When it's time for your business to update or create your new website, it's crucial that you find the right agency or freelance web designer that meets your business requirements.
The main difference between a web design agency and a freelancer is that an agency consists of a structured group of people working together to complete a project, whereas freelancers work alone, without the backing of a company.
The first question you probably have is which is better when it comes to a web design agency vs freelance web designers. Which option will help fulfil your business goals? What if your chosen freelancer cannot handle your project?
This article will help guide you through the pros and cons of web design agencies vs freelance web designers to ensure you make the best decision for your business.
What Are Freelance Designers?
Freelance designers are individuals who work independently on web design projects. They work through the entire process by themselves, from the graphic design aspects right through to website coding.
Pros of Hiring Freelancers
Affordability
A freelancer will often come in at a reduced cost compared to a web design agency, as they have a much smaller overhead and expenses. As it is one person working solo on the website, their quote will generally be less expensive.
Flexibility
A freelancer may be more flexible when it comes to changing the terms and agreements of the project and the brief. They can easily adjust the brief's parameters as the project progresses or if you change your mind about the design, layout, or content.
Direct Communication
When you hire a freelancer to complete your website project, a great benefit is that you deal with the freelancer directly, so you get personal service from one point of contact throughout your project.
Specialisation
A freelance web designer will generally have specialised capabilities in specific areas. They may specialise in creating visually appealing designs and be good at graphic design, or they may be great at creating responsive web design. Some freelance web designers may also specialise in coding and web development, lending themselves to one avenue of expertise.
Cons of Hiring Freelancers
Reliability
A freelance web designer is not the most dependable when it comes to sticking to budgets or time restraints, as there is no chain of command and no accountability. As they are free agents, they may not be completely reliable.
No Supervisors - Limited Perspectives and Ideas
One of the downfalls is that there is no one directing the process. A freelancer relies solely on their own perspective and ideas. There are no team brainstorming sessions to collaborate and swap ideas in order to find the greatest inspiration for your website.
Less Structure
A freelancer with less experience may not have a structured approach to a project. Without a team to handle the various aspects of a project, all the roles and responsibilities that would normally fall across a whole team now fall solely on the freelancer to complete.
Specialisation in Only One Field
While freelancers may have a speciality, it is usually limited to one specific field. They may lack experience and expertise in areas where you require expert advice. Having great experience in one aspect may result in an overall limited service.
Unavailability
If the freelancer is busy with another client, taking a personal day, or inundated with business, they may be unavailable when you need to speak to them. This could potentially be an issue or delay your website.
Hard to Replace
If your freelancer fails to deliver or something happens and they cannot complete your project, you will need to look for a replacement designer. This would cause delays, and you could possibly lose any deposits or payments already made.
Fewer Resources Available
A freelancer has fewer resources and, therefore, less capacity to handle more complex projects. With limited resources, a freelance web designer may not be able to accomplish exactly what you require.
Longer Turnaround Time
Freelance web designers generally go through stages where they have a lighter workload and where there is a heavy workload. If they have multiple websites to complete, your project may get delayed. If there are other marketing aspects that rely on the website's completion, this could start a domino-delay effect. One person can generally only handle one project properly at a time.
Less Reliable Communication
Potentially, you may find that it is difficult to communicate with a freelance designer, especially if they are on the other side of the world. Additionally, if they are juggling multiple clients simultaneously, you may find that it is hard to get hold of them when you need to.
What is a Web Design Agency?
Web design agencies are professional firms that specialise in web design. A web design agency is a team of experts with existing development processes to ensure you get your completed website on time. Their services are often a lot more diverse and are not limited to one specialised area.
Pros of Hiring a Web Design Agency
Guarantee of Quality
Web agencies have a reputation to uphold and, as such, they guarantee top quality throughout your website's design. By hiring a website design company, you know that they will work on your project until you are satisfied with the results.
Experience and Expertise
A creative web design agency will have a team of professional designers with collective experience and expertise. You are afforded a group of professionals who take on your web project and run with it.
Fast Turnaround Time
Because there is a team of professionals working on your web design project, you can expect faster turnaround times. Their creative collaboration tends to ensure faster service delivery, creating happier clients.
More Resources
Agencies have greater resources available. They know the benefits of working with the best tools and software and provide the best solutions to complete your project requirements. Because they have more resources, there will also always be someone to work on your website.
Better Project Management
Web design agencies have competent project managers who run their teams efficiently. A project manager will ensure that each team member is accountable for their own part of the project and that they complete it correctly and on time.
Long-Term Support
You are guaranteed to have long-term support when working with a reliable, established company and web design team. A firmly rooted business gives you peace of mind, knowing you will have someone to call to assist you with your future questions and requirements.
More Services
An agency can offer a variety of services that are not limited to pure web design. They can possibly offer creative design, websites that are mobile and desktop compatible, brand awareness and an intuitive user-friendly experience.
Cons of Hiring Web Design Agencies
Higher Cost
A web design company may be more expensive to hire than a freelancer. Additionally, the more complex the project, the higher the costs will be.
More Structured But Less Direct Communication
You may not have direct communication with the web designers, as there are specified and structured communication channels within the company. Usually, you are likely to only deal with the company' representative.
They Offer Too Much
Design agencies generally offer many services; however, you may not require all of them. Instead, they may offer package-only deals when you need a simple solution that a web designer could fulfil.
Other Clients
With any design agency, you may find that, as they are working on multiple clients and various projects, they cannot prioritise your project. Your project may go into a workflow system and be lined up after other client projects.
How to Choose The Best Option For Your Project
When choosing between a website design agency and a freelance designer, you need to weigh up the benefits and disadvantages of each option. Ensure that you make an informed decision as to whether working with a freelancer or a full-house agency would be more suitable to fulfil the requirements of your project. Consider your budget, time constraints, and the complexity of the request.
You need to consider your project's specific needs. If you have a simple website that needs to be built or a quick and simple request, then it may be worthwhile asking a freelancer to complete your request. However, if you have a more complex web development requirement, you should probably consider using a design agency.
Conclusion
Ryde Agency is an award-winning full-house web design agency. We create and develop bespoke websites and specialise in ExpressionEngine. From web design and planning to competitor analysis and user experiences, we have your web needs covered.
Contact Ryde and gain access to a team of professional designers who are ready to collaborate on your project. You are guaranteed the best service and product to ensure an exceptional digital presence.