5 Important questions you should ask when hiring a web designer
You spent a lot of time wondering whether or not to set up a website for your business. After you've made the decision to do it, you don't want to waste another minute and you want to see your dream come true as soon as possible. Right?
But that dream can turn into a nightmare in the blink of an eye if you choose a web designer who doesn't meet your expectations.
√ How do you make this important decision?
√ How do you know who the right web designer is to help you with your site?
1 | Does the portfolio of the web designer I'm choosing match my style? Do they have the vibe I'm looking for for my business or my personal site?
Different people have different styles, and there is nothing wrong with that.
The problem is that if a designer has a completely different style than you do, and uses it for your site, it will not work for either of you.
So, when you choose your web designer, be sure to take a good look at his portfolio and ask yourself if your company's new image follows that style, would you be happy with it?
Many designers (ourselves included) select their best works to exhibit in their portfolio. So, keep in mind that the works he liked most are the ones that best represent his true style.
If you love what you're seeing, BINGO! That will be the right person for you.
2 | Ask your designer what their work process is.
The answer to this question will tell you whether the person is a novice or an experienced professional.
Designers who are used to developing websites know their process like the back of their hand and can clearly walk you through it. After all, they have been through this many times!
Hearing everything that will happen with your project, from start to finish, will give you a little more certainty that you are making the right choice.
In addition, a person with a little more experience will know what they are doing and will be able to guide you through the entire journey, as it may be new territory for you.
Going over the process in advance will increase the chance of everything going as expected, with guaranteed deadlines and no surprises.
3 | Ask how your site will be maintained after it is live.
There is no right or wrong answer here.
If you are comfortable with maintaining your website once it is delivered, you can edit and add information on your own. To prepare for this scenario, ask your web designer if the package comes with tutorials, pdfs or other resources that will give you a basic idea of what to do moving forward.
If you would prefer not to take on the responsibility of maintaining the site on your own, ask your designer how much it would cost for him to make changes to the site from time to time.
There are many web designers who do not offer this type of service, so you may have to find someone else to do it; this is important to know in advance.
4 | Ask if the site is responsive across different devices.
What is a responsive website? It is a site that’s formatted correctly for desktop screens, tablets and smartphones. You don't have to zoom in on the phone screen, for example, to be able to read the information.
The site automatically adapts and transforms text and photos into a reading size that is appropriate for smaller media.
In a world where more than half of users only see everything in the palm of their hand, this item is very important for the success of your website.
5 | And finally, ask how long the whole process will take.
This is very important for both you and your designer.
Customers often assume that web designers will be able to produce not only the design, but also the text and images for their site. However, without being familiar with your business, the designer does not know what content would be appropriate.
Instead, your web designer will create a graphic layout and design for your site, based on your overall concept and target audience, and then you will need to provide the images and text to complete the project.
For the images, the website designer can refer a photographer or help you find images in stock image sites (free or paid). The designer can also refer you to a copywriter to write your text (if you prefer), but these costs are not part of the package and are outsourced. And, most important of all, your website will not be ready without them.
Talk to your designer to find out specifically what he needs and in what format. Ideally, he should do a briefing with the photographer in question (if you are going to hire one) to take the right photos, so that you will not waste time or money on images that will not do.
Once you have all the content in hand, ask how long it will take to create your website.
This is not overnight (if that quick of a turnaround is promised, be wary), but it also shouldn’t take months to complete. We, for example, deliver everything in two weeks.
We even have a step by step checklist that we wrote a few weeks ago about what you need to prepare for a website design project, to help you get organized.
Anyway, we hope that this helps you choose the best professional for you. If you have any questions about the best website options for your business or your personal page, please contact us.
