Manchester has a lively digital scene, which is good news and bad news if you need a website. Good, because there is no shortage of talent. Bad, because a search for a web design agency Manchester businesses use returns dozens of studios that all claim to be creative, strategic and results-driven. This checklist is meant to help you cut through the sameness and choose with confidence.
Start with your own brief, not their portfolio
Before you look at anyone's work, write down what the new site has to achieve. A one-page brief is enough. Cover:
- Who the site is for and what you want them to do (call, book, buy, enquire).
- Which pages you know you need, and which you are unsure about.
- What systems it must connect to, such as a booking tool, CRM or payment provider.
- Who will update content after launch and how comfortable they are with editing tools.
- Any hard deadline, like a product launch or trade show.
Agencies give far better proposals when they have this, and you will be able to spot who actually read it.
Reading a portfolio with a critical eye
Pretty screenshots prove very little. When you look at past projects, open the live sites on your phone. Check how fast pages load, whether forms work, and whether the navigation makes sense to someone who has never visited. Look for variety: if every site looks the same, you may get a lightly reskinned template. Ask which projects were similar in size and complexity to yours, and what the client's goal was.
What shapes the price of a website
Studios in the North West quote in very different ways, so comparing totals alone can mislead you. The factors that genuinely drive effort are:
- Number of unique layouts. Twenty pages that share three templates are cheaper than ten pages that all look different.
- Custom functionality. Member areas, calculators, booking flows and integrations take development time.
- Content. Copywriting, photography and video are often priced separately. Find out whether you are expected to supply them.
- CMS choice. WordPress, a headless CMS or a fully custom build each carry different setup and maintenance work.
- Ongoing care. Hosting, updates, backups and security monitoring are usually a monthly arrangement.
Ask for a line-by-line breakdown. A quote that is one figure with no detail makes it hard to know what you are dropping if budget is tight.
Compliance and practical housekeeping
Any business site serving UK visitors should handle UK GDPR properly. That means a clear privacy notice, consent before non-essential cookies load, and secure handling of form submissions. If you take payments, the provider should explain how card data is kept off your server. Accessibility also deserves attention: good contrast, keyboard navigation and descriptive alt text help real users and reduce legal risk for public-facing organisations.
Does the agency need to be in Manchester?
A local studio is handy for workshops and the occasional coffee. But most design work now happens through video calls, shared design files and project boards, even when the team is a short tram ride away. What matters is that they work during your hours, reply promptly, and give you one named person who owns the project. A remote team that meets those standards can be a strong option, especially if you also want help with things like custom software or search visibility later on.
Red flags worth noticing
- They quote before asking any questions about your goals.
- They will not say who owns the domain, hosting account and design files.
- Every answer about timelines is "it depends" with no ranges or milestones.
- There is no mention of testing on real devices before launch.
- Search optimisation is described as something you can "add later".
FAQ
Should I choose WordPress or a custom-built site?
WordPress is a sensible default for brochure and content-led sites because editors know it and plugins cover common needs. A custom build makes sense when you need unusual functionality or tight performance control. Ask the agency to justify its recommendation for your case.
How involved will I need to be?
Expect to give input at the start, approve designs, supply or review content, and test before launch. Projects stall most often when feedback takes weeks, so block time in your diary for review stages.
What happens after the site goes live?
There should be a short warranty period for fixing bugs, followed by an optional care plan. Make sure you receive logins, training on the editor, and documentation for anything custom.
Next step
If you are in Manchester or anywhere in the UK and want a second opinion on a brief or proposal, Export Apps is happy to help remotely. We design and build sites through our web development service. Send us a message and tell us what the site needs to do.