I’ve been in this business for almost 10 years now, and I talk to a lot of clients that have had bad experiences with past website designers, or have just had consults that have sent them running. I know that I’m not the best web designer for everyone out there, and that’s okay. I want to be the best for my ideal clients. Whether you are considering working with me, or looking at other designers, here are some things to look for.
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Get on the phone or video chat
When I was new in business, I accepted a small handful of clients without talking to them first. I quickly learned that every client and project I accept requires a short conversation, either on the phone or through Zoom / Facetime. I often even ask repeat clients to have a short call. Even though I know the client, I want to make sure we have a full understanding of the scope of the project.
While this is beneficial for me as a web designer, it also helps the client. We’re going to spend a lot of time talking and communicating in order to create a website for your business. This call not only gives you a chance to ask questions but also to just make sure you like the person you are hiring.
See recent websites they designed
You want to make sure this person or company is steadily producing work. Don’t just look at a portfolio link but ask to see actual websites, and ask how recent the work is. I can at any time share 5 websites that are within 3-12 months when asked. Occasionally, I pull an older website as a reference if there is something particular due to style, feature or industry that the client wants to see. That’s fine if there is a particular reason for showing older work. If a web designer hasn’t produced anything in a while, I’d be looking to find out the reason. Maybe a search through social media reveals that they took a year off as a new mom, or for another reason. In that case, I wouldn’t see it as a red flag.
Check out their social media
I’m guilty of disappearing from social media now and then (consistency on Instagram is something I’m trying to work on!) but I’m talking weeks, not years. Check out their social media and see what is being shared. This can give you a good feel for how the designer sees their clients, and the general feel of their business. If you don’t find them on your normal social channels, just ask. I believe in only being on the social that makes sense for each business, so someone may only be on TikTok and not Facebook, or such.
Ask if the designer has a process
Okay, I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to processes, but web design has a lot of pieces! You need to make sure your designer has a method to the madness of going from inspiration to live website. Definitely ask about how they do this and what it looks like from the client’s perspective. You can read all about our process at on our Web Design page.
Look for client reviews and references
Ask where you can find reviews of past clients and if you can reach out to 1-2 clients to learn more about working with them. While words on the web designers website are great, it’s also good to look for reviews on Google or a third party site.
Ask if they have experience in your industry
I don’t think a web designer needs experience in a specific industry but it is an add-on. Most of my clients are creative women and photographers but I do have some others such a couture dry cleaner in NYC and a handful of non-profit organizations. For example, I can create great websites still for clients outside my niche but it takes more learning, where I can easily offer a photographer or creative expertise, and an understanding of the industry.
A natural flow to the communication
Business is about relationships, and creating a great website comes down to collaboration and communication. I’m a believer in doing research but in the end going with my gut instinct, when I’m choosing a service provider. If I feel like I can talk to someone, they’ll listen to my ideas, and we naturally get along, they are going to move higher on my list. This loops back around to talking to prospective designers but it’s more than that. Do their emails answer your questions? Does their website speak to you? Do you like following them on social media? It’s all the little things.
Are there other things you look for? DM me on Instagram to continue the conversation, or book a call if you’d like to talk about your website.
