How To Choose A Web Designer

how to hire a web designer

Choosing the right website designer for your small business

24 Hour website!!! Only $50 and we’ll build you a website for your business!!!

Ever caught yourself tempted to fall into the clickbait of cheap and fast websites? Trust us, even we’re curious as to how that really works.

In today’s day and age, everyone wants products and services that are quick and easy (especially on the wallet). But where do you draw the line between inexpensive and inefficient? You want to cut costs without cutting quality; cut time spent without sacrificing value.

Your website serves as the virtual face of your company, and it’s often the first point of contact between you and potential customers. Therefore, selecting the right web designer is a critical decision that can significantly impact your online presence and business success. In this article, we’ll go over our 5-step guide to hiring the perfect web designer for your small business, ensuring that you don’t fall prey to those tempting but often misleading offers of quick and cheap websites.

How to Choose a Web Designer for Your Small Business

If you’re in the decision phase of choosing a website designer, follow our 5-step guide on how to hire a web designer for your small business. If you’ve checked out our web design and like what you see, schedule a free marketing consultation with us!

Step 1. Define Your Small Business Needs and Goals

Before you start looking for a web designer, take some time to define your specific needs and goals, ensuring you don’t end up with a less than satisfactory end product. Ask yourself questions like:

What is the primary purpose of your website (e.g., e-commerce, lead generation, information sharing)?
What features and functionalities do you require?
Do you have a preferred design style or brand guidelines?
What is your budget for web design services?

Having a clear understanding of your requirements will help you find a web designer who can align with your vision and ensure that your investment is correctly valued.

Step 2. Research Small Business Digital Marketing Agencies

Much like avoiding “24-hour websites for $50,” it’s essential to do your research to find potential web designers. Utilize online directories, social media platforms, and referrals from fellow business owners to create a list of potential candidates. Look at their portfolios to get a sense of their design style and capabilities. Make sure the agency’s abilities, culture, and services match what you need.

Here at jo + leigh marketing, we pride ourselves on quality work, and problem-solving abilities, offer a variety of digital marketing services tailored to fit your needs, and have a pretty fun work environment too.

Step 3. Review Their Website Development Work and Reviews

When you review a web designer’s portfolio, pay attention to critical aspects as we mentioned earlier:

Aesthetic appeal: Ensure their design style aligns with your brand and preferences.
Functionality: Confirm that the websites they’ve designed are user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Mobile responsiveness: Check if their websites adapt well to various devices.
Loading speed: Verify the loading time of their websites.
Client diversity: See if they have worked with businesses similar to yours.

Similar to our previous advice, it’s also essential to gather references and reach out to past clients. Inquire about their experiences, the designer’s communication skills, and overall satisfaction with the project. Additionally, check online reviews and ratings on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or Trustpilot.

Curious about our past work? Learn more about some of the awesome portfolio work we’ve been able to bring to life for our clients here at jo + leigh marketing.

Step 4. Interview and Assess Your Future Website Design Company

Set up interviews or consultations with your shortlisted candidates. During these discussions, assess their communication skills, their understanding of your project, and their ability to meet your deadlines. Ask about their process, including how they handle revisions and post-launch support.

While cost is an important factor, ensure it doesn’t compromise the quality of your website. Understand the pricing structure, including any additional costs for revisions or ongoing maintenance. Review the contract carefully, making sure it outlines all project details, timelines, and deliverables.

Your website is an investment
We know and have worked with too many small businesses getting screwed over because they wanted to cut costs. It breaks our hearts! A website is an investment, and I promise you’ll be so much happier when you choose a correctly valued product.

Step 5. Trust Your Instincts

Lastly, trust your instincts. Choose a web designer who not only possesses the technical skills but also shares your enthusiasm for your business’s success. Building a strong working relationship is crucial for a successful web design project.

If you’re looking for some red flags to look for in a website designer, look no further. We’re here to give you 5 key signs that a deal *really* is too good to be true.

Too Quick Turnaround time: While we understand that a quick turnaround is important, it’s also important to ensure that the quality of the work is not sacrificed in the process.
Lots of pages, not lots of dollar signs: Trust us, free.99 will not always mean free.99. The last thing we want is for you to work with a company because their quote is significantly cheaper and end up with a less than satisfactory end product.
Communication: Their lack of or unwillingness to hop on a quick call or answer your emails fully, or on the other end, communicate wayyyyy too much, may be a red flag. Communication is crucial when working with a designer, so watch out for a lack of communication, unwillingness to communicate or even too much communication.
Vague, Spam-y Messages: This one may feel obvious but you’d be surprised at how often people end up falling for something like this. They compliment sandwich your current products/services, may even acknowledge your current website’s pro’s, then knock you down and make you believe that what you currently have is not working. Trust us, we even get emails that our SEO needs work as a website company that specializes in helping businesses with their SEO. LOL. If their guarantees seem like they’re unrealistic, you may want to believe them and find someone more, well, honest.

Picking the Perfect Web Designer for Your Small Business

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you found our 5-step guide to hiring a web designer helpful. You know, finding the perfect website designing company can feel a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. But don’t worry! The search is worth it, and we’re confident you’ll find your perfect match.

Investing in a professional web designer is like investing in a fancy new suit or dress for a big event – it makes you look good, and you feel confident and ready to take on the world! A well-designed website can do the same for your small business. So, go on and show the world what you’ve got!

If you’re ready to start your website design journey, contact us today! We’d love to work with you and bring your small business online- the right way.

Thanks again for reading – you’re awesome!

Keep creative friends!
Anna Jo + Madison Leigh

Want to share?

How To Choose A Web Designer

how to hire a web designer

Choosing the right website designer for your small business

How to Choose a Web Designer for Your Small Business

Picking the Perfect Web Designer for Your Small Business

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

we'd love to chat with you!