The vast majority of businesses today have a website — but not all websites are created equally. Some are modern, efficient and streamlined, while others are slow, clunky and hard to navigate.
This can have a big effect on the overall success of the business, especially if they rely on online sales to make a profit. Thankfully this issue can be completely avoided by finding the right web designer for your business.
But how do you find the right website designer? The answer is pretty simple: you need to interview them for the job. Here are 15 questions you should always ask a web designer before hiring them.
1. Can I See Examples of Your Work?
One of the first things you should ask a web designer is if they have a portfolio you can look at. Most high-quality web designers will have a portfolio with previous examples of their work and this gives you the chance to assess their personal style. So, take some time to look over all of their designs, and see if they fit in with your vision.
2. Do You Specialize in SEO?
It is also important to find a web designer that specializes in SEO (aka search engine optimization). A high-performing website will include SEO on nearly every page, and this will push your website up the Google rankings so that it will be seen by even more people.
3. Do You Tend to Work With Certain Industries?
Some web designers tend to work with specific industries (such as law firms or restaurants), which means they are great for some jobs… but not others. So take the time to find a web designer who frequently works with your industry, as they are more likely to understand your goals and vision.
4. What Conversion Strategies Do You Recommend?
A great web designer won’t just make a beautiful website; they will make a website with an excellent conversion strategy that aligns with your marketing strategy and target audience. This will help to boost overall sales and engagement.
5. How Much Will the Website Cost?
If you are a small business with a tight budget, this is a very important question to ask. You should look for an affordable web design company who specialize in small business website design, and ask for the full costs upfront. This will make it much easier for you stick to your budget as the project goes on.
6. What Do I Need to Do?
Some web designers are happy to do the whole project themselves, but others may need your input at the beginning (for instance, they may need you to provide statistics about the old website). So ask this question straight away as it can stop delays from happening later down the line.
7. How Long Will the Project Take?
A good web designer should be able to give you a rough timeframe for the project and you can then decide if the timeframe works for you. However, delays can happen, so it is always worth adding on a little extra time for unexpected problems.
8. Will the Design Be Mobile Friendly?
Mobile users are quickly overtaking desktop users, so it is essential to have a website that looks just as good on mobile devices. This mobile site also needs to be useable; every page should load quickly, and the navigation should be simple and easy to use.
9. Can I Review the Project as it Happens?
Some web designers prefer to do everything themselves, while others will check in with you every few days to ask for your thoughts and opinions. So think about what you want to do: do you have the time to contribute to the project, or are you already overwhelmed with work? It can be useful to make decisions yourself, especially if you want the site to be unique and personal. When you have decided what you want to do, find a web designer who fully understands how involved you want to be in the project.
10. Do You Create Content?
Some web designers only create websites, while others work with marketing teams to create relevant, optimized blog content. This is very useful for businesses that drive sales and engagement through their blog, but other businesses (such as eCommerce businesses) don’t always use (or need) a blog.
11. How Can I Contact You?
Does the web designer live locally so you can visit them, or will you need to speak via phone or Skype? Are they happy to touch base every week, or will they only contact you when something important is happening? Find a designer who can match your communication levels so that you never feel out of the loop.
12. How Do You Test the Site Before the Launch?
It is essential to properly check a new website before it goes live, as this gives you the chance to troubleshoot bugs and problems. If the site isn’t tested properly and it goes live, users may complain and your Google ranking may be affected.
13. Is this Your Full-Time Job?
If you want a new website as soon as possible, you will probably want to find a full-time website designer. This means they will be able to work on your project every day and it should always be fairly easy to get in touch with them. But if they work part-time, it is possible that days will pass without many updates being made.
14. Will There Be Downtime During the Transition?
It can be useful to find out if the website will be down during the launch. If it will be, you may want to send out a newsletter to let loyal customers know that the website won’t be up for a few hours.
15. Can I Edit the Site in the Future?
Many business owners want a website that can be edited in the future. This is because a totally new design can be expensive, especially if you only need to make small changes to it, such as switching to a new logos. This can easily be done using a content management system, which your web designer can set up for you.
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