So, how do you choose the right web designer for your small, local business? Here’s what you need to look for (and avoid) when hiring a professional web designer.
Stuff to Know About Your Web Designer
1. Check Out Their Work
A designer can promise you the world, but their portfolio will show you their actual work. Look at the websites they’ve built — do they look professional? Are they easy to navigate? Do they work well on mobile? If you own a small business, have they designed websites for small businesses? If you’re looking for an e-commerce website, can they show you examples? A good designer should have examples of past projects that prove they can do what they say they can do. And don’t just look at the screenshots — visit some of the actual websites to see them in action.
View my work: You’ll find some of my work on my web design portfolio.
2. Will They Take Time to Learn About Your Business?
A website should be tailored to your specific business, not just thrown together from a template. Will the designer take time to understand your business, goals, and target audience before starting the project? Before any work starts, a good web designer will ask questions about you, your business, your branding, and the look and feel you want for the website. This should all be taken into consideration as they customize the design to ensure the website accurately portrays your business.
How I work: Before I even write a written proposal (next on my list!) we’ll talk about all of this. I’ll want to see any current website and marketing materials you have so that can all be incorporated into your new website. I’ll also ask for links to some websites you like, so I get an idea of the style you are looking for.
3. Will They Provide a Written Proposal?
A professional web designer should provide a written proposal detailing what is included, how many pages you’ll get, pricing, and payment options. This ensures everyone is on the same page before work begins.
How I work: Absolutely! All of the above will be included.
4. What Is Their Process and Timeline?
Ask your designer their process and how long it will take to complete your site. A good designer should be able to give you an estimated timeframe and keep you updated along the way. Just keep in mind that the timeline will depend on you and your designer working together.
My timeline: Depending on the complexity of your website, I generally estimate 6 to 8 weeks to complete a new website, sometimes less.
Techy Stuff to Know About Your Website
5. What Platform Do They Use?
Different designers specialize in different website-building platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix. Each has its pros and cons, depending on your needs. Ask which platform they use and why. If you need flexibility and scalability, WordPress is often the best choice, while Wix and Squarespace can be easier for beginners. WordPress is the platform I use most often and highly recommend.
My preferred platform: WordPress is my primary platform, with the Divi theme, although I do also work with Squarespace if requested.
6. Make Sure the Domain Is in Your Name
This is super important! Your website’s domain name (yourbusiness.com) should always be registered in your name, not the designer’s or their company’s. This ensures you retain full control over your website. If your designer registers it under their account, you could run into issues if you ever decide to switch designers or take full ownership. Ask how domain registration will be handled. If you don’t own the domain, an unscrupulous designer can hijack your website! In cases like this you may be faced with filing a lawsuit or changing your domain name, both of which can be costly.
How I work: The domain and website hosting will be registered in your name.
7. Who Will Provide the Content?
Content—both text and images—is a critical part of any website. Some designers offer content writing and image sourcing, while others expect you to provide everything. Ask if content creation is included in the package or if you need to supply your own text and images. If they don’t provide these services, can they recommend someone who does?
How I work: You will provide the content. If you need recommendations for a copywriter, let me know.
8. Who Owns the Website and Its Contents?
Make sure you own your website when it’s finished! Some designers use proprietary systems that make it difficult to move your site elsewhere. Ask upfront: When the site is completed, will you have full ownership of the files, content, and design?
How I work: Once I complete the website, you will be the sole owner. (If you hire a copywriter, you’ll need to be sure you own the copywrite any content they create for you.)
9. Do They Follow SEO Best Practices?
Designing a good-looking website is only part of your designer’s job. If they don’t understand the basics of local SEO (Search Engine Optimization), your site might look great but never get found by potential customers. Ask if they include any SEO, especially for service-based businesses that rely on local clients.
How I work: As I design your website, I’ll follow SEO best practices but it’s important to know SEO optimization is not an exact science and should be part of an ongoing effort.
10. Web Hosting: What Are Your Options?
Will the designer host your website, or do they recommend a third-party hosting company? If they recommend one, ask what their experience has been. What can they tell you about the hosting company’s reliability, speed, and security? Look up reviews to see what other users say. It’s important to have a reliable hosting company so your website is available, fast-loading, and secure.
My recommendations: For domain hosting I use NameSilo and for website hosting I use BigScoots.
11. How Are Security and Backups Handled?
Your website should be protected from hackers and backed up regularly. Ask how security will be managed. Will they install SSL certificates, use security plugins, or provide routine backups? If something happens, how easy is it to restore your site? If they don’t offer this service, will the hosting company do it? Or, do the recommend a third-party service?
My recommendation: My normal recommendation is using BigScoots for hosting and ProtectYourWP for the security/backup service. If you’re using a different hosting company, you’ll need to find out if they offer such services.
After Your Website is Launched
12. Will Any Training Be Offered?
After your website is launched, will you be able to make updates yourself? Ask if they offer training to show you how to log in and make changes, and if so, what the cost is. Some designers include a basic tutorial, while others charge extra for in-depth training sessions.
How I work: With every new website, I include a Zoom session to show you how to make changes to your website.
13. Do they Offer Ongoing Support?
Websites require ongoing attention. You’ll need occasional updates, fixes, new pages, and maybe even a redesign at some point. Do they offer a monthly contract for ongoing support, or do you pay only when needed? Some designers provide maintenance plans. Others, like me, offer ongoing support and only charge when my services are needed. Know what to expect so you aren’t left stranded when something needs attention.
How I work: I do offer ongoing support on an as-needed basis. You only pay for the time I spend working on your website. No contract is required.
14. What Happens If You Need to Switch Designers?
It’s important to know what happens if the designer is no longer available or if you decide to switch designers. Will they help you transfer your website to another provider, or do they lock you into their services? If they simply can’t be reached, will you or another designer be able to access and manage the website? Make sure you won’t be stuck with a site you can’t move or manage on your own if something happens.
Hopefully you won’t leave me! But if you do need to find a new designer, you shouldn’t have any problems finding someone who can help. I use WordPress and the Divi theme, which many designers work with.
Ready to Find YOUR Right Web Designer?
Choosing a web designer doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Do your research, ask the right questions, and trust your gut. If you’re looking for a designer who understands small businesses, knows local SEO, and won’t leave you lost in a sea of tech jargon, check out my portfolio or contact me today — let’s build a website that works for your business!