12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Website Designer

Building a website is a big investment. You deserve to feel confident before hiring a website designer!

Quick Answer: What Questions Should I Ask a Website Designer?

Before hiring a website designer, ask about branding and copywriting help, post-launch support, annual hosting costs, their portfolio, how they use AI, experience in your industry, extra-page pricing, whether they’ll teach you to make updates, their SEO strategy, their design process, and what they’ll need from you.

Here’s each question I suggest asking and why it matters.

Do You Include Help With Branding and Copywriting?

Not every website package includes branding or copywriting, so get clear on what’s included and what you’d need to add on or source separately.

A lot of website designers (like me!) include basic branding in their packages with copywriting add-ons. Many are also in touch with brand designers and copywriters and can connect you with someone who fits your project needs.

Do You Offer Support After Launch?

Ask specifically about post-launch support. Websites are ever-changing, and you don’t want to be blindsided by quotes of $200/hour to make simple changes after you launch.

Get clear on what your designer offers in terms of website maintenance once your site is live, before you sign anything.

What Do Clients Typically Pay Annually to Keep a Website Running?

Annual hosting costs vary by platform, so ask what your designer’s clients typically pay to keep their site running each year.

You’re not just investing in a designer, you’re investing in the software that keeps your site up and running. Different designers use different platforms, which affects price, and add-ons like backups are an extra (but worthwhile) cost.

I help my clients pick between Squarespace and WordPress. For WordPress websites, my client can pick their own hosting platform as long as it’s compatible with WordPress; I usually recommend Hostinger.

Can I See Your Past Work?

Always ask to see a portfolio before hiring. It shows you a designer’s style and how well they capture a business’s unique brand and messaging.

You can also ask if they can connect you with past clients, so you can ask them directly about their experience.

Do You Use AI?

Ask your designer how they use AI in their business, especially if you feel strongly about how AI is used in your own.

Every business owner has their own beliefs about AI. I believe in using it as a tool, not a crutch. It can be great for brainstorming ideas, catching typos, or finding other ways to word a sentence. I will never use it to write copy that goes directly on a client’s website.

Have You Worked With Anyone in My Industry Before?

For weight-inclusive providers especially, this matters! A designer without relevant experience may need a lot of explaining, or worse, use diet-y, weight-centric language that doesn’t reflect your approach 🫣

Everyone is exposed to diet culture, including your website designer. You want to make sure they understand your unique approach to health and wellness. You’ll also want to consider the learning curve: do you want to spend all your creative sessions explaining what weight-inclusive means? This is a huge reason why working with a dietitian website designer can be so helpful.

What if I Need Extra Pages?

Most website packages include a set number of pages, but you can usually add on extra pages for an additional price. Ask about this pricing upfront so there are no surprises later.

Will You Show Me How to Make Updates to My Site Myself?

Ask whether your designer will teach you to make basic updates after launch. You don’t want to be stuck a month later, staring at your beautiful new site with no idea how to edit it.

I provide my clients with tutorial videos and we also go over the basics during our pre-launch call.

What Is Your Approach to SEO?

Ask whether your designer has an SEO strategy they’ll actually implement while building your site. A beautiful website doesn’t help your ideal clients if they can’t find it.

Here’s a brief overview of my SEO strategy:

• Keyword research for their niche and ideal client
• Including those keywords in header tags, SEO titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text
• Sprinkling those keywords throughout their website copy
• Indexing their site with Google Search Console
• Optimizing blog posts for SEO and AEO

What Is the Design Process Like?

Ask about their timeline, how many calls are involved, and their plan for launching. Make sure your expectations align with theirs before you commit.

What Will You Need From Me During This Process?

Expect to fill out worksheets, share examples of your work, and give feedback on time. A website designer can’t read your mind, so your input is a huge part of getting a site that actually feels like you!

In order to design a website that feels like you, we need to learn about your business, and in order for your website to launch on time, we need those materials and feedback back from you promptly too.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

As website designers, we know how daunting it can feel to build a website. That’s why we want you to feel supported throughout this process! We’re here to answer any and all questions to make sure you get what you want when hiring a website designer.