By Tanya Ganian · · 3 min readChoose the web designer who best understands your business goals, not simply the cheapest or the one with the prettiest portfolio. Compare their experience with businesses like yours, test their real websites on your phone, read exactly what each proposal includes, and find out who does the work and who supports you after launch.
Compare more than price
Short answer: line up the quotes side by side and compare what you get, not only what you pay. Look at:
- Experience with businesses like yours
- How well they understand your goals
- Quality of their previous websites
- What's included in the proposal (pages, writing, SEO, revisions)
- Timeline and how they communicate
- Technical knowledge, including speed and SEO basics
- Support after launch
Our guide to web design costs in Canada helps you judge whether a quote is reasonable.
Test their previous websites
Don't just look at portfolio screenshots. Visit the actual websites on your phone and ask yourself:
- Do they load reasonably quickly?
- Can you find your way around easily?
- Is the writing clear?
- Can you tell right away what the business offers?
- Is it easy to contact the company?
Then search Google for one of those businesses' services. Do they show up? (More checks in how to tell if a web designer is qualified.) These details matter more than fancy animations.
Ask who does the work
Some agencies outsource their projects. That isn't necessarily bad, but you should know who is responsible for your site and who you'll talk to. With a smaller studio, the person you meet is often the person who builds it. Not sure whether you need a designer or a developer? See the difference between a web designer and a web developer.
A simple scorecard
| Question | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| How will this site bring me clients? | A clear plan for pages, calls to action and SEO |
| What exactly is included? | A written list, with extras priced |
| Who owns the site and domain? | You do, in your name |
| What happens after launch? | Defined support, updates and pricing |
The bottom line
Choose the designer who shows the best understanding of your business goals, not simply the one with the prettiest portfolio. A successful website should help your business, not just win design awards.
Use our list of questions to ask a web designer and how to tell if a web designer is qualified. You can also look at our case studies and web design approach.
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for in a web designer?
Look for experience with businesses like yours, live websites that work well on phones, a clear written proposal, an understanding of SEO basics and defined support after launch.
Should I choose the cheapest web designer?
Not automatically. Compare what's included and who owns the result. A cheap site that doesn't bring clients or has to be rebuilt soon ends up costing more.
Is a freelancer or an agency better for a website?
Either can work. Freelancers and small studios often offer direct contact; larger agencies offer more specialists. What matters is skills, process and accountability.