If you’re in the market for a new website design, it’s more than reasonable to make enquiries with a few different designers before making a choice. What do you look for? What questions do you ask a web designer when you’re shopping around? Let’s take a look at this together, so that you can get your website project off to a good start before you’ve even gotten a quote.

First, I want to preface this by saying: Web designers are like musicians. Each one may be experienced with different instruments [website platforms] and music styles [business types, and their end users]. This is to say that each web person you meet will come equipped with their own experiences and unique approach to projects.

It’s also true to say that, just like musicians, you can indeed ask a web designer to replicate a website you like. However, you’ll have to consider whether or not that style or layout will be appropriate for your end users [aka. Your customers].

Once you’ve gone ahead and shortlisted a few prospects, here are some questions you may want to ask yourself, first:

Questions to ask yourself about your website

• Am I clear about my target customer?
• Am I clear about what my business needs to do for me? (i.e. Will it make you money? Or is this a hobby you’re feeling out?)
• What do I need this website to say about me in order to attract my ideal customers?
• What exactly am I selling? (i.e. Do I have a unique value proposition to help me stand out from the sea of businesses like me?)
• Am I happy with my branding, or do I have to explore this as well?
• What does my target customer need from the website in order to connect with me?

If you’re not sure — I mean say you’re still figuring out who your target audience is, and what your business needs to look like for you, then stop. You might not be ready for a website.

➡️ Related article: What to put on your website.

If you feel pretty confident about your answers to these questions, then this will make getting a website easier.

Why do you need this website?

Here are some possible functions a website can fulfill for you:

• Positioning you as a credible business.
• Be a marketing tool to help drive awareness of your brand and nurture your audience. (i.e. Lead magnets, SEO, pages for lead funnel sequences.)
• Be a simple online brochure to explain your services.
• Act as an eCommerce platform to allow customers to buy services, digital or physical goods.

Questions to ask a web designer

Now, equipped with an understanding of what you may want and need from your website, here are some questions you may want to ask:

• Experience: Have you worked on websites for businesses similar to me? And/or ones that perform the functions I need?
• Approach: How will the website be aligned with my brand identity?
• Technical: Are you up to date with web design trends and best practices?
• Communication:
  • How can we communicate throughout the project? (Zoom, phone, in-person, email?)
  • How many meetings will we need?
  • How many revisions may I have?
  • Can I reach you after the website is finished?
  • What happens if I change my mind during the project?
• Payment:
  • How can I pay?
  • Can I pay in installments?
• Extra bits and bobs:
  • What’s the process of publishing my website once I’m happy with it?
  • Will I own my website?
  • Will I own my domain and hosting?
  • What extra costs might come up that I may not have considered?
  • Do I need SEO? And will you provide that service?
  • What images or content should I include?
  • Who owns intellectual property rights to the website and content therein?
  • What kind of after-care will I get? Will I be able to make simple changes myself?

Conclusion

In essence the questions that you ask your prospective web designer should help you to confirm whether or not they’re the right fit your project. You’ll also be able to gauge their confidence, their professionalism, and overcome any concerns you might have.

I hope this information helps you on your online business journey and gives you an idea on what questions to ask a web designer. If you have any questions about anything in this article, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’m always looking for suggestions on how I can best help you.

➡️ Related article: WordCamp Sydney 2018 – Jane Tweedy – Developing a Website Brief With Small Businesses. I want to share this presentation at WordCamp (WordPress conference) in Sydney 2018. I went and saw this in person at the time, but I think it’s still relevant now. Jane Tweedy explains why you need a website brief. Although this is aimed at web designers, I believe the information here is helpful for any business owner in the market for a new website. Especially if you haven’t had a website before, and are unsure what to expect out of the website and the process.