10 Important questions to ask when hiring a website designer
With so many website design platforms out there now (Squarespace, Wix, Wordpress, etc.) there are a lot of options for DIY-ers who choose to build their own website for themselves or their business.
These platforms may offer great starter templates, but like many things DIY, the process of building your own website can become too overwhelming and time-consuming.
When is it time to reach out to a professional website designer?
When you’re time is limited and the learning curve may be too big of a hill to climb
When you’re busy running the day-to-day operations of your business and need someone dedicated to understanding the complexities behind creating a functional and strategic website that will draw in potential clients
When you want your website’s image to be polished and stand out from the crowd, not to “look” like a template
When you want to save valuable time (and $) getting your website right the first time
When you’re ready to contact a website designer, here are some important questions that you’ll want to ask to get a clear picture of what to expect during the website design process.
What platform will the website be built on?
If you’ve never built a website before or been involved in the process, you may not be aware of the options that are out there for website hosting.
A website designer will typically have their preferred platform and specialize in the use of that particular platform’s tools. If so, find out which platform it is and what its strengths and weakness are. If your website will require specific functionality such as blogging, scheduling, e-commerce, or podcast-integration, be sure the selected platform can support these functions.
I’m a certified Squarespace expert and build my clients’ websites exclusively within the Squarespace platform. After many years using other various platforms, I feel Squarespace is the best tool out there for building strategic, engaging websites. The platform is secure, SEO-friendly, and allows even my non-tech-savvy clients to easily maintain their own website after it’s completed - which is a huge bonus.
✨ Read more: 7 Reasons why you should build your website in SquarespaceDoes the website designer have testimonials or references from past clients?
When looking to hire someone, we all feel better knowing that a service provider has rave reviews and happy clients. And the same applies to website designers.
Find out how many years they’ve been in business, and look for testimonials or references… from real clients. Any designer can post a “testimonial” on their website, but how do you know if it’s real? Ask to be put in touch directly with former clients who can provide valuable insight. Or, head directly to the client’s website and ask to hear about their experience working with the designer who built their website.
What is their website design process and timeline?
When you’re beginning the research process to hire a website designer, inquire about their processes. What kind of assistance does the designer provide in order to dive into the website project and move things along? How long does the process take?
For example, I provide all my clients with a website content planner that helps them begin to visualize and prepare all the elements that will be used to build out their new website, including copy and images. This content planner is provided to the client prior to the actual start date of the website build, with a firm deadline for it to be completed. So in a sense it’s “homework” for the client, but a necessary step in the process in order to build a strategic and functional website.
The website build process should also include a timeline of progress points. For example, when can you expect to see a design draft? How long will you have to provide feedback and how many rounds of revisions will there be?
Many designers will set a limit on the number of revision rounds due to the time-intensive nature of the website build. This is actually a good thing, as it moves the project along more productively for both you and the designer.
If you’re on a tight deadline, make sure to communicate this prior to hiring a website designer. If there will be any marketing or promotions tied to the website’s launch date, this is critical information for the designer to know.
Ask how does the final website launch works, and if the website designer provide any support after the launch.
Does the website designer’s portfolio and design style align with your vision?
Many website designers have a particular style that you can pick up on when viewing their portfolio of work. Take a look at websites they’ve created for past clients and you may notice a common thread when it comes to design style. Determine if that style aligns with your brand’s image. Don’t expect a website designer who creates feminine, minimalist-style websites, to do a 180 and create a website that has a dark and edgy vibe.
Having said that, you should be coming to the project with your business’s design elements, copy, and branded photography already prepared. And a good designer will be able to translate your brand’s identity into a website that speaks to your audience.
✨ Read more: Create the brand imagery you need to attract and book the right clientsWhat’s included in the designer’s website project scope?
Find out up front what exactly is included (and not included) in the website project fee. Some designers outline a maximum number of pages, which should be defined in the contract. Will the designer be applying custom code to enhance your website and its functionality? How many edit/feedback rounds are included? Is copywriting or SEO included?
Don’t be afraid to ask for a complete list of deliverables that outline what will be included in the website’s scope of work.
What items or design assets will you need to provide?
Ask the website designer what elements and design assets you’ll need to provide for the website build. These items typically include:
• logos, icons, favicon, etc.
• fonts
• copy (the text that will go on each website page)
• photos (headshots, product images, editorial photographs, etc.)
It’s also a good idea to provide the website designer with your brand guidelines, which outline color values as well as typography hierarchies and font usage.
During the website design project, how and when will you communicate with the designer?
This is a key piece of the puzzle to keeping your website design project running smoothly.
Most designers have projects running simultaneously, and have systems in place to keep things organized. Keeping the communication open is important, but equally as important is the quality of that communication.
A website design project will typically kick off with a strategy call during which you and the designer will review the content and files you’ve provided and confirm the details and pages.
Ask the designer in what format they prefer to communicate in regards to feedback during the project. Generally speaking it’s best to use email or online project-tracking tools, whereby you’ll provide your thoughts and comments in an organized, written manner. This method is best as it’s easy to refer back to the client/designer comments and helps prevent miscommunications.
No text messages. This is a disaster waiting to happen and is impossible to keep track of. If a designer wants to communicate in this way, it may be a red flag. Providing your feedback on a phone call is also not advised. That requires the designer to quickly jot down notes as you’re speaking, which could result in incomplete or lost feedback.
Find out from the website designer what their hours of operation are and during which days/times they can be contacted in regards to your project. The timeline they provide should highlight these points of communication and feedback periods as well.
Will you be able to update the website yourself?
If you’ll be tackling the future updates to your website, be sure the selected platform is user-friendly. There’s always going to be a learning curve with any website platform. But updating the text, some images, and adding/deleting pages should be quite simple and easy to follow.
With Squarespace, I feel at ease knowing my clients are getting a very intuitive and user-friendly dashboard, which they’ll use to update most of the elements of their website. Moreover, our launch call includes a 1.5 hour mini-training screen-sharing session on the basics of how to update their new website.
Does the designer offer post-launch website support?
When your website is completed and launched, does the website designer provide a period of support? Most allow for a short grace period (ex. two weeks post-launch) to address any minor errors or oversights.
But beyond that, if your website has complex elements that need monitoring, or if you want a professional designer to make monthly additions for your growing business such as new products, a website monthly maintenance package can be useful. Ask the designer what’s available in terms of monthly support and costs.
What other fees should you expect when building your website?
Hiring a professional website designer is definitely an investment in your business. And website development fees can vary widely depending on the items/functionality included in the website package, as well as the skillset the designer brings to the table.
But what other fees do you need to inquire about when hiring a website designer?
Domain name
A domain name (yourwebsite.com) will be your website’s “address”. There are many domain name registrars out there. It’s relatively inexpensive to purchase a domain name, and your website designer should be able to assist in the search process.
Website hosting
Your website needs a home and the site will be “hosted” on the platform. For example, if your designer creates your new website in Squarespace, you’ll be billed a monthly (or annual) fee for hosting by the platform. Depending on the selected plan and if your website incorporates e-commerce, that could be anywhere from $23-$49/month. Find out from the designer what the expected hosting fees will be.
Branding
If you haven’t done so already, you’ll need to consider hiring a designer to establish your branding, including a logo and imagery that will be the foundation of your website’s look and feel. This is an important investment in your business, and rightly so… it’s the driving force that will establish a connection with your audience. Ask the website designer if they also provide logo or branding services, and budget accordingly.
Copywriting
We always recommend hiring a good copywriter that can deliver the right messaging and content for your website. If you won’t be writing the website content yourself, you’ll need to consider this added (but well worth it!) expense. Ask the website designer if copywriting is included in the website design fee, and if not, will they provide referrals for copywriters?
Missed deadline fee
Find out from the website designer if there are fees associated with missed deadlines (such as providing content), which should be clearly outlined in the contract. Some designers apply a fee for the simple fact that they’ve dedicated a certain number of weeks in their design calendar to complete your project, while turning away other potential clients.
Added functionality
If your website requires added functionality, such as scheduling or other third-party integrations, find out from the website designer what those extra costs will be.
