Inspect your designer’s portfolio
Beyond being the easiest way to determine the quality of your potential web designer’s work, their portfolio can yield quite a bit of useful information. The first thing you should check is whether or not your designer has recently updated their portfolio. A thorough and frequently updated portfolio indicates that your designer has been active recently, is up to date with recent web trends and has the work ethic necessary to complete your project. The second thing that a good portfolio will do is show you the designer’s range of styles and abilities. From that, you can determine whether or not the site you envision fits within the spectrum of their ability.
Consider your designer’s timeliness
Creating a custom website is a joint effort. A good web designer relies on you to inform them of your vision for your site. In turn, you depend on them to speak with you, ask pertinent questions and create a site based on those communications. The whole process grinds to a halt — or breaks down completely — if the lines of communication are delayed. When looking for a website designer, it’s important to find someone who responds to your emails and phone calls in a professional, timely manner.
Study your designer’s website
Aside from the general aesthetics of your designer’s webpage, there are a number of other things to take into consideration. For example, does the designer showcase an ability to execute dynamic content, such as videos? Are their pages organized in a way that allows you to navigate the site in a logical way? What about the load times of their pages, do they show a knack for speed optimization? These questions, while not striking directly at the heart of your decision, may help you weed out potentially unqualified candidates.
Think about how your designer meets your needs
Finally, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is, “Does this designer’s site show that they have the ability to create the site that I need?” Beyond the design, you need to determine if the designer can optimize your site’s organic SEO, integrate your social media profiles and properly structure the content of your pages. If your site requires content, does your designer offer content services or will you need to provide your own? Before making the final decision, always take a step back, make a checklist and ensure that the designer you’re dealing with is capable of creating the site that your business needs.
In the purest sense, web designers are architects. Your job is to provide them with a strong foundation — your company’s philosophy and image — upon which they can build a monument to your brand. Your decision should not be taken lightly, it should be carefully considered and thoroughly researched. By following the tips above, though, you increase your chances of finding a qualified, professional designer who will not only create your company’s site but, more importantly, will act as an advocate for your brand.
