So you’ve decided you need a website. Perhaps you are transferring to a different platform {Squarespace to WordPress}, or you’ve decided to rebrand yourself, launch a new product, etc. Here are a list of questions you’ll want to ask before getting into bed with someone.
Questions to ask a web designer:
- Do you use original artwork? (The answer to this is usually “no” by the way, unless you hire a graphic artist)
- Once the header/logo is complete, how many revisions to do I get before I have to pay more?
- Can I make modifications to the design after you’ve finished?
- Do I get copies of the original PSD files?
- Will the site redesign be modifiable without using CSS code after it’s complete?
- Do you offer any training for me to learn how to adjust things once it’s complete? If I need to understand CSS, do you teach that?
- Do I own a license for the framework you’re using (i.e. Genesis, Thesis, Divi, etc.)? What kind of customer support can I have with the company that makes the theme?
- If not, how do I go about getting updates? What is the cost involved?
- Will there be an attribution link to your services at the bottom of my site? If so, does that prohibit me from any particular changes?
- Will all the buttons be custom-made, or the standard symbolic versions of each platform?
- Do you help with commenting systems, call to action buttons, and sidebars?
- Do you help with ad placement?
- What is the cost involved for getting matching images to put up on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms?
- How involved can I be in the design process? Do I get to see it in the early stages, or do you only reveal it once it’s complete?
- Can I incorporate my own ideas into the design (if I have photoshop elements or other things I want to use)?
- Do you offer any advice/consulting with regard to plugins, functionality, backup, etc?
- Do you teach me how to back up my design so it’s safe in the event of a crash?
- If I make a change and it gets messed up, how much do you charge to fix it?
- Are you available by phone or email or both?
- Is the quote you offered me final or will it change depending on new ideas along the way? Do I fall back to the bottom of the queue if I have extra changes?
- What is the timeline for completion?
- Do your web design services cross over with email templates and opt-ins on my site?
- Will you be able to format my freebies with the same look as my website?
- Do you create any landing or sales pages that I can use for opting in and Facebook ads?
- Do you offer any traffic building strategies or SEO help?
- How much does it cost to customize premium plugins for e-commerce, membership, etc.?
- What’s your average turnaround time for changes to my site?
- Do you have any virtual assistants that you can recommend to help me with regular updating?
- Do you help with custom email addresses or subdomains?
- Will you work with me to get a CDN setup to increase my site speed?
- Do you create graphical elements like extra buttons, dividers, and icons?
- Do you help with finding custom photography for my website or do I need to provide that?
- Will you provide copyediting or sales copy help?
- Will you integrate my site with other platforms like scheduling, Leadpages, shopping carts, or customer relationship managers?
- Do you have any references I can talk to?
QUESTIONS TO ASK IF YOU ARE HIRING SOMEONE TO DO A TRANSFER TO WORDPRESS:
- Will I be able to have my own hosting package or do you put your clients on your own server? Who’s responsible for setting that up?
- If my blog is on your server, what kind of access will I have via FTP? If you are running a special, what are the terms after it runs out?
- Will you help me get a 301 redirect if my URL’s are changing?
- Who is responsible for reformatting pages/posts once the transfer is complete?
- Do you advise on moving practices (i.e. how to announce it, timeline of events, etc.)?
- Do you provide any follow-up consults/help once the transfer is complete? If so, how much do they cost?
- Do you help with comment importing (if I’m switching from something like Jetpack comments to Disqus)?
- Do you help with sitemap submission to google? Will you help with verification on other platforms like Pinterest and YouTube?
The digital landscape is entirely different than it was 10 years ago when webmasters ruled the Internet. You’d hire someone to create a static HTML site, then you’d call them up every time there was a change. Blogging wasn’t as common and so changes weren’t often and elaborate.
Nowadays, your web designer needs to know what your sales goals are and how you plan to achieve them. They should be able to work with a variety of platforms besides WordPress, including your scheduler, customer relationship manager, email service provider, social media streams, podcasting, shopping carts, and more.
If you aren’t a great copywriter, do you have someone in mind to help you, or are you going to ask your designer for help with copy?
In many cases, what you actually need is not a designer at all, but a digital marketing developer. Someone who can take your vision from A-Z and integrate all the moving parts of your online presence. This is especially important if you’ll be using sales funnels or making direct sales from your site.
When comparing prices, be very careful to observe what the designer is offering at that price point. You may get quotes anywhere from $300 – $6000, but that’s because the overall jobs might be entirely different.
Do you feel like finding a web designer is like trying to buy a car?
Let me help. Get in touch with me and I’ll point you in the right direction!
Allen Thomas says
All questions are excellent.. I really need these types of questions for my company .. Great sharing!!