By Tanya Ganian · · 3 min readBefore hiring a web designer, ask about three things: your business goals (have they built sites like yours, and how will the site bring in inquiries?), exactly what's included (pages, writing, SEO, revisions, ownership), and what happens after launch (support, updates, backups and costs). A good designer answers clearly and in writing.
Start with business questions
Short answer: before fonts, colours or layouts, find out whether the designer understands what your website needs to do for your business.
- Have you built websites for businesses like mine?
- How will you learn about my customers?
- Will the site be designed to generate inquiries, bookings or sales?
- Can you show examples of previous work, live, not just screenshots?
- What do you need from me, and when?
A good designer is curious about your goals, not only about how you want the site to look.
Ask exactly what's included
This is where most misunderstandings happen. Ask:
- How many pages are included?
- Who writes the website content?
- Is basic SEO included? Is keyword research included?
- Will the site work properly on phones?
- How many rounds of revisions are included?
- Is the site bilingual, and who writes the French and English?
- Who buys the domain and hosting, and in whose name?
- Will I own my website and its content?
- Can I update the content myself?
Our guide to what's included in web design services covers what's usually extra.
Ask about SEO before the build
A website that looks great but doesn't show up on Google won't bring you much. Ask how the designer plans pages around what customers search, and whether titles, headings, speed and structured data are part of the build. See why SEO and web design should be planned together.
Ask what happens after launch
Your website isn't finished forever once it goes live. Ask:
- Who fixes problems if something breaks?
- Who handles software updates, security and backups?
- How are future changes priced?
- Is support included, and for how long?
Red flags to watch for
- They can't explain their process clearly
- They won't show examples of real, live websites
- They avoid questions about ownership
- They promise guaranteed first-place Google rankings
- They don't provide a written agreement
The bottom line
The best web designer isn't necessarily the one with the most impressive portfolio. It's the one who understands what your business needs and can explain exactly how they'll deliver it.
Comparing several designers? Read how to choose between web designers and how much professional web design costs. Or ask us your questions directly.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a web designer before hiring them?
Ask whether they've built sites for businesses like yours, what's included (pages, writing, SEO, revisions), who owns the domain and site, and who handles support and updates after launch.
Should I own my website?
Yes. Make sure your domain, hosting account, website files and content are in your name, so you can change providers without losing your site.
Is it a red flag if a designer guarantees Google rankings?
Yes. Nobody controls Google's results. A trustworthy designer explains how the site is built for SEO, not a guaranteed position.