Choosing a WebSite Designer

Choose your web designer carefully

When choosing your website designer, experience is the key. Many people can produce an HTML page, however designing a site, its navigation, its images and its back end systems takes experience. Choose a website designer who has been working in the industry for at least two or three years.

You should be able to see from the portfolio of websites they have designed if they have the experience and quality of work you require. You can also use their web design portfolio to see If every site looks the same, or if they have managed to come up with great fresh looking websites every time.

A professional web designer will take time to talk with you about your needs. More importantly they will listen to what you envisage for your project and then suggest ways of achieving that goal.

It is typical to pay in stages or pay a deposit of up to 50% Do make sure you have both signed a contract to avoid misunderstandings. A good web designer will always be busy so remember this when you are planning your timeframe. Often a web design company will be working on several projects at once so you may not have their full attention all the time.

Arrange regular meetings with your web designer to check progress and talk over any issues that might arise during your website build project.

Ask questions before you decide

Discuss hosting and back up services with your web designer, will they host the website for you once its built and what happens if the website stops working will they fix it for free or will you be charged?

Most importantly, when choosing a web designer or any other web professional, ask for references from customers and/or clients. Call or email each reference and ask the following questions;-

• Were you happy with the work done?
• Was the work completed on time?
• Was the whole process open and easy or were there any problems?
• Would they recommend this web designer to others?
• Was the work done on budget?