one who shares your aesthetic tastes and offers experience with professionals in your industry.

After all, if you want to launch a site for your ophthalmology practice, you’ll probably want a medical designer as opposed to one who has exclusively worked with e-commerce websites.

Once you have done some thorough homework on finding a prospective website designer, make certain there can be an open and constructive rapport between you as the building of your website is ultimately a collaborative process.

Be ready to give input.

Have detailed ideas in mind, along with a list of existing websites you like and can refer to. If they offer a questionnaire, complete it and be specific with what you envision.

Give feedback on mockups as your site expands and listen to any advice they provide as to why a feature or adjustment will or will not improve the usability, appearance, or search engine optimization potential of your site.

Typically, a quality site can be built within a month’s time, and making it live will be all the more rewarding if it reflects a distinct vision of your brand.

My technology partner (www.Adrecom.net) makes fun of me all the time because many of our search engine optimization clients and website design clients are based in Los Angeles and have a lot of high impact clients and he calls our design "West Coast" as compared to the sites we are building for our midwest type clients which are far more conservative and low-key.

Whether our designs are West Coast or Midwest, the bottom in both cases is that we feel our clients are getting the designs they need to fit their business and to fit their customers's needs. Nothing more and nothing less.

Having said that though, don't settle for less.
In fact, don't settle at all.

It's your money and you should get what you pay for.
And if you are lucky, even a bit more than that too.