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Build a flexible platform with longevity by working with an experienced agency.

At first, it may seem like a great idea. Why spend the extra money on hiring a web design agency, when you could just hire a freelance designer who will build you a site at a fraction of the cost? Easy. It all comes down to what happens during and after the site is built. What started as a cost-cutting alternative can quickly escalate into a cumbersome expenditure for you and your company. While it’s true in theory that a freelance designer can create an equally beautiful website, their resources in helping that site reach its fullest potential is extremely limited. And for those resources that are available an added price tag comes with them. Let’s take a look at three reasons why you should hire an agency over a freelancer.

Backend Support

When you hire a agency, you’re not only hiring them for their expertise, but also their capabilities. Most offer an extensive list of value added services—from dedicated serversand SEO to social and marketing expertise. An agency’s goal isn’t to build you a website, it’s to build you a successful web presence. Sure, a freelancer can build you a beautiful site, but their ability to assist you with peripheral needs is very limited. They may be able to offer the name of someone who can assist you with a service outside their wheelhouse, but keep in mind that each person comes with a new price tag. And without project coordination or a director, you begin to form a disjointed team with little to no organization. 

A Dedicated Team

When you hire a freelancer, what you see is what you get. You’re hiring an individual to build a website. However, when you hire an agency, you’re getting an entire team working behind the scenes to ensure your site is built properly. From Account Managers who ensure your company’s needs are being met to Designers who create multiple looks for the site to Programmers who are constantly coding and testing your site to ensure it’s functioning correctly. You may never meet the entire team, but with an agency, you know you’re getting the culmination of individual expertise, rather than an individual who’s only proficient in a few areas. 

Timeline and Budget

When you hire a freelancer, you’re hiring an individual whose income depends on multiple, ongoing projects. That could mean a lack of focus on your project or a delayed delivery, if they find themselves overwhelmed with the workload. Eventually, you’re likely to end up with multiple freelancers you have to coordinate and keep on task. With an agency, you’re already receiving a dedicated team. That means, if one designer is overwhelmed, another designer can step in and keep the project on track. So while a freelancer may seem cheaper and easier, added costs and unforeseen circumstances could lead them to become an even more expensive option. 

While we only touched upon three reasons as to why it’s best to hire a design agency over a freelancer, there are many, many more. Freelancers may be the best option for small assignments but for complex projects, such as building a website, a web design agency is always your best bet. They’re resources, capabilities, expertise and knowledge are unrivaled in comparison. You’ll always end up with a more effective and efficient product and in the end, isn’t that what you want to pay for?

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