Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer — Part 1

This four-part guide covers 42 questions to ask before hiring a web designer, starting with ten questions to help you prepare for an initial consultation.
This initial consultation also gives them the chance to find out more information about the project and also to ask you any questions that may help them achieve your project goals. These questions may be related to your target audience and the objectives for the website so make sure you have all of this info in front of you.

With so many web design companies online to choose from these days, both online and local, it can be tough to sort through the good from the bad. Review their own website as well as their client work, considering how clearly it presents their services and whether the design and usability meet the standard you need. You should think of your chosen web design company as your marketing partner as the work produced by them will play an integral role in your business achieving its goals.

Whether you are having a website designed from scratch or redesigning an existing one, the decision you make will influence your online presence.
Just like hiring a new employee, choosing a web design company takes time interviewing, reviewing performance results, viewing their online portfolio and also the testimonials.

1. What services do they offer?

As well as website design, many companies may offer a myriad of other beneficial services such as web development, hosting, graphic design, logo design, copywriting, e-commerce solutions and SEO. Although these services may seem related to web design, they are in fact a completely separate entity which requires a totally new skill set. Just because they offer this particular service, don’t assume that they are skilled in it. Many services like SEO take a lot of time and effort to really deliver on your money, so sometimes it is best to seek help from another specialised company for this. This also rings true for services such as graphic design and logo design. Take a minute to look through their portfolio – if there isn’t one to view then be wary. Take SEO for example. Ask what on-page work is included and whether ongoing research, content and reporting are separate services. Google’s guidance on hiring an SEO explains what to consider when assessing a provider. Agree responsibilities and realistic measures of progress before commissioning additional work; no provider can guarantee a number-one ranking.

2. Do you use pre-made templates or do you custom design all websites?

Do you need a fully bespoke design, or would a well-customised template meet your requirements? Some businesses prefer a template that can be adapted to their content and brand, while others need more flexibility in the layout, functionality and overall visual approach. Here at Dreamkatcha we try to steer away from this field and if you choose a template and wish for us to work on it, you probably won’t be saving much money. We prefer the freedom to create websites around each project, with attention to efficient code, search-friendly structure and responsive layouts. Ask how your chosen approach will be tested across relevant devices and browsers, and how it will support future changes to your content. Template quality and maintenance vary, so ask whether the theme is actively supported, how updates will be handled and who is responsible for ongoing care. Review compatibility and performance as part of that decision. An unsupported theme can create maintenance and security problems, regardless of whether the original design was inexpensive or highly customised.

3. How is their online web design portfolio looking?

Have a good look at the examples of websites that have been uploaded to their website. Check out the style, user interface and usability of the client’s websites and see if they measure up to the quality you are looking for. Also note their performance and style and see if this designer is on the same page as you. Ask questions about them and see why they were created the way they were. You may feel that a site was constructed too simply, but in actual fact this could be exactly what the client asked for.

4. Are there case studies showing results from previous website projects?

It’s all very nice having a beautiful website online but is it working for you? After all the time, effort and money you have spent on this project – are you seeing a return for it? Ask for case studies that explain the original objectives, the work completed and the measured results, so you can assess their relevance to your business. The case studies should show increased online sales, increased leads or have boosted the conversion rate in a specific time period.

5. What strategies will be implemented to achieve your online success?

Your website design company should know all the little tricks of the trade to put your best foot forward on launch day, from the minute your website is live on the internet, they should be able to explain their tried and tested methods such as prominent placement of your email and business phone number, an appealing graphic or slideshow on your homepage and calls to action that are prominently positioned to grab the visitors’ attention.

6. Will they analyse your current or previous website’s performance to gauge what needs to be implemented in the new one?

If your whole website doesn’t need an overhaul, then the remaining pages that are performing for you should remain in place and their keywords etc. should be analysed for the new pages.

7. How will you manage my project?

The typical process for a web design project usually consists of four key stages; concept and research, design, development and then a final testing and launch phase. When you begin your project it is a good idea to establish who will be your main contact throughout each stage. It is also wise to forge a timeline that you both can work to; this will make sure you will have the information required at each key stage.

8. Will you be analysing my target market, business needs and competitors?

Forward and previous analysis of all areas relating to your website will help your designer/developer to deliver on your project brief. This will include content structure, delivery and overall functionality.

9. How many people will be working on my website?

Will there just be one web designer taking care of the whole project or will there be many individuals involved? Some design companies employ various different staff for just one project. There could be a graphic designer, a copy writer, a developer and a programmer. Where this can sometimes have its benefits, it also opens up the doors to poor communication between you and the designer and even between each of them. This can lead to mistakes and also timelines being distorted and extended in many cases.

10. How qualified are the staff that are working on my project?

Requesting to see current and previous work of your designer (and any other staff involved in your project) is a great way to gauge how your project will materialise. Discuss what expertise they have in each field and request to see their updated portfolio to see how their previous projects measure up to your expectations.