Choosing the right web designer

Choosing the right web designer for your project is a very important decision. Being prepared will definitely help (please see New Client Checklist), but there are certain things that you will want to know about your potential new designer before jumping in and signing a contract with them. While there are many designers to choose from, and you don’t have to hire one that is local to you, it can make consultations easier.

Some things you might want to ask a potential designer include:

Make sure you have looked at the designer’s portfolio. Is there a certain style to all of their sites, or are they flexible? Will they be able to provide the right look for your site? Many designers limit what they include on an online portfolio. Don’t be afraid to ask to see more examples of their work, or request references.

If you have many examples of previous work to look at, make sure to pay attention to navigation and ease of use. Is it easy to find what you are looking for? Do the sites load quickly? If mobile browsing is important to you, see what the sites look like on an iPhone, BlackBerry or Palm.

If you have a deadline, ask the designer if they can they can deliver the site by that time. Many designers carefully balance their workload, and some sites can take much longer than others (for example, an informational site will take much less time than an eCommerce site).

Discuss your budget with the designer, or ask them to give you a ballpark estimate. A good designer will not be able to give you an accurate quote without some kind of client interview and having an outline of the project scope, but if you know basically what you need, they can give you a rough idea of what it will cost. Is it within your budget? If not, ask the designer what kind of lower-cost alternatives they can suggest. Many designers can come up with creative ideas to lower the overall cost of a project. Many designers work hourly, and others work flat-rate. Expect hourly rates to fall between $50-$125 per hour. Flat-rate pricing will vary depending on the designer, and what the scope of the project is. The more features you require, the higher the price will be.

Ask the designer how they expect to be paid, be it monthly, by milestones, or some other fashion. Do they require a deposit up front? What if you hate the layout they presented? Will they charge extra for additional design revisions before the layout is approved? What kind of requests from you will incur additional costs?

Before signing a contract, insist on a written quote or estimate. Included in this documentation should be the total estimated project cost, the scope of the project (which should outline everything that will be included in the project), and the project timeline. If something is missing, be sure to bring it to the designer’s attention and they should present you with a revised estimate. Expect the cost of the project to change if changes are made in the project scope.

The potential designer should ask you a lot of questions. They will need to know a lot about your business to create a site that truly works for you.