When you know you need a new website for your business, that’s just one step of the website design process. Then, you have to go down the daunting path of finding the right website designer, and how on earth do you start that? In this blog, I share how to hire the right website designer, so you can take the overwhelm out of the process and find the best fit for your business.

Finding the right website designer is essential.

Check out my interview with Mary on the Sticky Note Marketing podcast. Mary Czarnecki is a brand strategy genius and part founder of MAC Marketing Partners. You can also watch my interview with Mary Czarnecki on YouTube here.

In September, I had the honor of being interviewed on Mary Czarnecki’s podcast, Sticky Note Marketing. We chatted all about website design and how creative small businesses can hire the right website designer. It’s a super short episode, so I recommend listening on your favorite podcast platform. But, if you’re really super busy, take a look at the tips below.

Here are the questions you can ask to hire the right website designer:

Can we have a conversation before I decide to hire you? (Spoiler: the right website designer will say yes!)

Ask if you can schedule a call to get to know the website designer and ask some questions. You’ll get the biggest impact from a designer who has a clear process and takes the time to get to know your business goals before they even send you a website quote.

What control will I have over my website design after the project?

It amazes and scares me that some website designers don’t give their clients access to update their website after they’ve paid the designer. Some web designers host your domain for you, which can sometimes come with a cheaper rate, but also comes with a bigger headache if/when you want to switch your domain to a new host.

What website design platform should I use?

Know what you’re getting into with your website design host and domain. There are a number of website hosts to choose from, including Showit, Squarespace, Shopify, WordPress, and more. Be sure that your prospective website designer understands your goals so they can help you pick the right platform. Some website designers also only work with specific platforms, so make sure you understand their capabilities before officially making a payment.

What style do you work with?

Some website designers have very specific styles, encompassing bohemian, minimalist, masculine, dark and moody, and more. While Emily Foster Creative works within many different styles, not all designers do, so be sure you know what to expect.

I love our custom website design process because we kick the project off with a mood board to define the style. My custom website design process also allows clients to give me feedback throughout the project so that we can fine tune the look to their business and goals.

Do you have experience with my industry?

The right website designer doesn’t necessarily need to be niched in your industry, but they should understand the problem you’re experiencing and how to strategically design your website to help solve that problem. For example, if you’re a photographer looking for a custom designed website, it might be best to choose a designer who has at least worked with service-based businesses in the past. Whereas, if you’re an e-commerce business, it’s best to find a website designer who has build websites for product-based businesses.

If this all feels overwhelming to you and you’re still not sure where to begin, that’s ok! Feel free to reach out to me here and we can jump on a free call to discuss your goals and how you can find the right website designer for your business.