10 Questions To Ask A Potential Web Designer

In today’s world, a top-notch website is a must. Here are the questions you should ask to make sure your designer is up for the task.

In my role as a freelance copywriter, I’ve had a lot of experience working alongside both website designers and those needing websites built. As a sort of “middleman” of the web design world, I’ve had a chance to watch and learn as businesses and brands use designers to bring their companies to life online.

Nine times out of ten, the client winds up with a website that blows their expectations beyond the stratosphere.

I’ve also had the chance to work with clients who were completely shocked that they hired a designer who ended up building them a drop-and-click website copied from an online template. A Facebook page run by a bot could have created a more effective product!

To help bridge the gap between designer and client, I’ve put together a list of the top questions you should ask a website designer before you ever hire them to build your online presence.

Asking the right questions ahead of time can save you — and your designer — quite a bit of time, money, and headache.

10 Questions You Need To Ask Your Web Designer:

1. “Why are you a website designer?

Seem like a silly question? It’s not, and here’s why: Every web designer on the market has a motivation. For some, it’s making money (which isn’t wrong. I take on a lot of jobs that I don’t care for because of the price the client is willing to pay!)

For others, it’s creating beautiful designs that push their creativity and help brands shine online. To find out what your web designer is motivated by, simply ask them why they are in the industry and what makes their work special.

Find a web designer who loves their craft, and you are that much more likely to end up with a site that has been built with careful attention and a lot of passion.

2. “What is your design process?”

This is a broad question, but it is imperative to ask. Every web designer is a professional who is passionate about each final product. From the words in the landing page header to the tiny copyright information in the footer, a web designer has a method to what you may consider madness.

Don’t be afraid to ask them what their design process looks like. How do they bring a website to life? How can you help them with any ideas or content you already have? What is their favorite color?

These questions don’t have to be about design, but it’s important to get an idea of how they work. Web designers are usually really passionate people who love what they do and enjoy hearing from clients with ideas or input on the process. It can help make a project go smoother if you know exactly where your web designer will head with your project.

3. “Do you have examples of sites that I can look at to get an idea of the style you’re capable of?”

A web designer should be able to provide you with a list of sites they’ve designed in the past. It’s important that your website not only looks good but is also easy for visitors or potential customers to use and navigate.

A well-designed site will often lead to better conversion rates (more people buying from you). If you look at your potential designer’s portfolio and aren’t impressed by at least one or two examples — that may be a good sign to part ways before you pay.

Remember, you want a site that you will love and is functional — you don’t have to settle for one or the other!

4. “In what ways do you anticipate my site will be used, and how does this affect its appearance and function?”

It’s just a website, right? Not quite.

There was a time when people made websites just for fun. I remember my grandmother was one of the first people I met who called herself a “webmaster.” She once built me my very own website that featured a revolutionary innovation called “Flash.”

Flash-forward to 2021. Today, websites are built with purpose, and Flash is dead. They’re typically used for one or more of the following purposes:

•To provide information in a quick and efficient manner

•To promote goods and services to customers (B2C)

•To facilitate business transactions with other businesses (B2B)

Some websites are even optimized for mobile devices. Make sure that your designer is aware of your website’s intended use or what you’re trying to achieve with it. Your new website is a gateway, not just a billboard.

5. “How much time are we looking at until my site is launched?”

You can’t rush art, but you can’t wait forever. Knowing the potential timeline of a web design project is valuable information for any business owner.

You will want to know that your designer isn’t doing a copy-and-paste job on your site with basic tools, but you will also want to avoid a perfectionist who may cost you time and money as they dawdle on the right font for a button. Yes, it happens — a lot more than you might think.

6. “How do you charge for your web design projects?”

You will inevitably need to discuss how you will pay your web designer — and pay you should! Like any other professional job, your web designer offers to create a long-term investment asset for you. Just as you would not expect a carpenter to work for free on your brick-and-mortar store, you should not expect your website designer to do so either.

The best way to avoid surprises is by communicating clearly and negotiating the project’s scope before starting on your web design. Layout all of the designer’s available options, and decide with your designer what elements you will need to have developed. Of course, you will want a high-quality landing page, but you may not need email hosting right now.

Clear communication will ensure that mutual expectations are met in advance and prevents misunderstandings about just how much time will be required once you have started working together.

7. “What is your communication process throughout this project, and will we have regular meetings to discuss progress?”

Like I said above, your web designer is akin to a digital general contractor. They are the expert in the field, but that doesn’t mean that you should never engage with them while they work!

Set your expectations early for how often you would like updates on your website’s design progress. A great designer won’t be afraid to work closely with you to ensure that their designs are exactly what you need. In fact, I’ve found that the more a client communicates and checks in, the more satisfied they are with the final product!

(Also, many freelancers work remotely, so we don’t mind a “Hello!” here and there!)

8. Who owns the code for my site once it’s completed? Can I make changes to the site after you are finished?

It is important to ask your designer how they handle intellectual property. Most will include in their contract that you own the code once they are finished designing.

However, make sure that you discuss how to can retain them for future updates or fixes. While you could log in and update your site or install plugins yourself, you may find that you want to give the keys back to the original car manufacturer to get under the hood.

9. “What other services do you handle — such as SEO, domain hosting, and debugging?”

In the digital marketing world, website design is far more than creating eye-catching landing pages that sparkle and shine. Just consider a few of the other processes and functions that you need to handle for your site:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• Domain Hosting and Management
• Debugging (Troubleshooting)
• Analytics
• Plugins & Updates
• Data Protection & Privacy Policies

Having a website designer who is fluent in many aspects of website design and optimization can be a huge advantage for your business.

You don’t want to find at the 11th hour of launching that you’re suddenly not able to reach major platforms like Facebook and Pinterest or that Google won’t index your site because it’s developed on an old platform (yikes!).

It can also be quite difficult to troubleshoot malfunctions if you are not familiar with website design code — so ensure before hiring anyone that they have experience across all these aspects of internet management.

10. “How do you handle content for your websites?”

Every website needs to have content. Even more importantly, your content will need to be engaging, informative, and able to move between your website, your social media, and any digital marketing initiatives you have.

A great question to ask is whether your designer will create their own content for your site or if they would rather you find another designer to handle that particular aspect. Some love to create text, pictures, and videos for websites, while others would rather let another designer step in to handle that aspect.

Finding the right website designer for your website doesn’t have to stress you out. In fact, I know more designers now who are fantastic than those whose skills are less-than-stellar — which makes it hard to refer them to my copywriting clients.

However, with the right questions in hand, you can find the right designer for your website in no time and potentially find a long-term partner for your business!