Hiring a Web Designer: Costs and Scope — Part 3

21. How are your services priced?

Web design pricing questions should cover the initial project fee, ongoing costs and what each proposal includes. The pricing structures are usually based on the scope of work, the number of personnel working on your project and overheads such as location, staff and materials used. An independent designer may have lower overheads, while an agency may offer a broader team. Compare the scope, relevant experience and support rather than assuming that either approach will always provide better value.

22. Is any of the work you will be doing outsourced?

When a vast array of services is offered by any one design firm, it sometimes becomes necessary to outsource some of the more specialist work to outside companies. Things such as app development, SEO and programming can be an entirely separate entity from web design and take years to perfect when done correctly. This isn’t a bad thing, in fact, you are getting a range of specialists here all controlled by one person, so you don’t have to do the leg work. Just be sure to check who will be doing the work and also to check their credentials and company history.

23. What is included in my final project?

It’s important to know exactly what you’re paying for when you hand over your hard-earned cash. Be sure that you have full control and rights over what has been signed over to you. If hosting is included make sure that you know to what end, also, do you always have free access to it along with backups? Having to pay money for maintenance if you don’t want to edit the site yourself should also be a topic you bring up with your designer at an early stage.

24. How will the pricing structure work after the project is completed and I need extra work doing on the website?

You may even want to add to or change the project as it is materialising. Find out from your designer if there is a fixed cost involved in any changes and also the aftercare of the website. Also how much will the monthly hosting charges be along with any other extras that you have opted for?

25. Will my website be fully responsive and compatible?

Having your website display correctly across relevant mobile devices is a must in today’s market. Will your site need replicating to a mobile-friendly version or will this be programmed in from the start of the build so that one website will work on all devices and platforms? Find out which option the design company will choose and ask why that route is their go-to option. Make sure the end product has been well tested by the designer across an agreed range of devices, platforms and browsers.

26. What on-page SEO is included in the website?

Many designers will include a base level of SEO into all of their designs. This can range from keywords and image tags all the way down to simply using a solid foundation and code. The platform name alone does not determine search performance. Ask how the site will support crawlable content, clear page titles, descriptive links and useful information, as outlined in Google’s SEO Starter Guide. A good idea would be to employ a separate company for your SEO once the website is complete to check for any major issues – your web designer may even do all of this for you.

27. How are keywords determined for my website?

Ask how keyword research will connect each page with your audience’s questions and the services or products you offer. Again, it may be a good idea to have a separate SEO company to take the reins after the design has been completed as it is a very specialist role. This is particularly important should you wish for your website to rank organically based on its content. Use those phrases naturally in useful content and relevant headings; repeating keywords excessively does not create a sound SEO strategy.

28. Do you perform other SEO services?

If your company does intend to take control of your onward off-page SEO services, make sure you ask for some case studies and proof that they are up to the task. Also see if this can be included as part of a deal with the initial web design, and compare the proposed expertise, deliverables and reporting with those offered by a specialist provider.

29. Do you A/B test for conversions?

Conversion and usability testing is a great way to see how your website is performing regarding optimisation and conversion rates. Ask your designer if they provide A/B split testing after the design.

30. Which content management system will I use, and what training is included?

A content management system is basically the back end of your website where you (and your designer) will spend most of the time editing and adding items. Agree who will maintain the platform, themes and plugins, including timely updates, backups and checks that changes work correctly. Ask which platform is proposed and why: WordPress is a content management system, WooCommerce adds ecommerce to WordPress, and Shopify is a separate ecommerce platform. It is also very important to know if this system is still updated regularly by the developer and also if it works on all modern devices and platforms. You may want to ask if any training is provided to edit and expand your website at a later date. General tutorials can help with routine tasks, but specialised apps or plugins may need specific guidance. Ask the designer for training and reference videos that match your own website and the features you will manage.

For budget context, read our website design cost guide. Return to Part 2: project planning or continue to Part 4: technical questions.