Choosing the agency that builds your brand and website shapes how your business looks and performs for years. The good news is that a few sharp questions separate the safe choices from the risky ones. Here is what to ask and what to watch for.
Look at the work, not the words
A portfolio tells you more than a pitch. Does their work look distinctive and varied, or like the same template recoloured? Can they show results, not just pictures?
Ask who actually does the work
Will you work with the people designing and building, or an account manager relaying messages to juniors? The answer tells you a lot about quality and speed.
Check what you own
You should own your brand and your site outright, with no lock-in to a platform you cannot leave. Ask plainly what happens if you part ways.
Understand what happens after launch
A brand and site are the start, not the end. Ask how they handle the growth afterwards, and whether support is a real relationship or a ticket queue.
Warning signs
- Guarantees of a number-one Google ranking.
- No clear pricing or scope.
- A portfolio you cannot verify is live.
- Pressure to sign before you understand the work.
Where we land
russle is built to pass these tests: you work directly with the team, you own everything, and the relationship continues through the growth after launch. Send us a line and ask us anything on this list.