I will quickly summarise the difference between these 2 options so that you understand the difference and why you would choose one over the other.
What’s the difference?
A Freelancer Web Designer usually works independently from either their own office or home and would also be your main point of contact. The Freelancer would provide all services, e.g. customer service, accounts, web design and any other services that you require.
A Web Design Agency would usually have an actual businesses premises although post COVID era, it is widely accepted that businesses no longer have premises however, this would be the extreme case. The main difference is the staff that would work on each project. Specialist staff would focus on specific parts of the project, i.e. a designer would focus on the… design and the developer would… you get the picture.
What are the pro’s and con’s for both options?
Cost is the big one really although you can expect to pay ‘agency rates’ or higher if the freelancer has a track record of success, e.g. multiple awards or worked for global organisations. Agency fees are higher as their overheads are higher. You are not just paying for rent either, as the old saying goes, two hears are better than one. Having specialists working on different parts of the website usually yields a more thought out and designed website, however this does not always happen, more on that later.
Flexibility should also be mentioned, a Freelancer is much more likely to work with you when the brief changes (it always changes!) whereas you will usually confirm to the parameters set out by the Agency.
Timescales could be different too, a Freelancer (depending on their workload) would usually knock out a website quicker than an agency as the project will most likely be started and finished without waiting for other staff to complete their bits. On the flip side if the project is large than an agency could excel in this area therefore, reducing the time.
Things to watch out for
There are things that you should be aware of with both options, it’s like the wild wild west out there! Don’t forget, the web design industry is not regulated, there are standards for things like writing code, design etc but in terms of doing business, no-one is going to help you with a rogue web designer, you’re own!
Junior web designers are present in a lot of web design agencies, some businesses get charged agency fees but yet their website is designed and built by a junior web designer, needless to say that this is not ideal, not for the money anyway, best ask who exactly will be doing what.
Sticking with the same concept, who exactly is working on the project? Sometimes web design agencies sub out the work to overseas web designers, I’ve personally had this happen to a client, the deal breaking bombshell was dropping during a meeting where I was present on a consultancy basis, after the client spent £180,000 already… ouch! Oh by the way the subcontractor was ill and run off!
Freelancers can be super unreliable, this is the most common issue that arises, inconsistent results due to the fact that the freelancer is over worked or simply doesn’t know what they are doing. Or they just take your money and make excuses as to why they missed your 5th deadline!
Another issue with freelancers and agencies is a subtle concept that you should understand and that’ ‘ego’. When you (constructively) dismiss something that has been carefully thought about or you ask for changes to something, this can and often leads to heated conversations, basically you can get the back up and I don’t mean their files and folders! Designers can really get ‘funny’ about feedback, especially designers! Communication, professionalism and solid processes all help to make a smooth project outcome, do not underestimate the need for these.
It’s a wrap
To summarise, Freelancers should be cheaper than Agencies, you should get senior professionals in key areas working on your website with an agency, if you aren’t then whats the point in paying higher fees, go for a Freelancer instead. There are pro’s and con’s for both, it’s worth pointing out that the user experience (UX Design) should be catered for along with a finalised brand guideline. In addition, the technical side of the website should also be looked at, does it work properly on mobile devices, is it optimised for speed etc.
Find a UK based Web Design Agency
If you want an agency here in the UK ashfordwebdesign.co.uk has been going for almost 20 years, its staff have never changed since it’s inception which speaks for itself.
Find a UK based Freelance Web Designer
If you would prefer to hire a freelancer, try quadtechnology.co.uk, Shakeel Quadri is a coveted veteran when it comes to web design, he understands UX Design, Web Design, Software Development and Digital Marketing.