Web designers have become ubiquitous in this digital world we inhabit, and there's no shortage of variety when it comes to finding one. They run the gamut between independent freelancers vying for budget-friendly projects on platforms like Upwork, to huge marketing agencies that start their package pricing in the five-figure range. Most great designers are somewhere in the vast middle, and there are countless factors to take into account when making this important decision. Here are a few questions to get out of the way during the prospecting phase.

1. what platform do you use?

Knowing which platforms a designer works with helps you understand their skillset and whether they’re a good fit for your needs. It also helps weed out generalists who might not have in-depth knowledge of a particular specialty. I'm sure those unicorn experts in multiple platforms do exist, but what are your chances of snagging one? As a web designer myself, I would recommend going with a specialist. Expertise in a select few design tools usually proves that the designer has taken time to develop their skills and has chosen a particular platform for good reason.

2.  Do you include basic seo as part of your services?

Ground-level search engine optimization is crucial for boosting your website's rankings. This includes optimizing your site’s metadata (such as titles and descriptions), ensuring your URLs are clean and readable, and compressing images for faster loading times. A designer who doesn’t factor this into their services would definitely raise some red flags for me. Pretty websites are great, but only if they are seen. We all have to appease the Great God of Google first; then we can worry about how slick our scroll animations are.

3.  what are the basic seo best practices you incorporate in your design?

Basic SEO is not hard to accomplish, and it is our firm belief at APC that it should be included in every web design package. Here's a cheat sheet to know what to look for in a designer's response:

- Image compression
- Proper heading hierarchy
- Keyword implementation for titles, headings, and meta descriptions
- Alt tags for images
- Mobile-friendliness
- Accessibility testing

4.  Do you charge by the hour or per project?

Understanding how a designer charges helps you manage your budget and expectations. Hourly rates might be beneficial for smaller, ongoing tasks, but for larger, more complex projects, flat-fee pricing or per-project pricing can often be more economical. Be sure to clarify if additional work or revisions are included in the initial quote, or if they would require extra charges. Bottom line? Get everything in writing.

5.  do you offer post-launch support?

Any number of bugs can rear their little heads during the initial phase of a website's launch. Your designer should be ready, willing, and able to assist with any malfunctions for a set period of time. This just shows a high level of professionalism and willingness to see the project through to true completion. At APC, we offer 30 days' client support after any website launch, and we pride ourselves on doing our best to minimize any post-launch complications.  

When you are ready to invest in a new website that will bring in more business and increase your online visibility, the problem you may face is not, 'Where can I find a web designer?' It is undoubtedly more like, 'How do I find a good a web designer?' With a bit of insider info, you can navigate this decision confidently and find a professional who not only creates a visually appealing website, but also ensures it performs effectively. The right designer will focus on both aesthetics and functionality, helping your business stand out and succeed online.

Thinking of hiring us to create or redesign a stunning website for your business?
At APC, we pride ourselves not only on our gorgeous custom designs, but on our rock-solid foundation of web development and SEO principles to set you up for success.
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