Web services
What to look for in a Hampshire web design agency (a marketing manager’s checklist)
Looking for a web design agency in Hampshire? This checklist covers what marketing managers should watch for, from strategy and process to design quality, support and results. If your business has outgrown its old site, this’ll help you choose a partner who actually gets it.
If you’re comparing options for web design in Hampshire, you’ll know the field’s crowded. Everyone claims to “get results” or “put you first”, but what actually matters when choosing an agency?
If you're a marketing manager or director looking to invest in a new website, here's a practical checklist to help you spot the difference between flashy fluff and the real deal.
✅ 1. Proven experience with results to match
Start by looking at work. Not just pretty screens, but examples that match your business needs, whether that's bookings, enquiries, or showcasing a tricky offer with clarity.
For example, Hampshire-based PHA Homes needed to refresh a clunky old site that confused users. We rebuilt it from scratch, making it more accessible, mobile-friendly, and genuinely easy to manage. They said:
“From initial meeting to final handover the process has been clear, concise and completed within the agreed timelines. We are delighted with the end product and would highly recommend them.”
You want an agency with a track record of building sites that work, not just ones that look nice.
✅ 2. Starts with discovery, not assumptions
Great websites don’t start with code. They start with understanding — your goals, your users, your bottlenecks, your weird edge cases.
Avoid agencies that jump straight into visuals without asking the right questions. You want someone who challenges the brief (nicely), helps shape your strategy, and collaborates with you to get it right.
Our process begins with discovery: real conversations, research, and clear goals. It’s built around marketing leaders who need clarity before design.
Bonus tip: ask to see their docs. If they don’t have a tidy planning system, run.
✅ 3. Clear process, collaborative vibe
A solid web project should feel like a team-up, not a black box. That means regular check-ins, shared docs, progress you can see, and no surprise unveilings.
At Rubber Duckers, we split projects into clear stages: planning, design, creative production, build and handover. You’ll always know what’s happening and what we need from you.
Our Hampshire client Bridge Beauty said:
“They made the whole process easy and explained everything clearly, step by step. I felt included in every part of the design and build.”
Look for a team that brings you in, not shuts you out.
✅ 4. Custom design, never cookie‑cutter
Your business isn’t generic. Your website shouldn’t be either.
Ask if they design from scratch or squeeze everyone into the same theme. Templates can be fast, but they’re often rigid and stale. You’ll know you’ve found a proper creative partner when they treat your brand like it deserves its own blueprint.
Every site we build is tailored, from the visuals down to the editing experience. That means it's easier to use, more scalable, and future‑proof.
✅ 5. Visual storytelling that connects
A site isn't just pages. It’s your digital first impression. Visual content, from custom photography to branded video, makes that impression stick.
We plan content alongside the design, so your site isn’t relying on stock photos or placeholder fluff. Want real video of your team in action? Behind‑the‑scenes storytelling? Sorted.
The result is a site that actually reflects who you are, not just what you sell.
✅ 6. Built for humans and Google
SEO-friendly structure. Clear user journeys. Speedy mobile performance. The technical stuff matters, but so does the overall experience.
You want a site that’s fast, intuitive, and makes it easy for someone to take action. Whether that’s booking a call, buying a product, or just understanding what makes you different.
A good agency will talk about structure, content strategy and conversion. Not just fonts and colours.
✅ 7. Long-term support (not vanish-at-launch energy)
The best agencies won’t ghost you the second your site goes live. They’ll stick around to help you keep it updated, secure, and evolving.
That might look like training, a care plan, or ongoing creative support. Whatever the model, look for a team that treats your site as a long‑term asset, not a one‑and‑done project.
We offer care plans and content packages designed to grow with you. Because the best websites don’t sit still.
✅ 8. People you actually like working with
This one’s underrated.
You’re going to spend weeks (maybe months) talking to this team. You’ll be reviewing drafts, making decisions, hitting roadblocks. It helps, massively, if you like how they communicate.
Our clients often say they “enjoyed the whole process” or “felt heard and understood.” That’s no accident. We keep it warm, jargon‑free and genuinely collaborative. It's baked into how we work.
If this article has been useful, let us know!
If you’re looking for web design in Hampshire and want a team that mixes personality with process, creativity with clarity, we’d love to chat.
Book a no-pressure intro call →
Or if you’re not ready to talk yet, have a browse through our process and docs. It’s all there, clear as day.
Let’s make something you’re proud to show off. 🧡
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