Having an updated, organized, and mobile-friendly website for your brand is one of the keys to a thriving and successful business. A professional site has the power to give you more leads and traffic than almost any other channel.
With this in mind, you’re going to need a good web designer.
But before you hire the first web designer you can find, you must be prepared with a bank of questions to ask when getting a website built. The person you choose will be responsible for how your website turns out, so it’s important to do your research and make the right decision.
So, to help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 6 questions to ask a web designer. From ensuring the website is built on SEO best practices to making sure you and your web designer are on the same page stylistically, asking these questions when getting a website built should prepare you for an informative interview with a potential hire.
1) Does your portfolio fit the style of my business?
There are many web designers, and all have different styles. One developer’s taste may be exactly what you’re looking for, and another could be worlds apart. This is why it’s important to take your time and thoroughly research different designers, as choosing a developer with a different style creates obstacles.
Make sure you take the time to browse their portfolio extensively. Be sure to ask yourself: if your site were to be modeled similarly, would you be happy with the outcome?
When you’ve narrowed down your search to a few particular web designers, why not ask for examples of their previous work? You could even approach previous clients to ask if the designer matched their business style and whether the site performs well for them.
2) Do you specialize in a particular industry?
Naturally, every good web designer should be like a chameleon and able to take on any website. However, some developers do specialize in particular industries.
Ask your web designer whether they have experience working with clients in your industry. If so, it can make communication much easier. They’ll have a head start on research, and you’ll ensure that your website is designed specifically with your industry needs in mind.
Your web designer must be completely familiarized with your brand’s marketing strategies, like B2B and B2C, so ask if they are familiar with these terms. This is one of the most important questions to ask a web developer, as they need to be aware of how your business makes money in order to drive as much traffic and conversions to your site as possible.
3) Do you outsource your projects or work in-house?
Many agencies offer web design and development as a service but will outsource the work. Depending on what you need, this can be incredibly helpful. However, it can also compromise communication, add additional costs, and cause project delays.
If your web developer is planning on outsourcing for additional support, then you’ll want to know who they’re working with and what their portfolio and credentials look like. This will eliminate any misunderstanding on both sides and allow you to achieve the best possible website.
4) Do you follow the best SEO practices when building a website?
One of the most important questions to ask a web designer is if they follow SEO best practices. Search engine optimization should be included at the beginning of your website development, not considered an afterthought. SEO strategies such as image optimization, alt tagging, keyword research, and mobile-friendliness are imperative for ranking your website higher on search results.
More traffic to your site equals more sales and ultimately generates more success for your business. It’s such a significant marketing tool, as it allows your website to be more visible to potential customers and consumers, therefore creating more opportunities for your brand.
So, make sure you ask your web designer if they build in SEO during the design process, ideally from the very start of the project. This way, you can ensure your website is built with the best framework you need to attract customers.
5) Once the design is complete, will you perform maintenance?
If you want complete ownership of your site once it’s complete and wants to have access to update and edit aspects of your website whenever you like, then opt for a designer who operates on a web design platform. They will hand the site off to you, and you can update and maintain it yourself.
If you would rather have edits and updates made by an external source, then you should opt for a designer that offers long-term maintenance packages. This way, you can send an email with the edits you require and delegate someone else to do them for you. You should make sure you have the budget to pay every time you need edits made on your site.
6) Will the website be secure once it’s finished?
This is one of the most important questions to ask a website developer. Properly maintaining a website comes with the following responsibilities:
- Keeping it free from hackers and software bugs
- Updating plugins and your site’s technology
- Getting routine backups and an SSL certificate
Be sure to ask your designer what content management system (CMS) your site will be created on, as this will help you find out how many security measures you will need to take post-completion.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these questions to ask a web designer will help you find the person that takes your business to the next level. Whether you meet potential web designers via video call, phone calls, or even in person, having these smart questions to ask a web designer ready will help you understand the process more. Most importantly, you’ll ensure that the end product is of the highest possible quality.
You may even have more questions to ask a web developer that we didn’t cover. Get in touch with us today, and our team of experts can chat about your website and business needs. We’re happy to answer any of these questions and tell you what you can expect from our web design services.
Contact us today and get these questions to ask your web developer answered!
