12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Website Designer

Building a website is a big investment. We need you feeling confident before hiring a website designer!

You don’t want to send in your initial deposit, just to realize their process isn’t right for you…

So here are some questions to ask before jumping in:

Do you include help with branding and copywriting?

These services are not included in every website package. You want to make sure you are clear on what you need and what is being provided.

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

Do you offer any support post launch?

Websites are ever-changing. Something may break. You may want to make updates.

Get clear on what they offer in terms of website maintenance after you launch, so you aren’t blindsided with quotes of $200/hour to make simple changes.

What do your clients typically pay annually for the websites you build?

You are not just investing in a designer, you are investing in website software to keep your site up and running.

Different designers use different platforms, which can affect price. There are also add-ons like backups, to ensure your site is safe! It can be an annoying extra cost, but it’s worth it (trust me…).

My clients can pick their hosting platform, but it must be compatible with WordPress. I usually recommend Bluehost because they run promos where you can get your first year of hosting for <$50 before renewing at about <$150/year.

Can I see your past work?

You want to see what your designer can do! What is their style, do they do a good job at capturing a business’s unique brand/messaging, etc.

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

Do you use AI?

Every business owner has their own set of beliefs when it comes to AI.

If you feel strongly about how you utilize AI in your business, I recommend asking your website designer how they utilize it in theirs.

I believe in using AI as a tool, not a crutch. It can be great for brainstorming ideas, catching typos, figuring out other ways to word sentences, etc. However, I will never use it to write copy that goes directly on a client’s website.

Have you ever worked with anyone in my industry before?

This is incredibly important as a weight-inclusive provider. Everyone is exposed to diet culture, including your website designer.

You want to make sure that they understand your unique approach to health and wellness to avoid any diet-y, weight-centric language ending up on your website.

You also want to consider the learning curve for them. Do you want to spend all of 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 in the deliverables, but sometimes you need more!

Usually you can add-on pages for an additional price!

Will you show me how to make updates to my site?

You have a beautiful, functional website… great!

A month later, you need to make a few updates… uhhh what do I do?

I provide my clients with tutorial videos on the website builder I use, Kadence. We also go over the basics in our pre-launch call.

What is your approach with SEO?

It’s one thing to have a beautiful website, but your ideal clients actually need to be able to find it.

Make sure your website designer has an SEO strategy that they will implement when building your website.

Here is a sneak peek into 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

What is the process like?

You want to get an idea of what their design process is like! What is the timeline, how many calls will there be, what is the plan for launching, etc.

Make sure your timeline and expectations align with theirs!

What will you need from me during this process?

This is extremely important for both you and your website designer…

Website designers are AMAZING at building gorgeous websites and helping clients rank in Google… but we haven’t figured out how to read minds.

So you are a huge part of this process!

In order to design a website that feels like you, we need to learn about you and your business. This means filling out any worksheets and getting us examples of your work so we can get an idea of your brand, ideal clients, and unique voice.

In order for your website to launch on time, we need you to get us materials, worksheets, and feedback on time.

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 during this process! We are here to answer any and all questions to ensure you getting what you want when hiring a website designer!

Still unsure how to approach finding a website designer that feels aligned? Check out this blog post!