Although we do work with a fair number of startups at Biondo Creative, the majority of our new clients are established companies with existing websites.
That means that, for one reason or another, they are often switching web designers. Maybe it’s the case that they’ve outgrown their old firm. Or, it might be that the previous vendor one out of business. Sadly, it’s not unusual for us to hear from someone simply because their previous web design and online marketing team wasn’t getting the job done.
It doesn’t really matter to us why someone turns to us, only that we can help them get their sales and marketing efforts moving on the right track. That’s easier, though, if they can make a fresh start and commit to getting the right results. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.
To help you understand why (and avoid frustrating mistakes along the way), let’s look at four mistakes clients sometimes make when switching web designers…
#1 Not Being Patient with a New Vendor
It’s natural, if you were constantly having your patience tested by your old web design firm, to make sure that your new team is going to be on the ball. However, no matter how good a creative team is, they aren’t going to be able to give you all of the answers and progress you want right away. Do your best to give them a couple of months to settle in and see how things are going before you make any snap judgments about the quality of their work.
#2 Holding on to Old Mistakes
Clients can hold onto old mistakes in a couple of ways. One is by insisting they continue failing campaigns that were already in place even though things weren’t working out. The other is punishing a new creative team for mistakes made by another vendor, or questioning every decision or concept they come up with in the process. The past is the past. You can learn from it, but you can’t undo it. So, don’t get caught in the trap of trying to rewrite history with your new vendor.
#3 Making Decisions Without Good Information
This runs contrary to our last piece of advice but it’s worth mentioning. In the same way that business owners and executives sometimes hold onto ideas that didn’t pan out, they will also occasionally push us to “throw out the baby with the bathwater.” By that we mean dump campaigns that show promise earlier than we should. Your new web design team should dig into your coding and analytics to see what is and isn’t working on your site. Wait for that information before making final decisions.
#4 Being Afraid of New Things
Your new web design and online marketing team is probably going to do things differently than your last vendor did. Hopefully, that change will be for the better – after all, that’s why you’re making the switch in the first place. Don’t be afraid to experiment or let them try new tactics on your behalf. They might not succeed with everything they do, but you can’t grow unless you keep moving forward and reaching out to customers in innovative ways. In the world of online marketing a fear of failure will always hold you back.
Are You Ready to Make the Switch?
If you feel like you aren’t getting the right attention, service, or results from your current Web design and online marketing partner, it might be time to look in a different direction. Contact Biondo Creative in Yardley today to see what we can do for you.