The Bay Area in California has more "web designers" per square mile than anywhere else in the world. This is good for the customer, as you have a greater choice, but it can also be a bad thing as so many of them have the skill to build a site, but not the vision to make sure its successful.

Following is some information on the different type of web designers you are likely to come across in the Bay Area.

There are four types of web designers in the bay Area:

• The professional web design company
• The freelance designer
• The student tying to build his portfolio
• The part-time computer enthusiasts

Below we will explain the benefits and pit falls of each of these designers

The professional design company

If you have a good-sized budget and your needs are specific, it is always best to go with professional web design. A professional web design company will not just try to please the client, but it will also make sure that the site is going to achieve its goal should that be selling a product or advertising a service.

Pros

• Quality
• Reliability
• After-sales support
• They can handle any project
• They will build the site for clients customers rather than the client

Cons

• Expensive
• You will just be another customer to them

The freelance designer

Most freelance web designers work alone. This is good as they’re usually more flexible with pricing. They may not have other resources to call upon, such as marketing or SEO, but they do offer a better one-on-one service than a professional company.

Pros

• Less expensive than a professional company
• Better one-on-one services
• More focused on the success of your site, as they are trying to build a loyal client base

Cons

• They usually specialize is one thing: Design, programming or SEO or they are semi-skilled in all
• If they decide to do something else, their business is gone and so is your support

The Student tying to build his portfolio

Everyone starts here as, in this industry, you can get into a design house without a portfolio. What this means for you is CHEAP (sometimes even free) and a willingness to please.

Pros

• Very Cheap
• Dedicated one-on-one service

Cons

• They will be more inclined to try and give you what you want rather than create a site that will be successful
• Very limited resources and experience
• You will have to work around their schedule
• Little or no after-sales service

The part time computer enthusiasts

In the Bay Area, pretty much everyone has had some computer experience. What this has spawned is the computer enthusiast that thinks because they published a page online that they can build a website for a business. What it actually means is you will get a site that has no cross platform compatibility, zero search engine optimizing, no collapsible layouts and zero returns on your investment.

Pros

• I'll get back to you on that

Cons

• Your customers will have no respect for your product or service if the first introduction to it is from a shabby made site.