India has become a top global destination for outsourcing web design work thanks to the abundance of agencies and freelancers offering services at extremely budget-friendly rates. For startups and small businesses, this can be an incredibly cost-effective way to build an impressive online presence without breaking the bank.
However, when looking for an affordable web design company in India, try to avoid certain common mistakes that can lead to disappointing outcomes after the project kicks off. India has some incredibly talented designers, but also many subpar companies drawn in by the high overseas demand.
In this post, we’ll outline key pitfalls when selecting an Indian web design partner on a startup budget and how to steer clear of them.
Not Checking Portfolios Thoroughly
Failing to thoroughly examine past work is a huge mistake many frugal business owners make. Just because a provider offers cheap rates doesn’t mean their design skills measure up.
Scrutinize their portfolio closely for things like UI/UX design, responsiveness, visual cohesiveness, and functionality on past projects similar to yours. Are the sites they’ve designed something you’d be proud of? Paying a little more for proven design talent is better than rebuilding a shoddy site later.
Not Asking for Client References
Along with portfolios, it’s smart to request client references and speak to some. This gives insight into overall working relationships beyond design capabilities.
What was the design process like? How responsive were they in iterating the site and addressing issues? Were there massive cost overruns or delays? Client references provide a reality check beyond sales pitches and slick portfolios.
Lack of Detailed Project Proposals
Reputable companies will provide a comprehensive written proposal detailing the full scope of work, project stages, milestones, timeline estimates, and payment terms. Some cheap web designers skip this crucial step and use vague verbal agreements.
A detailed proposal sets clear expectations so there are no surprises down the road. Its absence opens the doors for miscommunications, confusion, and scope creep blowing your budget.
No Technical Alignment
Failing to ask technical questions early is an easily avoided misstep. Not all affordable web design companies in India have expertise across all platforms and languages. Clarify must-have tech capabilities like expertise in WordPress vs custom development.
Also consider long-term support needs around security, hosting, backups, speed optimization, etc. Get aligned on technology from the start.
Unclear Milestones & Payment Terms
Another common pitfall is not establishing formal milestones, deliverables & payment schedules in writing. Without this, some budget web designers try slashing corners or delivering shoddy interim drafts hoping to get paid whatever they can.
Define milestones around design drafts, content input, testing, revisions, etc. And tie installment payments to their satisfactory completion so you only pay for work done.
No Project Management Process
Lacking formal project management is a recipe for mismatched expectations, confusion, and cost overruns. Ensure your provider uses proper PM methods like staging, issue tracking, change controls, burn-down charts, etc. This keeps everyone aligned and the website built on track.
Final Thoughts
By sidestepping these common mistakes upfront, finding a capable and affordable web design company in India can be a great experience resulting in an impressive end product. Define your needs, vet providers thoroughly, get proposals in writing, and avoid these pitfalls.
Also Read: Find Out Which On-Page Element Carries The Most Weight For SEO!