What to Ask your Web Designer

Posted on Posted in Web Design

When you are looking for a web designer there are several questions you should ask as not to be taken for a ride.

Can you send me a list of sites that you have designed previously?
Ask for a few live working examples of sites the designer has completed for other clients.

How many rounds of revisions am I allowed?

Will you be allowed to make edits at each stage of the project, such as design and development, or will you only be allowed revisions at the end of the project?

What are your payment terms?
Avoid projects that require payment in full up front as it leaves no room for changes or issues that may come up.

Can I edit the website myself, and which parts?
Ask the designer if they will be setting up a content management system or if the site will be static? How many people have access to edit the site? Will they provide training to your staff? Is there any documentation for editing the site? Also, ask which parts you will be able to edit and how difficult those sections will be to edit.

What support do you offer after the site goes live?
Ask about ongoing maintenance and monitoring packages. What happens if the site gets hacked or if something stops working? Does the designer provide routine backups?

How long do typical website design projects take?
Ask how long particular phases of a project take, to ensure things stay on time. Ask about the length of time you have to review and provide feedback.

Will it be a responsive site that works on multiple mobile and tablet devices?

Will it be load-optimized for mobile or be just a smaller version of the desktop site?

What assets do I need to supply?
Get clear dates and deadlines on when deliverables are due or when you need to provide assets and feedback. Will you need to provide any copy, images, hosting, or other items to the web designer, or will they handle it?

Who will write the content?
Some web designers employ copywriters to manage the writing and optimization of your website’s text. If that is the case, ask if you need to provide bullet points for each page.

What search engine optimization or marketing do you do for the site?
Will the web designer be performing on-site search engine optimization during the setup process? Do They offer off-site optimization? Also, do they submit your site to local or niche directories?

A good web developer will have answers to these questions and unless you know to ask them, you may get the minimum of effort from them