How to Choose a Web Design Agency
A few years ago, Barr & Douds Attorneys struggled to connect with their prospects. The law firm kept losing traffic every month because visitors did not spend time on their templated brochure site. Their part-time webmaster did not have the ability to grow their company. That was when they reached out to us. Like many small businesses, they knew there had to be a better Web Design Company to help. They enlisted Comrade and saw a 937% growth in qualified leads!
First, Let’s Talk About Your Budget
If you want professional web design services (or custom web solutions) from an experienced US-based agency, don’t expect it for less than $5,000. Below are different pricing options for a 10-page information enterprise website with varying levels of functionality.
The right investment gives you a responsive website that generates targeted traffic and leads. The wrong site sits alone and unused, forgotten by your prospects. There are numerous custom website design companies to help you create a really great website and increase your revenue, so just choose the right one for you.
Option #1: $1,000-5,000
Usually, these basic websites suffer from weak design, use a website template base, and look like everyone else’s. Often, outsourced international web design companies might not understand U.S. culture.
At this point, you need to manage developers like a part-time job. You spend your time explaining common-sense rules and repeating your instructions repeatedly before it’s somewhat done. If you want to spend 5 grueling months of sweat and tears learning web development yourself, then go this route.
Option #2: $5,000-15,000
For an investment of over $5,000, you might get a more qualified custom web design agency that will offer you a more custom and professional approach with high-quality template website designs, modern graphics, and animation with an SEO-friendly architecture. However, make sure you have an account manager in the U.S. to ensure the site works for your audience.
With this option, you still outsource the web development process to save on cost and get the custom web design journey you prefer.
Option 2 works for companies with revenue between $150,000 – $400,000.
Option #3: 15,000+
The third option works for those who want to work with top web design companies based in the U.S. with enhanced user experience (UX), offering quality designs, and who can accommodate custom website design services. This is a great option for well-established companies with a revenue of $300,000 and up who prefer a custom website design process.
Which option you choose depends on a number of factors. However, if you want to work with professional web developers, you need to aim for a minimum of Option 2 and, more than likely, Option 3 if you want a fully customizable site that accomplishes your goals.
Should You Hire an Agency or a Freelancer
Most solopreneurs are on a limited budget because they’ve just started their business and are looking at a brand-new website launch.
If a website design and custom web development agency is out of your price range, then work with a freelancer to grow your business initially. A freelancer can set up a rudimentary website when you do not have the money for top-notch service.
While we are not fans of cheap websites, it is nominally better than no site at all.
However, if you want to grow, then one person is not enough to drive significant leads to your business. You need a team with experience in your industry to work on your website development. Having designers, developers, search engine marketers, social media marketing professionals, PPC experts, and copywriters working together will accomplish more professional work than one freelancer doing it on their own.
That is why small to medium businesses (SMBs) hire agencies, not freelancers. They focus on the return on investment rather than the initial costs. They know a quality web design company can improve your conversion rate.
For example, Blackhawk Supply needed more quality organic traffic to its website. We were able to increase their search traffic by 27% in 5 months. This increase correlated with a 47% increase in revenue from search traffic. Working with an agency that offers custom-fit web designs and focuses on ROI is vital to the long-term success of your company.
An Integrated Agency with Web Design and Marketing
Not all web design agencies are equal. If you talked to just two agencies, you’d realize how much they differ.
SMBs usually want an integrated custom web design agency that provides web design and digital marketing under one umbrella. When one group manages the entire project, you ensure consistency between your website, social media, and other marketing channels.
If you have any questions about how an integrated agency can help your company grow, then contact us today for a free consultation at 312-265-0580.
6 Tips to Select a Web Design Agency
If you want to find the best web design companies to work with, here are some basic tips you should keep in mind.
1. Experience Working in Your Industry
At Comrade Web Design Agency, we know that every industry has its own audience, challenges, and goals — and that’s why we never take a one-size-fits-all approach. We tailor each project to the unique demands of your sector, ensuring design, functionality, messaging, and custom website pricing align perfectly with your goals.
| Sector | Key Design Focus | Example Features | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law Firms | Credibility & lead generation | Attorney bios, case result highlights, contact forms | More qualified inquiries & trust building |
| E-Commerce | Conversion-driven shopping experience | Product galleries, secure checkout, and upsell features | Higher sales & repeat customers |
| Home Services | Local search visibility | Service area maps, quote request forms, and reviews | Increased local leads & bookings |
| SaaS & Tech | Product clarity & user onboarding | Feature explainers, demo scheduling, integration info | Faster sign-ups & customer retention |
The truth is, marketing a restaurant isn’t the same as marketing a personal injury firm — and the same goes for design. From visuals to functionality, what works in one sector can fail in another.
When choosing your web design partner, look for proven experience in your industry. It’s the difference between getting a site that just looks good and one that actually helps you win customers.
2. Review Portfolio/Case Studies
If you own a law firm, you want to see some examples of how they helped other attorneys with their website design and digital marketing.
A few tips when exploring a company’s case studies and portfolio. Do NOT look at their photos. Look for the results and strategies. You are not paying a web design agency for a pretty picture. You pay them to deliver results.
Also, ask the company if you can speak with previous customers. While sometimes they might not be able to connect you with their customers, most agencies can connect you with at least one or two.
If possible, you do not want to be the guinea pig when you work with a web design company. That is why company portfolios are vital to helping you learn more about who you work with in the future.
3. Explore Their Social Media and Blog
Check a web design company’s social media presence. If they are not active on at least a few channels, how will they manage your web pages?
While the dynamics change from social network to social network, here are a few things to evaluate for an agency’s social media presence:
- Read what the agency writes.
- Check out the quality of the images they use.
- Assess their attitude to see if it matches your culture.
- Make sure they post regularly
- Ask if their content makes you want to click, like, or share.
Additionally, how do they use their social accounts to offer a remarkable experience for clients? They do not need to put out a stream of one-line jokes and quotes. However, they should post relevant, compelling content for their audience. Many agencies like to share photos of the team to give an insider’s view of the company.
Have you ever seen a blog where the last date of entry is older than your website? Keeping an updated blog is vital for a web design agency.
If they do not create content regularly, then what other things do they miss? Web design and web design continually change. A blog proves that you have the thought leadership to keep up with the changes in the industry.
Also, the content on the blog helps your prospects identify with your style and learn more about how you can help them. In other words, it builds a relationship.
4. Look at the Tools They Use
Every business needs the right tools to get the job done. Just like a contractor needs an assortment of power and hand tools, web designers need the right tools as well.
For example, a quality web design agency should know how to use WordPress. 30% of the websites worldwide use the content management system (CMS) to manage their site.
However, for e-commerce sites, you might want to use Shopify, BigCommerce, or Magento. A quality web agency can pick the best CMS, so customers get their project completed on time.
Additionally, professional web design agencies rely on tools like SEMrush, CallRail, BuzzSumo, and Moz for search engine marketing. While they are not necessary, these tools keep our search strategy agile while still delivering quality results for clients.
Furthermore, we are proud to be a Google Partner. A Google Partner is a web design agency with at least one certified Google Ads specialist that manages over $10,000 in Google Ads in a 90-day period.
Web Design companies relish the designation because it is a nod from Google that your agency has the experience to help with your next campaign.
Google is not the only software product that has certifications. Tools like HubSpot and Salesforce provide a range of certifications for companies that offer inbound marketing and CRM support.
Make sure you work with a company with the right certifications for the tools your business needs to succeed. They have the necessary training to provide you with the proper guidance for your business.
5. Make Sure You are a Good Cultural Fit
Every company is a bit different. Some agencies are more creative. Creative environments are more dynamic and can adapt quickly to clients’ needs.
Creative companies work great for consumer law firms that work with the public and need something that does not seem so buttoned up. Small businesses like to work with creative firms because they don’t charge as much as enterprise-level bigger agencies and work on your terms.
Also, they make sure the company can work with your budget. We discussed above some general ranges for website design. The question is whether the company has the flexibility to help you succeed.
Conversely, other firms might do better working in a corporate environment. They are stricter and use more corporate-speak when they talk. The downside of working in a more corporate environment is that they are not as quick to move on to changes in the industry and are usually more expensive.
Those same corporate-type agencies also usually have big retainers, strict rules, and lengthy contracts.
Here are some questions you should ask after talking to an agency to see if they are a good fit for your company.
- How well prepared are they for your meeting?
- How much work did they put into the proposal?
- Do they educate you on the industry or just give you pricing packages?
- Do they listen to you and audit your online presence?
- What type of website design and digital marketing plan did they present?
What is the best cultural fit for your business? How will working with a specific agency reflect your own culture and goals?
6. Look at Ratings and Awards
Have you ever heard someone tell you they want a subpar attorney or doctor? You want the highest-rated company you can afford. To help you find the best, you want to know what others say about your prospective agency.
Fortunately, a few sites help you discover the best agency for your needs.
The first is Google. Their local search helps you find web agencies and reviews from past and current clients. They are an invaluable source for learning more about how the web design firm can help your business.
However, if you are not working with someone local, there are other options.
Many firms rely on Clutch, a business rating site that helps you find the highest-rated service providers.
Clutch uses verified reviews vetted by their staff through a phone interview where they ask clients specific questions like:
- “What was the scope of involvement?”
- “What is the status of this engagement?”
- “What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of their engagement?”
At Comrade, we appreciate that an independent third party collects the answers to your reviews. They independently verify how we can help you.
We are proud to say that Comrade was selected by DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting brands with agencies, as one of the best eCommerce development companies in the USA.
Yelp also provides reviews of work. We discuss them in further detail below in the social media section.
However, don’t rely on reviews alone; also look at the awards a company has won.
Custom Design vs. Pre-Made Templates
When building a website, one of the first decisions is whether to invest in a custom design or use a pre-made template. Each option has its advantages, depending on your business goals, budget, and timeline. Custom designs are tailored to your brand’s identity, offering a unique look and enhanced functionality, while templates provide ready-made layouts that can be quickly implemented at a lower cost.
| Feature | Custom Design | Pre-Made Template |
|---|---|---|
| Uniqueness | Fully unique to your brand, no duplicates online | Used by many other sites, limited originality |
| Brand Alignment | Tailored visuals, layouts, and UX to match brand strategy | General style, may require adjustments to fit the brand |
| Functionality | Custom features and integrations built for your needs | Pre-set features; customization may be limited |
| SEO (Search Engine Optimization) | Built with your SEO goals in mind from the start | SEO depends on template structure; may require extra work |
| Scalability | Easy to expand and adapt as your business grows | May require switching templates for major changes |
| Development Time | Longer build time due to the unique design process | Faster to launch with minimal customization |
| Cost | Higher initial investment, long-term value | Lower upfront cost, potential limits on ROI |
Choosing between the two often comes down to your priorities. Templates can be ideal for quick launches or smaller budgets, but they may lack the flexibility to fully support a growing brand.
At Comrade Digital Marketing in Chicago, we focus on creating custom designs that are strategically crafted to elevate your brand, improve user experience, and drive measurable results. With a custom approach, your website becomes a powerful tool tailored precisely to your business needs.
How Does Our Web Design Work Hand-In-Hand With Marketing?
At Comrade Digital Marketing in Chicago, we believe web design and marketing are inseparable when it comes to building a strong online presence. A well-designed website isn’t just visually appealing — it’s a powerful tool that drives engagement, builds trust, and turns visitors into loyal customers.
Here’s how our web design supports your marketing efforts:
- Optimized for conversions – layouts, CTAs, and navigation are built to guide visitors toward taking action.
- SEO-friendly structure – clean code, fast load times, and keyword-optimized content improve search visibility, courtesy of our SEO specialists.
- Brand-consistent visuals – designs that reinforce your brand identity across all marketing channels.
- Seamless user experience (UX) – intuitive navigation and mobile responsiveness keep visitors engaged longer.
- Integrated analytics – tracking tools to measure marketing performance directly from your site.
Our approach starts with understanding your business goals and target audience, ensuring every design decision supports your broader marketing strategy. From color schemes to content placement, every element works to attract and retain the right customers.
By uniting web design with marketing strategy, we help businesses create websites that don’t just look great but actively generate leads, boost search engine rankings, and boost ROI. The result is a cohesive digital presence that works for you 24/7.
Final Thoughts
At the beginning of this article, we discussed
Barr & Doud Attorneys wanted to improve their search engine results.
Once they identified their budget and started working with us to enhance their existing website, they were able to start growing. Two years later, they added three new attorneys to their firm to help them handle the increased business.
Do you need a good web design company to help your business grow? Then schedule a free consultation today.
