Now this may be a little bit of a corney thing to say but it’s true…
Picking the right website designer is like choosing the right pair of shoes: wear the wrong fit, and you’ll regret it with every step (or in this case, every click).
With the help of understanding what your brand is about, a great website can transform your business, but getting there means finding a website designer who truly knows their stuff especially when it comes to knowing how to brand it. Here are the top 5 things to look out for when hiring a professional website designer, so you can avoid the digital equivalent of blisters!
1. Look For A Designer’s Portfolio That Wows (Not Worries)
Before you even think about signing on the dotted line, check out their portfolio. Does their work make you say, “Wow!” or “Sheesh” not in the good way? A great website designer will have a diverse collection of past projects that showcase their creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to build sites that are not only visually stunning but also functional too.
2. Seek Out Someone With Strong Communication Skills
Your website designer should be great at not only designing, but also at communicating too. If they can’t explain their design choices or listen to your vision, you might end up with something that doesn’t reflect your brand at all. A great designer asks the right questions, provides updates, and makes sure they understand your brand as well as business goals before diving in.
3. Understanding of SEO Basics
Always remember that your aim is to stop being the best kept secret. Your website could be the most beautiful thing on the internet, but if no one can find it, what’s the point?
Whilst the average web designer will help you get up and running, a professional website designer understands the importance of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and knows how to structure a site so search engines can easily crawl or index your web pages accordingly. Simply put, they’ll know how to structure things, so you remain searchable and visible.
Look for someone who builds SEO into the framework of your site with clean code, fast load times, mobile responsiveness, and optimized images.
4. Focus on User Experience (UX)
A good website doesn’t just look pretty, it needs to work. Your visitors should have a seamless experience navigating your site, whilst finding what they’re looking for, and ideally, converting into customers. Look for a designer who prioritizes UX (user experience) and designs with the user’s journey in mind. They’ll always consider does the layout make sense? Are the buttons easy to find? Is it mobile-friendly and have the images been optimised to suit? They quite simply, will just get it.
5. Clear Pricing and Contracts
Don’t get blindsided by surprise fees! A professional website designer will offer clear pricing, detailed contracts, and transparency about what’s included. Make sure to ask if things like ongoing support, maintenance, and revisions are part of the deal or if they come with extra charges. You want a designer who’s as upfront with their pricing as they are with their design skills.
Bottom line don’t settle for just any website designer. Picking the right website designer for you is crucial to add to your online success. From their portfolio and communication skills to their understanding of SEO and UX, each factor matters. Take the time to find someone who clicks with your vision and knows how to turn it into a fully functional, SEO-friendly website. Your business, brand and of course your sanity, will seriously thank you later!
