Do you own a small business? Are you looking to improve your website and reach audiences across multiple digital scales? Do you need assistance with building and designing your website? Well, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you’re in luck.

This is a simple guide on how to find a good web design expert to help you expand your brand online. 

How Do I Choose A Website Designer?

Web designers may seem like they are a dime a dozen. Despite the increasing demand that they are for hired web designers and how many web designers are currently working, not all of them are the same. When it comes right down to it, it’s all about preference. 

One opinion may differ from another about how “good” a web designer is at their craft. Some small business owners that hired a professional website designer may or may not have been pleased with the result.

This all has to do with personal taste and the quality of communication between the client and the designer.

When you’re a small business owner, choosing a web designer to help you grow your business online is a crucial and strategic decision. A good design can greatly impact your conversion rates and bring in new prospective customers. However, a bad design can do just the opposite.

Selecting the right web designer is essential since this decision is foundational to your business’s success. So what it is that you should look for in a hired professional website designer? Well, let’s start with the basics.

What To Look For In A Web Designer

The professional website designer that you hire should have in-depth knowledge of the technical stuff that happens “behind the scenes.” They should not only be well-versed on current design trends and design work, but they should also be keen on the codes that make the site run. Most web designers nowadays are indeed a jack of all trades in terms of their skillset. 

They should know how to design and develop a website from the ground up. They should help you determine web page layouts, graphics, text locations, and color schemes of your website. They should also act as a project manager and internet marketing consultant for your website.

They should determine how your business website fits your overall marketing strategy and help you to drive more traffic to your website. This, in turn, will increase sales across the board. 

So basically, a good web design expert should create a design that accurately portrays the overall message that you want to send to your audience. If they don’t have in-depth knowledge and experience with website programming, then they should hire out that work to a web developer and programming specialist. 

They should focus on the user experience in which your website is both visually engaging and contains intriguing, descriptive, and relevant content. 

What Questions Do I Ask A Web Designer?

It’s always important to ask questions in any business relationship. Communication is a critical factor in the decision-making process for designing and building a website. Share your thoughts about your vision for your website. See if they are compatible with manifesting that vision into reality. 

Here are a few common questions to ask when hiring a professional website designer.

• What are your hours of availability?
• Can you provide 1-2 additional references?
• What types of websites are you most experienced in designing?
• What is your design process?
• What content management systems do you use?
• What website builders do you use?
• How long will the design process take?
• Do you outsource any design or development work?
• Do you offer website maintenance services after the design is complete?
• What is your record for on-time website launches?
• Do you incorporate social media links in the website design?
• How many edits or revisions are included in the final price?
• How do you typically charge for your web design services?

Make sure that you ask all of these questions and more. You wouldn’t merely trust a stranger that you didn’t vet or interview before looking after your home, would you? You wouldn’t hire a babysitter without establishing some rapport, yes?

Well, think of your website as your brainchild. Placing your brainchild in the hands of a web designer and developer is a serious decision and should not be taken lightly. You want to make sure that the web designer that is handling your brainchild is trustworthy, reliable, and qualified. 

So when considering a potential candidate, you should get the facts and communicate your thoughts, concerns, and desires. 

How Much Does it Cost To Hire A Website Designer?

Prices vary for hiring a designer to build a website. Some designers charge by the hour. Some designers charge depending on the size of the project. Or, some may require a monthly retainer for ongoing maintenance of the website. The cost of hiring a web designer depends entirely on what you want out of your website. 

A quality website with a good design and layout will typically cost anywhere between $2,500 – $5,000. If they charge by the hour, expect to pay somewhere between $75 – $150 per hour. If you choose to add more in-depth content, a blog page, newsletters, a shopping cart, email address setup, autoresponders, SEO management, and logo design, the price may be considerably higher. 

Lots of designers also offer monthly payments or deposits instead of paying the lump sum of the final price. If they do offer this, you should have the appropriate documentation ready and a way of tracking these payments. Always remember to stay within your budget and if your website gains the type of traction that you hoped for, then the cost was well worth it.