11 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer
Choosing the right design company for your website can be rough, but it’s imperative that you do your research before signing on with anyone. Where do you even start? Asking the right questions can provide you with the insight that you need to make an informed decision and hire the right web design company for you.
To help get you started, we’ve come up with a list of 11 questions to ask any potential web design partner.
1) What is your experience level?
It’s important to know how much experience the company has in designing websites, especially for your particular industry. Be sure to ask what training and experience they have in web design, and don’t be afraid to ask for current testimonials or references.
2) Can I see samples of your work?
You should also feel free to ask for samples their design work. Looking at the style of sample sites will help you to determine the company’s design diversity. Be sure to pay attention to the performance of the sites, if the navigation is easy to use and how well the site design matches the business style.
3) What do you need from me to get started?
Typically, you need to provide any images, text, or other content you want on your site. If you provide your own content, it may need a few tweaks for better search engine optimization. You should be notified in advance of any revisions needed to your copy and why they are needed.
4) How much collaboration can I expect?
When going into a web design project, it’s best to know what will be required of you from the start, as well as when you will be expected to provide feedback throughout the design process. Clear communication from the beginning will help you to plan for each stage of work, minimize delays and make sure that you’re satisfied with the design.
5) Can you stay within my budget?
While some design companies may be hesitant to share specific pricing information with a potential client, it’s important for you to make sure that they can at least stay within your budget. Let them know how much you are willing to spend on your design project and make sure that they will be able to include as many of your “wish list” items as possible.
6) How long will it take to finish my site?
The length of a website project can vary greatly depending on scope and complexity. Once the company understands the basic needs of your project, they should be able to give you an estimate of how long a project like yours typically takes and provide you with a basic schedule for key project milestones.
7) Do you offer web hosting?
As part of their services, many web design companies offer website hosting. Even if you already have a web hosting provider, it’s a good idea to ask what the company offers in terms of hosting plans. You just might find a better deal than your current hosting provider offers and be able to have a “one-stop-shop” for all of your website needs.
8) Can you design a logo for my site?
Most website designers can create a logo for your business as part of your initial project quote, or for an additional fee. Ask about their experience in this area and check out some of the other logos they have created, paying particular attention to how well the style matches the focus of the business.
9) Will my site be viewable on all devices?
so you need to discover which approach the company takes when it comes to mobile design. Will they use a responsive design that will allow visitors to view the site from any device or will they provide a separate mobile site as a part of the project? The important thing to determine here is how much experience the design company has with mobile websites and the reasoning behind whatever approach they take.
10) Will you optimize my site for search engines?
Search engine optimization (SEO) has changed dramatically over the past several years. What was once all about coding is now much more about providing the content that your audience is searching for online. Having said that, there are still technical SEO “best practices” that should be used during the design process. Be sure to ask for the company’s SEO approach to help you understand how they’ll design your website to have both the right content AND the right technical optimizations.
11) What if I need updates to my site?
Once your website is finished, you may discover that there are some things that need to be updated or “tweaked.” Be sure to ask the web design company if they offer maintenance services on an as-needed, on-going, or retainer basis and what the prices are to update content.
Asking your prospective web design company these questions will help you to not only determine who is best equipped to build your website, but also help you to build a great rapport with them once you have made your choice.
Have more questions to add to the list? Want to share your experience with hiring a web design company? We would love to hear from you in the comments section below!
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