Choosing a website designer often seems to be too complicated. But a bit like a car, there is a lot more going on with a website than meets the eye. Use this checklist to narrow down your choice of website designer and ensure you get a good, functional website design that meets or exceeds your expectations.
1. Check your portfolio
This is the designer’s showcase and should showcase a range of different sites that they have designed.
Make sure the sites they show are still online; if the sites no longer exist, the portfolio is not up to date.
If they show thumbnails, check that the actual site looks like the thumbnail. If not, it is a possible sign that the new design has not been used.
2. Do they use WordPress?
While some website designers will gasp when you ask that question, it’s still a good question.
More than 1 in 5 new websites now use WordPress. And there is safety in that number! It means that if your website designer disappears off the face of the earth or changes direction or falls out with them, you’re not stuck.
If your site is store-based, your designer should suggest something like ZenCart or Magento, but otherwise, unless your needs are especially complicated, they should use WordPress, the market leader.
3. Will prices be transparent?
Even though WordPress is free, that doesn’t mean designer time is too. That’s fair enough.
The extras that are included may or may not be paid. This includes the actual design of the site; if it’s a freely available template, your designer needs to be upfront about it. Some less than scrupulous designers have been known to charge thousands for designs they bought off the rack for less than £100. Make sure you don’t get caught!
4. Will the site be optimized for search engines?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is not a universal skill.
While you shouldn’t necessarily expect your website designer to be completely familiar with the latest tips and tricks, there are some components of SEO that have been around since the internet was born.
Check that your website designer has at least a basic understanding of SEO and that they make sure that at least the page titles, page descriptions, and headlines on your new website are changed accordingly.
If they write the website copy for you, then that too should be reasonably well optimized for SEO. If you provide the copy, make sure they at least make suggestions if it’s not up to scratch.
5. How easy will it be for me to make changes?
You don’t want to go back to your website designer every time you need to change a handful of words or prices.
WordPress is easy to use and your website designer should allow you to make changes or even add entirely new pages without going back to them.
Of course, if that doesn’t appeal. then the offer of a maintenance package could well be your best option.
6. Who will own my domain name and where will my site be hosted?
It is important that you are the owner of your domain name, not its designer.
Likewise, it is good practice to host your site on the Internet rather than using the shared package that your website designer may offer you.
You will almost certainly get a better standard of hosting, which is important for your site visitors, as well as being less dependent on someone who is not a specialist in the field. You need the peace of mind that if your website is not available, a specialized company will take care of it quickly.
7. What happens if we fall?
While it’s unthinkable at the beginning of the website design process, it’s not uncommon for people to fall out with their website designers.
You should take care of this while you’re still talking! It’s a bit like a prenuptial marriage.
Check who will own the design, if there will be exit costs, what happens to any custom code, etc.
It is much better to do this at the beginning.
