What To Know Before Hiring A Web Designer
Hiring a web designer can feel overwhelming for many business owners. With varying costs, differing levels of expertise, and a wide array of design platforms, it’s hard to know where to start. The goal of this article is to provide business owners with clear guidance on choosing the right web designer for their projects. We’ll cover essential factors such as the platform used, what’s included in the cost, the designer’s experience, and how to ensure you’re getting a quality website that will truly drive revenue. Understanding these key elements will help you avoid common pitfalls and choose a website designer or agency that fits your business needs, whether you’re looking for a simple WordPress site or a more complex e-commerce platform like Shopify. This article will also highlight the risks of outsourcing and low-cost designs, helping you make an informed choice when it comes to the right investment for your business. Let’s get into what you should know before you make that decision.
The platform your web designer chooses is critical. Different platforms offer varying levels of performance, flexibility, and customization. Popular web design platforms include WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and Shopify for e-commerce. If a designer suggests building your site on Wix, Squarespace, or GoDaddy’s Website Builder, you may want to reconsider. These platforms tend to have limited functionality, making them unsuitable for businesses looking to grow their online presence. WordPress is the most commonly used platform because of its flexibility and ability to be fully customized. It allows for search engine optimization (SEO), mobile responsiveness, and e-commerce integration. Custom-designed websites are often built from scratch but are usually more costly. Most business needs can be met using WordPress, so if a designer praises platforms like Wix or Weebly, it might signal a lack of professional expertise. When discussing the platform, ask why the designer prefers one over another. This will give you an idea of their thought process and whether they have the ability to develop a site that fits your business goals.
Understanding the breakdown of web design costs is critical before signing a contract with a web designer. Many freelancers and agencies offer low upfront prices, but then charge extra for features that should be standard. For example, setting up basic elements like contact forms or social media integration can come with hidden upcharges. Some companies even charge hundreds for simple tasks like installing a form, which may only take a few minutes. It’s important to get clarity on what’s included and what’s considered an extra service. If the designer isn’t transparent about costs upfront, this can be a red flag. Ensure you understand what features like mobile responsiveness, e-commerce setup, or SEO optimization will cost. Hidden fees can quickly inflate the cost of your project and lead to frustration later.
A good web designer will offer valuable insights and recommendations throughout the process. If a designer is just following your instructions without providing feedback, they might not have the expertise needed to create a site that drives conversions. Experienced designers should suggest ways to improve user experience (UX), optimize for SEO, and refine calls-to-action (CTAs) to increase engagement. For example, you may have an idea for your homepage layout, but a designer with expertise in conversion rate optimization (CRO) should offer suggestions to improve performance. Whether it’s adding testimonials, adjusting the placement of buttons, or improving content structure, their input is crucial to getting the best return on your investment.
You may assume that your website will be built by the web designer you meet during the sales process, but that’s not always the case. Many agencies outsource projects to freelancers or overseas teams, which can result in a lack of quality control. Some projects are even passed off to interns with little oversight. This means your site could be built by someone inexperienced, which could lead to issues with functionality or design. When discussing the project with a designer or agency, ask who will actually be working on your website. If it’s being outsourced or handed off to a junior team member, that should be clearly communicated. At Radiant Elephant, for example, the owner personally oversees each project, ensuring quality at every step. It’s important to know whether you’re getting the attention and expertise you’re paying for.
Their Web Design Portfolio: Review the portfolio of any web designer or agency you’re considering. Look at the loading speed, ease of navigation, and overall presentation of the sites they’ve built. Do they inspire trust? Are they well-designed for both desktop and mobile users? These are important factors that will impact how visitors engage with your site. Talk to Past Web Design Clients: Speaking with past clients is one of the best ways to gauge what it’s like working with a specific designer or agency. Ask questions about the communication process, the designer’s responsiveness, and whether deadlines were met. This will give you insight into their workflow and reliability.
There’s a big difference between a graphic designer and a professional web designer. While graphic designers can create visually appealing layouts, they often lack the technical skills required to build a site that converts visitors into customers. Web designers, on the other hand, combine visual design with an understanding of SEO, UX, and CRO to ensure your site not only looks good but also performs well. If you’re hiring a graphic designer, ask whether they have experience with web development. If they don’t, you may end up with a website that looks great but lacks the functionality you need to grow your business.
More than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices, which makes mobile responsive design essential. Mobile responsiveness means that your site will automatically adjust to fit any screen size, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. If your designer isn’t building a mobile-first site, you’re missing out on a huge portion of potential customers. Some designers may even charge extra for mobile responsiveness, which should be a standard feature. The best designers will create a site that’s optimized for mobile first and then adjust for larger screen sizes. This ensures that your site delivers a seamless experience on any device.
Website Content: If you’re not hiring a designer to write your content, make sure you have your website copy prepared in advance. Content delays are one of the biggest factors that slow down web design projects. Try to have your main pages (Home, About, FAQ, Services) ready with 1,000-1,300 words of content for each, and around 800 words for product pages. This ensures that the project moves forward on schedule. Images for the Website: If you have custom images, gather them ahead of time and upload them to a service like Dropbox to share with the designer. Make sure the images are high resolution; sending low-quality images will result in delays as you’ll need to find better versions. Your Competitors’ Websites: Before you hire a web designer, review competitor websites to understand what works and what doesn’t. Take notes on design elements, layouts, and functionalities that you like or dislike. Sharing this information with your designer will help them create a website that aligns with your vision. Logo: If you don’t have a high-quality logo, consider hiring a designer to create one before building your website. A professional logo is an important part of your branding, and it should be included in the design from the beginning. Make sure you have a high-resolution .png version to send to your web designer.
When hiring a web designer, it’s essential to know what platform they use, what’s included in the cost, and who will be building your site. Pay attention to hidden fees, ask for recommendations, and ensure the designer has the experience to improve both user experience and SEO. Make sure the designer understands the importance of mobile responsiveness and ask to see a portfolio of their previous work. By preparing content, images, and competitor insights ahead of time, you’ll be ready to move forward with a design that works for your business.
