This document provides tips for selecting a digital agency to redesign a website. It discusses evaluating the agency's fit based on their strategy, design, technology and industry experience. Key questions to ask agencies include how they understand users, their design and prototyping processes, and strategies to increase revenue. The document also recommends confirming project deliverables such as the design process, CMS integration details, hosting, support and change management. The overall message is to evaluate an agency's capabilities and approach to ensure a good relationship and project outcome.

1. Selecting a Digital Agency
for Web Redesign - Top Tips
Piero Tintori – CEO & Founder
Defining Digital Engagement
for Higher Education

2. About me
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar
• CEO & Founder of TERMINALFOUR
• A WCMS & Digital Marketing Platform
for Higher Education
• 20 Years Web Development Experience
• We count more than 190+ of the world’s
most recognizable universities &
colleges as clients
Twitter: @pierotintori
piero.tintori@terminalfour.com

3. •The right fit..
•5 important evaluation tips
•Key questions to ask
•Confirming deliverables
Overview
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

4. The right fit…
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar
Potential areas of consideration:
Strategy / UX /
Marketing
TechnologyDesign
Project Scale /
Budget
Industry Geographic

5. The right fit
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

6. Strategy, Design & Technical Build
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

7. • Talk to your short list in advance
• Don’t ask for free “sample designs”
• The best agencies are very busy and evaluating you too
• Be clear about your budget, kpis and goals (at least a range)
• If you have challenges, be open, even “off the record”
• What type of relationship do you want?
• Don’t go over the top with a formal RFP…
Skill at answering a RFP ≠ creativity or project delivery
Requesting a proposal…
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

8. • If there is a budget & people fit, great way to evaluate
• What to look for:
• Are you happy with the design feel & build quality?
• Similar sized projects
• Industry experience
• But..
• Find your own reference contacts, talk to the clients
• Find out who were the actual team involved in the project
The Design Portfolio…
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

9. • Get to know actual project team members, in person
• What help do you need?
• What in-house skills are available to you?
• What are your strengths? identify your weaknesses
• In-house or remote resources?
• Do you need help with your “day to day”?
• It’s all about the relationship…
The Project Team
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

10. • Describe the process you undertake to really understand our
users and their desires. How do you find our “online unique
selling points”?
• If we start on X date, will the project manager specified be
available to work in the project?
• What prototyping techniques to you use? (Wireframes, live
prototypes)
• What strategies would you propose to increase revenue /
conversion on our website?
What questions to ask?
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

11. • How do you approach the design phase?
• Will you be undertaking the CMS integration? Will the
license (if commercial) be in my name? Can I contact the
CMS company directly for support?
• Where is my website hosted? What access will I have to the
server? Who is responsible for patching & security? Is it
monitored 24/7?
• Is all your work in-house? Any outsourced? Local,
international?
What questions to ask?
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

12. • Custom or existing template. Framework used?
• What devices and browsers are supported? What is the
warranty?
• Agree a change management process, what are the
constraints (time, # of templates etc.)
• Accessibility standards
• Responsibilities for content migration / authoring
• Technology (forms, CMS, search, custom code)
Confirming deliverables
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar

13. Conclusion

14. • Follow our Blog:
http://www.terminalfour.com/blog
• Our Higher Education Web Survey:
http://www.terminalfour.com/survey2016
• Follow me on twitter: @pierotintori & @terminalfour
Thank You
Selecting a Digital Agency Webinar