What is the #1 reason you select a design company?
 

Since it seems there are a million of us designers on here I figured I'd post a poll that would help us all. =]

family

Hey Mark, I've been trying to get ahold of you.. shoot me a message when you get a chance..

jeff @ wow18.com
102707188

Well I am Sicilian. =]

Nobody's Perfect

The person running the site makes a lot of difference, some people have a great attitude, but I never get work (when I don't have time to do it myself) from somebody who treats me like a shit, no matter how good their stuff is.

(not aimed at anybody on this board, just a general statement)

If a designer lives in Washington that should be a red flag.

Unless you need a Gay site!

pfft.

Don't forget the snuff (or something) niche sites

I dont think its anyone thing that makes a person pick a desigh company its a little of everything. Your poll needs more options like trust and time(how fast someone can get it done) :2 cents:

Nice!

Need that All of the Above option. =]

Interesting results here. I'm surprised only one person picked reputation. It isn't difficult to find designers who do excellent looking work but to be assured the stuff is going to make you money would generally be a function of reputation I think.

Well I guess I learned something today. =] My thanks to those who voted.

can I ask Mark, will you be making any strategic adjustments based on the results of your poll, or was this merely a previously unfulfilled curiousity?

Well it helps me finalize a decision on a buyout of a design studio here in NY. I was on the fence as to whether it was going to be worth it or not but apparently so. I guess perceived value can be more important than actual, ya know?

lol.... I kinda figured that was a given.... :winkwink:

congrats on the buyout... :thumbsup

Given perhaps but kinda sad too. You'd figure a business person would care more about profit than anything but the ego is an interesting beast.

In any case... from one designer to another: Love your work, man!

quality is definitely important i'd rather pay the extra money for the better design

Hey Mark... Hit me on ICQ when you get a sec. 12636661

Actually, the reason I choose on is not listed: graphics skills that have the proven ability to convert traffic into sales.

A design may look nice and everything but if it doesn't convert, its useless.

Conversions are your job man..... doesn't matter if the site is a $4k masterpiece or a $2 buck college boy wonder..... if you don't promote the fucker right and it doesn't convert, that's hardly the designers problem.

That's always been my whole point. =] But I think guys want to be impressed more than they want it to convert sometimes. However a dose of both is always nice for sure. So to that end I'm gonna do this buyout and combine my ability to convert - retain (and thus guarantee my work) with the level of skills these guys doing broadcast media have. Time to warp to the next level...

I like dealing with someone I know, mostly someone I know in person. I like Ryan from adultwebgraphicshttp://www.adultwebgraphics.com/ . He's professional, he's fast, he's fucking fun to work with, and he doesn't quit until I'm happy. I've also used Hungryman and he's done good for us.

As much as I love your work, I gotta disagree with you on that one (to a point anyway). SOme of the best looking designs don't include any of the elements needed to convert properly. SOme awesome looking members areas cant retain either. Just like you pay an ad firm to make a commercial that gets you SALES, you should pay a design firm that delivers a site that gives you sales.

The only thing I leave out of that equation is if your client is getting nothing but crap traffic. I guarantee a 1 in 500 Conversion on a free tour design but not if you only send it exit traffic from a farm sex TGP. =]

and I'll agree with what you said Mark, but you know why I said what I did..... it's because people will be beating down the door tomorrow for a 'converting site!' and yes.... there are elements in design that are geared towards making the sale. I know. I was in commercial production prior to coming to online adult. I understand the principles behind crafting an ad. :winkwink:

But I tend not to open up that much in discussion of it here on the board because of what I just said. People tend not to understand such things. You and I can both look at some new kids first paysite front and pick it apart in less than a minute. And not with the standard, "That sucks", but with real flaws in the overall design of the ad. 99% of the observers AND the people involved in the creation of that site will not understand one damn word of the critique.

SO.... while I agree with everything you said, I'll still continue to dumb it down to promotional aspects for the sake of the masses when it comes to a topic of converting versus non-converting, because most simply don't understand.

I need to hire a writer for my shit, because if I could say what I just said, in blue collar terms, on my site, I'd be rich. :winkwink:

I think I followed it Amputate. =]

So the next question of course is where will we be in 10 years? Designing interactive TV basically or will this web still be a primarily 2D environment?