10 criteria to check when commissioning a corporate website

Your corporate website is your brand’s storefront and often the first point of contact with customers. A poor choice wastes time and budget and may mean rebuilding the site within a few years. Below we go through ten criteria to look at when you compare proposals and agencies for a new website.

1. Performance and speed

The first thing users expect from a website is speed. A slow-loading corporate website can lead to visitor abandonment and damage your brand's professional image. Fast page load times directly impact user experience and are a significant factor in search engine rankings. Optimized images, efficient caching mechanisms, and a reliable server infrastructure are fundamental steps to boost your site's performance and ensure a smooth user journey.

2. User experience (UX) and design

When making a website selection, a user-friendly interface and aesthetic design are essential. Your visitors should be able to navigate your site easily, find the information they need effortlessly, and have a positive experience. A modern, mobile-responsive design that reflects your brand identity helps you connect with your target audience and earn their trust. Good UX ultimately drives conversion rates and helps you achieve your business objectives.

3. Security and data protection

In a world of increasing cyber threats, corporate website security must be a top priority. An SSL certificate (HTTPS), regular security updates, a solid backup strategy, and adherence to data protection regulations (like GDPR, CCPA) are non-negotiable. Safeguarding customer data and sensitive information is important for both legal compliance and brand reputation. This is one of the most sensitive points among what to consider when building a corporate site.

4. Mobile responsiveness

With the widespread use of mobile devices for internet access, it is essential that your website adapts smoothly to every screen size. A responsive design ensures that your visitors have an excellent experience on smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers alike. Given Google's mobile-first indexing policy, mobile compatibility is also important for your SEO performance and overall online visibility.

5. SEO friendliness

For potential customers to easily find you on search engines, your corporate website must have an SEO-friendly structure. Clean URLS, appropriate meta tags, fast indexing capabilities, semantic HTML, and compliance with technical SEO principles will help you rank higher in organic search results. A strong SEO foundation means long-term visibility and traffic gains, independent of your marketing budget.

6. Scalability and flexibility

As your business grows, your website needs to keep pace. The platform and infrastructure you choose should offer scalability, allowing you to meet future needs, add new features, or expand existing functionalities. Easy integration capabilities with other business systems like CRM and ERP will enhance your operational efficiency. This flexibility is a forward-looking investment among what to consider when building a corporate site.

7. Ease of management and content updatability

Your website's administration panel should allow you to easily add, edit, or update content without requiring technical expertise. Choosing a user-friendly Content Management System (CMS) such as WordPress or Drupal enables you to implement your content marketing strategies smoothly and ensures your site remains current. Ease of management reduces operational burden, saving you time and cost in the long run.

8. Technical support and maintenance services

When making a website selection, the quality of support services offered after project completion should also be considered. Prompt response times for potential technical issues, regular maintenance services, and security updates guarantee the continuous smooth operation of your website. Reliable support is key to maintaining business continuity during unexpected disruptions and ensuring your digital presence remains solid.

9. Cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI)

When investing in a corporate website, it's important to evaluate not just initial setup costs, but also long-term maintenance, update, and marketing expenses. The cheapest solution isn't always the best; calculate your potential return on investment (ROI) to align your budget accordingly. A high-quality site can lead to more customers, better brand reputation, and ultimately higher profits in the long term.

10. Analytics and reporting capabilities

Measuring your website's performance and understanding user behavior are key for optimizing your marketing strategies. Easy integration with tools like Google Analytics allows you to track visitor numbers, page views, conversion rates, and other essential metrics. Detailed analytics and reporting capabilities help you to make data-driven decisions for measuring the success of your website selection and driving continuous improvements.

A corporate website is far more than just an online brochure; it's the centre of your business online. By paying attention to the 10 criteria outlined above, your website selection will guarantee your brand's online success and add significant value to your business in the long run. Moving forward with a solid list of what to consider when building a corporate site is the first step towards building your future on strong foundations.