If you’re thinking about hiring a web designer there are some things you might want to straighten out with them first.
When it comes to web design, I often see clients who’ve received bad advice in the past from people they’ve worked with.
There is a lot of confusion that can happen when you’re hiring a web designer to build your website.
To avoid this, it’s very important to ask the right questions from the start, before you pay someone to create a website for your business.
If you need to hire a web designer make sure you understand clearly what the expectations are when it comes to these things:
1. Website Domain Ownership
Ask the web designer who owns the domain name? Many web designers purchase the domain on behalf of the business. I don’t think this is best practice, especially not for you!
The best practice here is to always have everything purchased under your name and your accounts then give the web designer access to use your accounts.
Ideally, buy the domain name yourself before the design process even starts. This guarantees you full control over your online presence.
If the web designer buys the domain for your business, just make sure it’s transferred to your ownership. But because domain transfers are more technical in nature, it’s much better to just buy this under your account from the beginning.
If you worked with me, I think you should have full ownership of your website and this is something I would explain to you.
2. Content Management System (CMS)
Ask the web designer what CMS they plan to create the website on? A CMS is a content management system (like WordPress) that allows you to edit your website’s content (text, images, etc.) after it’s launched.
This helps you to make simple updates without needing the designer for every small change, saving you time and money.
One of the most used CMS is WordPress.org and it’s what this website is built on. Based on your needs a good web designer would provide some training or document to explain to you how to do minor updates on your website.
The reason why the content management system you use is so important is because it prevents you from having to know how to be a programmer to use it or run your website.
Basically the point is to make things as easy as possible for beginners to figure out and do by themselves.
3. Web Hosting Costs
Ask the web designer what the web hosting fees/cost will be? You don’t want to overpay for hosting!
While web designers often include web hosting as a recurring monthly fee, it shouldn’t cost hundreds of dollars per month. Get a detailed breakdown of what’s included in the hosting package (uptime, security, maintenance, etc.).
Here’s my advice though, just like your domain name, you should also pay for your own web hosting. It’s okay if the web designer recommends a web hosting package and company to you just as long as it gives you full access to your website.
Pay for it with your own money so that you have full control over everything relating to your website. The more control you give a web designer over your website, the less of your website that you actually own.
4. Website Files Access
Ask the web designer who owns the website files and content? This is a critical question with a few layers to unpack:
Website Files: You should have complete access to all the files that make up your website. This includes the images, and any other assets used to build it.
Some designers might restrict access, fearing you’ll accidentally break something, but ultimately, it’s your website, and you have the right to all its components. This is important if you ever decide to switch designers or hosting providers.
Content Ownership: Web designers often wear many hats, creating logos, sourcing images, and even writing website copy. It’s crucial to clarify ownership of this content upfront.
Ideally, the contract should state that any content created specifically for your website becomes your property. This prevents disputes and ensures you can freely use these assets in the future.
Understanding Your Website: While you own the files, it’s helpful to have your designer educate you about the website’s structure and how things work.
This empowers you to make minor updates yourself (especially with a CMS) and reduces reliance on the designer for every small change.
Don’t hesitate to ask your designer to explain anything you’re unsure about – it’s their job to make sure you’re comfortable and confident managing your website, should you choose to do so.
5. Analytics and Tracking
Ask the web designer if the website will have any sort of user tracking?
It’s important to understand how people interact with your website. This is where analytics and tracking come in. Here’s what to ask your web designer:
Will the website include analytics tracking? A resounding “yes” is the only acceptable answer.
Tracking website traffic gives you great information about user behavior, helping you make better decisions about your website and marketing strategies.
Which analytics platform will be used? While there are many analytics platforms available, insist on Google Analytics (or a comparable tool) being set up from the get-go.
Google Analytics is a powerful, free tool that provides a wealth of data about your website visitors. It’s confusing to use, but good to have.
Will Google Tag Manager (GTM) be implemented? Take it a step further and request the installation of Google Tag Manager (GTM). This is important if you’re planning to run ads.
GTM simplifies the process of adding and managing different marketing and tracking tags on your website. Think of it as a central hub for all your tracking needs.
Why is this so important?
- Measure Website Traffic: See how many people visit your site, where they come from, and which pages they view. This data helps you understand what’s working and what needs improvement.
- Run Effective Marketing Campaigns: Track the performance of your online advertising campaigns. When you understand which ads drive traffic and conversions, you can optimize your spending and get better results.
- Improve User Experience: Analyze user behavior to identify pain points or areas of confusion on your website. This allows you to make design and content adjustments that improve the overall user experience.
- Future-Proof Your Website: GTM makes it incredibly easy to add or update tracking codes in the future. Whether you need to install a Facebook pixel for retargeting ads or add a new analytics tool, GTM streamlines the process, saving you time and money.
Other Things To Ask A Web Designer Before You Hire Them?
Aside from everything else I mentioned above a web designer should have a document created for your website that explains to you where to find and update certain parts of the website that you might want to change regularly.
Getting a list of applications that’s driving your website is also very important.
As a web designer one of the ways that I plan out what’s important to share with you to help you successfully manage your website is by finding out from you what part of the website you would like to be more involved with.
In my experience I have found that too much information isn’t always good and not everyone wants to be bothered with their website.
This is where ongoing website maintenance packages come in. I usually charge anywhere from $39 to $50 for a monthly maintenance plan if I am told by clients that they don’t want to update their websites themselves.
Your web designer should be professional with you and should be able to answer all of your questions. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask them questions about concerns you have towards the value they’re providing to you.
I have no doubt that there are some amazing web designers out there, but I know there are some who don’t have your best interest at heart. Be smart about who you hire.
Don’t work with someone you don’t trust. Don’t work with a web designer that’s a pushy sales person who doesn’t answer your questions.
Find someone who respects your rights and is willing to work with you. If you feel uncomfortable about working with someone, walk away!
That’s all I have for right now. I’ll come back here to update this with more information as time goes on. In the meantime, if you are looking to hire a web designer and don’t know where to find one, schedule a free call with me and let’s see if we’re a good fit for each other.
I look forward to working with you!
