Advice on Hiring the Right Web Designer for Your Website
Hiring the right web designer for your website is important if you want to make a good impression. If your site looks out of date, visually unappealing, and runs poorly – you’re not going to see much traffic. In order to find the right designer for the job, however, you’ll need to do your research. In this article, we’ll go over some important tips on what you can do to ensure your designer is a good fit for your business website.
What Does a Web Designer Do?
A web designer is responsible for designing the look, layout, and functionality of a website. Basically, they’re the ones who design the visuals of a website as well as the general flow of how it runs during use.
There’s a popular misconception that web designers and web developers are one in the same, but this isn’t the case. To put it simply, a web developer’s job involves working with programming languages to develop the actual website, not the visuals. They’re the ones who make the website, and a web designer is the one who makes sure it looks the part.
Tips for Hiring a Good Web Designer
Using their knowledge of web design software, scripting languages, and their creativity – a web designer can help you make a great site. If you’re looking for a designer, your first priority should be to research all potential designers prior to hiring. Tips below:
Make Sure You Choose the Right Web Designer
Finding quality web design is important but finding the right type of web designer will determine their effectiveness overall. No one web designer is the same, meaning one may specialize in apps and another may specialize in websites. Sure, there are some web designers that can do it all, but that won’t be the case for everyone. Research their past work and ask about their past work before you choose the designer that’s right for you.
Always Ask for a Portfolio
An established web designer will have a portfolio they can send you with samples of their past work. This provides invaluable information that can help you determine if they’re the type of designer you’re looking for. Additionally, check to see if they’ve established an online presence – meaning business profiles, professional pages, etc. The more information you can gather on their professional experience, the better.
Ask for References
Ask about references and follow-up with any references given. Understanding other client’s experiences with this designer will help you decide if that web designer is right for you. When you contact their references, ask questions like:
- Did they perform quality work?
- Did they stay on schedule?
- Was the client happy with their results?
- Did they communicate well?
- Would they recommend this web designer?
If you’re looking to hire from an agency, check to see if there are reviews on Google for the company.
Ask About their Knowledge of SEO
Making sure your web pages are optimized for search engines will determine their ranking on engines like Google. If your site isn’t properly optimized, it’ll likely end up lost in the back pages of google gathering dust. That’s why it’s important that you ask web designers about their SEO experience prior to hiring. If the web designer tries to guarantee first page ranking for your website, consider it a red flag. You want someone who seems knowledgeable on the subject, but realistic about what they can achieve.
Find a Web Designer that Fits Your Budget
Establish what you can spend on web design and communicate your budget and needs with the web designer. The cost of a website design is determined by several factors, including:
- The type of design needed.
- The number of pages the site will feature.
- The functions implemented into the website.
Find someone that doesn’t overcharge for their services, but also doesn’t have a suspiciously low rate. Web designers on average charge around $75 per hour, so anything substantially higher that that is a red flag.
Clearly State What You Want for Your Website
While a good web designer can do a lot for a website, don’t expect them to turn water into wine. Give them a clear outline of what you want before they get started and communicate throughout the design process. If you give them vague ideas of what you’re looking for, you may end up with something completely different than what you wanted.
If you’re unsure of what you want, look up websites in a similar business type online to help give you ideas. Sites like Behance can also offer some visual inspiration as well as web designers that may be of interest to you.
The Bottom Line
Finding a web designer that’s experienced, affordable, and understands your business goals is key if you want successful results. Don’t be dazzled by over-the-top promises and extremely low rates. Do your research, ask questions, and choose carefully. Remember, if you choose the wrong web designer, you’ll end up paying double to fix their mistakes. The quality of your website design will also factor into the effectiveness of your internet marketing strategy.
If you’re looking for help marketing your business online, call Olive Group today and set up your free marketing meeting! We take pride in what we do – helping Tacoma businesses succeed and grow. Our marketing services have even placed us as one of the top 3 for marketing agencies in Tacoma, WA.