What questions should I ask a web designer?

Before committing time and money building a website, it pays to ask your web designer some very important questions:

Do you build websites for businesses like mine?
Although not a prerequisite, it helps if a designer has created websites for businesses similar to yours. You may learn valuable information about what works and what doesn’t for a website devoted to your business niche.

Do you charge a flat fee or by the hour?
A flat fee is best because you know up front what your website will cost. Services such as providing and/or altering photos, writing and/or proofreading text, promotion, SEO, registering the domain name, hosting account setup, and website maintenance may incur additional charges, so be sure to ask.

Do you provide photos for the website?
If not, ask for links to free stock photo sites. Many do exist and provide quality photos free for both personal and commercial use.

Are you willing to alter the photos?
For the most cost effective website, try to use photos ‘as is’. Don’t assume your designer has the skills or willingness to change colors and backgrounds, or, add and remove things from your photos.

Will you write the text for the website?
Since you, the website owner, know your business the best, it’s probably better to write your own text. Be aware, that some web designers don’t offer this service at all. Those who do, most likely will charge extra.

What do you offer for website promotion and SEO (search engine optimization)?
A website has little value if no one can find it. Shop around and learn what is considered a fair price for website promotion and SEO services. This is one aspect of website ownership that should not be overlooked.

Will you help me register a domain name?
If you’re willing to spend a little time shopping for the best price, registering a domain name is something you can easily do yourself. If you feel uneasy, or don’t have the time, your designer probably can help.

Will you help me find a web host and setup my account?
This is a valuable service, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the many options that exist for website hosting. If you’re not tech savvy in this area, it pays to get help.

How long will it take to design my website?
Website design may take anywhere from a few weeks to months, depending on the number of pages and content. Be sure to provide your designer with ample time to schedule your project in the workflow. Rush jobs usually incur additional cost.

Do you offer website maintenance?
Many designers offer this service. Some don’t. Be sure to ask.

How often can I update my website and what is the turnaround time?
Once a month updates are fairly typical of many websites. If you’re in the business of selling products over the internet, you may need more frequent updates. Try to submit all changes in periodic increments rather than in bits and pieces because it will be cheaper if you do. See if you can negotiate a monthly update package.

Comment on this post and let me know what questions you have about web design and pricing.

Coming up in my next post . . . What type of design and content is best for my business website?

Where to find an expert web designer

The most popular places to look for web designers are among personal friends, the phone book, or the internet. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of each so you can make an informed decision as to who you want to design a website for your business.

Getting web design services from friends is good for your pocketbook. Friends, if they really are friends, won’t charge much if at all to design your site. The questions you need to ask are:

• Does your friend have the knowledge and experience to design a website?
• Is web design your friend’s primary occupation with ample time to devote to your project?
• Will this person be available to troubleshoot any problems that may arise in the future?
  

If the answers are ‘yes’, then great. If not, don’t let low cost web design cloud good business sense.

The telephone directory may be an effective way to find a web designer, although the internet makes this method somewhat dated. Make sure that the web design company also has its own website where you can view samples of their work online. Since the cost of yellow page ads is high, not every local designer will be listed.

Your best bet to find a professional website designer is probably online. The cost of internet advertising has decreased over the years and most design firms and freelancers are listed in either the search engines or online directories.

When using the search engines, it’s helpful to vary the keywords and sometimes their order. For example, using the terms ‘website designer’ may yield different results than ‘web designer’ or ‘web site designer’. Similarly, results may vary for ‘Torrance CA website designer’ versus ‘website designer Torrance CA’. The big advantage of using the internet is that you have access to designers nationwide, information about the company, and their design portfolio.

Locating a web designer via an online directory is extremely useful. Perform a search engine query for ‘web designer directory’ or something similar. Many directories are categorized by state and city to make it easy to find a local company. Most directories have a brief description of the firm, areas of expertise, and a link to the company website.

One last tip. Some people are uneasy working with a person or company they’re not familiar with. Most companies ask for at least a one third deposit to start design work. How do you know if the company is even legitimate and won’t take your money and run? Word of mouth recommendations are always best. If you don’t have a recommendation, check online to see if there are complaints about the company. If not, proceed with a small job. For example, have the company create only the home page. If you’re satisfied, you can then move on to have them work on the rest of the website.

Have you worked with a website designer? How did you find that person or company? Comment on this post and let me know.

Coming up in my next post . . . What questions should I ask a web designer?