Your website is one of the most important assets your business owns. It works for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is often the first impression potential customers have of your company. Getting it right matters, and that means choosing the right person or team to build it.
The web design industry has a low barrier to entry, which means there are a lot of people offering web design services. Some are highly skilled professionals with years of experience. Others are hobbyists with a Squarespace account who just started calling themselves designers last month. And everything in between. How do you tell them apart? How do you find the right fit for your business?
At Life By Designs, we believe that an informed client makes a better partner. So here is our honest guide to choosing a web designer, including the questions you should ask and the red flags you should watch for.
Review Their Portfolio Carefully
A designer's portfolio is the single best indicator of what they can do for you. Look at the websites they have built and ask yourself these questions:
- Do the sites look professional? First impressions matter. If the portfolio sites feel amateurish or outdated, the designer may not have the skills you need.
- Do the sites work well on mobile? Pull out your phone and visit the portfolio sites. If they are not responsive, that is a major red flag.
- Do the sites feel unique? Or do they all look like slight variations of the same template? A skilled designer creates custom solutions for each client, not cookie-cutter replicas.
- Are the sites still online? If a designer's portfolio is full of dead links and archived screenshots, it could mean their clients did not stick around.
Pay particular attention to whether the designer has experience in your industry. While a talented designer can work across industries, someone who has built websites for businesses similar to yours will have a better understanding of your needs and your customers' expectations.
Understand Their Process
Ask the designer to walk you through their process from start to finish. A professional designer will have a clear, structured workflow that includes these stages:
- Discovery and consultation. Understanding your business, goals, audience, and competitors.
- Planning and strategy. Defining the site structure, content strategy, and technical requirements.
- Design. Creating visual concepts, wireframes, or mockups for your review.
- Development. Building the actual website with clean, functional code.
- Testing. Checking the site across browsers and devices before launch.
- Launch and handoff. Deploying the site and providing training or documentation.
If a designer cannot clearly articulate their process, it is a warning sign. A well-defined process protects both the designer and the client. It sets expectations, establishes milestones, and reduces the risk of scope creep and miscommunication.
Ask About Technology and Platform
The technology behind your website matters, even if you are not a technical person. Ask the designer what platform or technology they plan to use and why.
Common approaches include:
- WordPress. The most popular content management system in the world. Great for businesses that want to update their own content. Huge ecosystem of themes and plugins, but requires ongoing maintenance and security updates.
- Custom HTML/CSS/JavaScript. Hand-coded websites offer maximum control over design and performance but require a developer for any content changes.
- Website builders (Squarespace, Wix, Weebly). Easy to use but limited in customization and flexibility. Fine for a basic online presence, but may not scale with your business.
- E-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce). Specialized for online stores. The right choice depends on the size and complexity of your product catalog.
There is no universally right answer. The best platform depends on your specific needs, budget, and long-term plans. A good designer will recommend the technology that best fits your situation, not the one they are most comfortable with.
Discuss Ownership and Control
This is a critical point that many business owners overlook until it becomes a problem. Before signing anything, make sure you understand:
- Who owns the design? You should own the final website design and all custom graphics created for you. This should be explicitly stated in your contract.
- Who controls the domain name? Your domain should be registered in your name, under your account. Some designers register domains in their own name, which gives them leverage if the relationship sours.
- Who controls the hosting? Similarly, your hosting account should be in your name. You should have full access to your hosting control panel and be able to move your site to a different host if you choose.
- What happens if you part ways? Can you take your website and move to a different designer? Some proprietary platforms lock you in, making it difficult or impossible to transfer your site.
At Life By Designs, we believe you should always own and control your website. We register domains and set up hosting in our clients' names, and we provide all login credentials and files. If you ever decide to work with someone else, you can take everything with you. That is how it should be.
Get Clear on Pricing
Web design pricing varies enormously, from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. Understanding what you are paying for is essential to making a good decision.
Beware of prices that seem too good to be true. A $300 website is almost certainly going to be a pre-made template with minimal customization. There is nothing wrong with templates for basic needs, but do not expect a custom, unique design at that price point.
On the other hand, a high price does not automatically guarantee quality. Some agencies charge premium rates more for their overhead and brand name than for superior work.
When comparing quotes, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Ask what is included in the price:
- How many pages?
- Is the design custom or template-based?
- Is responsive design included?
- Is SEO setup included?
- How many rounds of revisions?
- Is content creation included, or do you need to provide all text?
- Are there ongoing costs for maintenance, hosting, or support?
Check References and Reviews
Ask the designer for two or three client references and actually contact them. Ask these questions:
- Was the project completed on time and on budget?
- How was communication throughout the process?
- Were they responsive to your feedback and revisions?
- How has the website performed for your business?
- Would you hire them again?
Also check online reviews on Google, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau. While no business has a perfect record, consistent negative reviews or a pattern of complaints should give you pause.
Trust Your Gut
After you have done your research, reviewed portfolios, asked questions, and checked references, trust your instincts. You are going to work closely with this person or team for weeks or months. The relationship needs to feel right.
Do they listen to you? Do they explain things clearly? Do they seem genuinely interested in your business? Do you feel comfortable asking questions and sharing feedback? These soft factors matter more than you might think. A brilliant designer who does not communicate well or does not respect your input is going to produce a frustrating experience, regardless of how talented they are.
The Right Partner Matters
Choosing a web designer is not just a purchasing decision. It is choosing a creative partner who will shape how the world sees your business online. Take the time to find the right fit, and the investment will pay dividends for years to come.
At Life By Designs, we welcome these conversations. If you are evaluating web designers for your next project, we would be happy to walk you through our process, show you our work, and give you a transparent, no-obligation quote. We are based in Charlotte, NC, and we work with businesses locally and across the country.