DOs and DON’Ts when hiring a web designer

I’m not a web designer and yet my friend asked me to redo their company’s website a few months ago. I told him it was better to get a design expert because I’m only good at copywriting. 

He said “no need” because he just wanted to revise the content and that he’s on a tight budget.

Three weeks into the project, he called me to cancel because his boss wanted to see a drastic visual change. I hated to say “I told him so”.

While changing a website’s content can help in Google search rankings, a professional website designer is paramount to ensure the redesign will work well.

For small and medium companies, web design is an important factor. It adds credibility and another channel for your clients to see what you can offer without having to visit a store or meet you personally.

The sure-fire way to make your website amazing is to hire an amazing web designer. But what makes an excellent designer? Here, I’ll share simple dos and don’ts when choosing a web design partner to help you build your website and your clients’.

Do decide on a budget

Your budget will dictate the quality of the work submitted to you. This is because a great majority of web designers and developers get paid on a per-project basis.

Freelance web designers will examine your specifications and determine how long it will take them (or their team) to accomplish the task, then multiply that amount by a daily or hourly fee.

Unfortunately, every different designer has a unique rate card and way of doing design projects. 

Some may allow revisions, some may charge for them. Some will include the raw files, others won’t. When you get their rates, it might not be the final amount, so get ready to spend more.

On-demand design services have a flat monthly fee, with no hidden charges. With this subscription model, you don’t have to second guess your outsourcing expenses.

Do look beyond the web designer’s portfolio

Any web designer worth hiring should have a diverse portfolio of websites. When reviewing their past projects, it’s critical to look beyond what they present.

Seek recommendations from their clients. You want to work with a great designer who is also professional and fun to work with. 

Past clients’ feedback can be the deciding factor. If you do this manually and on your own, get ready to spend lots of time examining tons of portfolios.

It’s way easier to get an on-demand design service because it has a team of web design experts. There is one designer who can create exactly what you need; you just need to provide constant feedback.

Don’t immediately cancel a subscription when the designer doesn’t fit your liking

Keep in mind that the greatest designers create the best designs when they truly understand the client. Understanding can only be established through constant and open communication.

Don’t be put off if the first few deliverables don’t hit the mark. You and your designer are in the learning or getting-to-know phase.

If you dislike the work, write a list of the things you’d want to see and ask them if they can accomplish it. You can even ask for options you can choose from. Overcommunication is key.

Don’t worry too much about time zones

Managing a remote team can be challenging but it is worth it. I wrote a guide for that. Where your designer lives should not be an issue if you can communicate what you need clearly. 

If the brief is clear and concise, then the designer can nail it in one go.

If you find a designer whose work you enjoy, time zones are negligible. The benefit of remote work is that it may be done at any time. You sleep with a request, and you wake up with an update.

User experience is universal and can overcome a language barrier. If you and your designer put user experience in mind, then you can create great web designs.

Choose wisely

It can be hard to find a web designer that’s qualified and reliable. Many designers have questionable backgrounds, and they might not have the experience to make your website look the way you want it to.

It’s easy to get stressed out and worried about how much a website will cost or how long it will take to build. If you’re not careful, choosing a web designer can be a really frustrating process.