If you have limited experience hiring web designers, then it can be difficult to know which questions to ask.
Every web designer claims to make responsive and effective websites. However, only the best web designers live up to that promise.
What’s the difference between a good and bad web designer? Which questions can help spot the difference between the two? We’re here to help. Here are some of the best questions to ask before hiring a web designer.
What’s your Platform Preference?
Some web developers exclusively use a specific content management system (CMS) like WordPress. Others have experience with e-commerce platforms. Some code websites from scratch.
Depending on whether you’re creating an online store, a business website, or a personal blog, you’ll want a web developer who specializes in a specific platform.
What’s Your Experience with Coding Versus Page Builders?
Website builders are better than ever. You don’t need a professional web developer to custom-build a site from scratch; instead, page builders can do the job for you.
Some web developers use page builders to create functional websites for clients – and that’s okay. These web developers will charge cheaper rates. Many of them will use basic code to customize the page builder further.
Other web developers have extensive coding experience. They might use a page builder to start, then use code to customize the website. Others use code to build a brand new website from scratch.
A template website can look unprofessional and basic – especially for larger businesses where users expect custom-built websites. Ask your developer about their experience with coding versus using page builders.
What Assets Do You Need from Me?
What does a web developer need from you? What assets does the web developer need to do the job efficiently?
To do a job efficiently, a web developer needs company branding assets like logo files, fonts, colors, style guides, and brand guide documents, among other materials.
Make sure you have these assets organized before working with a web developer. Be sure to ask your web developer about these asset requirements upfront to avoid any surprises once the project starts.
What’s Included?
Some web developers build customized packages for each client. They include a bundle of products and services.
Some web developers include hosting as part of a monthly package, for example. After paying an initial development fee, you pay $100 per month for ongoing maintenance and hosting.
Others simply build a website for you, and then expect you to find a web host.
Depending on your needs, it’s important to clarify what’s included with your web development package upfront to avoid any surprises on the final deliverable.
What’s the Timeline?
How long will it take the web developer to create your website? What sort of deliverables will the web developer have during that timeline? What are the major project milestones and delivery dates?
Web development can be difficult to predict. However, web developers should be able to provide a project timeline with significant milestones before they begin.
What Type of Communication Can I Expect Between Us?
Web development involves major edits, redesigns, and changes along the way.
You may be unhappy with early prototypes or mock-ups, for example, and request major changes before further development starts.
Ask your developer what happens if you need to request changes. How do you communicate with the web developer? How much information will you expect to receive from the web developer throughout the development process? How much feedback will you be able to provide?
Final Word
By asking these questions of your web developer upfront, you can ensure an efficient development process – and avoid surprises along the way.
