How to Hire a Website Designer

Today, anyone who wants to provide information, sell something, share information or promote a business knows that a Web presence will help them achieve those goals.

A charity organization may want to promote itself to potential members and volunteers, as well as provide information through newsletters and articles related to its work, so that anyone who's interested can learn about that organization. A rock climbing center may want to display a map with directions that explain how to get to the center, hints on climbing techniques, tips on where to find good equipment, a photo gallery of the gym with action shots of climbers... Unlike other marketing strategies, a Website has a global reach and can be accessed online 24-7.

If you want a Website, but you're not a designer or developer, how can you go about getting one? You don't have the time to learn what it takes to be a Web design guru and you don't trust that your cousin, who studied computer science, has enough experience to build you a professional Website. So, who can you hire to build your site? With thousands of Web designers and developers out there, ranging from individual freelancers to big Web design agencies, how can you make sure you choose the right help?

What Do You Want?

In order to find help, you need first to figure out what you want. Ask yourself the following questions:

What kinds of information do you want on the site? How big do you think your site will be?
Who are your users? Do you know which operating system and browser they are using?
Will your site require regular updates? Would you like to make changes yourself?
Will you be selling something?
Will you need a database to store and retrieve information?
Do you want to rely on search engines to send more traffic to your site?
When do you need the job done?
What is your budget?

The Search Begins

Those who can spot a good Web designer are usually a good Web designer themselves, or will at least have done quite a bit of Web design themselves. But for those who aren't designers, the choosing of a professional can seem an overwhelming task.

Referrals are a safe bet; although you know you may not be getting the very best Web designer in town, you can usually trust that you won't get the worst, either. However, if you use referrals and also conduct your own searches, you will have a much better chance of finding a designer who's right for you. Once you've compiled a list of Web designers and/or developers from the sources of your choice, you need to do some serious homework.

What if some of the designers on your list are from out of town? Don't rule them out if you really like them. If you don't mind working via email and talking on the phone, you may be quite happy with your choice. There's always an advantage to meeting in person and onsite visits can be important, especially if there are problems.

There are many things to consider when reviewing your list of potential Web experts. The first, obvious thing to do is to check out their Websites. Browse through the pages and find as much information about them as you can. Ask yourself:

Is it easy to find information and to get back to where you started?
Do you like the navigation system?
Are the pages accessible (no broken links)?
Are the pages and overall design consistent?
Are there a contact page and site map and can they easily be found?
Is there enough relevant information on the site (eg. details about the company including location, what they do, the people, policies, etc.)?
Are things aligned properly?
Is the text easy to read?
Do the pages load fast?
Are the pages short, so that it's not necessary to scroll horizontally, and there's little or no vertical scrolling?
Do links open onto the same page?
Is there a portfolio you can view?
Does the site discuss the designer's technical background?
Does the site make use of the right colors?
Are page titles appropriate and informative?

Hopefully, the answer to all the above questions will be yes. Basically, if you don't like a Web designer's site, you probably won't want them to design your site. Check their portfolio and see if the style is right for you. If you see sites that you really like, make sure the employee/s who built those sites are still employed and can work on your site. What technologies does the designer use? Will this technology work for you and your viewers? Does the team follow Web standards or are they still stuck coding sites like it's the 90s? Ideally, you want your site to work independent of the user's operating system and browser.

Has the team created sites for other businesses in your industry? If so, were they able to reflect the business properly? If yes, then this team already knows the needs of your industry and will be more the kind of expert you need than will other Web design generalists who haven't produced these particular sites. If the site offers testimonials, read them to see what past clients had to say about the work they received. In addition to having technical skills, the designer should be continuing his/her education in order to keep up with the latest technologies and standards.

Beware of companies and individuals who claim to be Web designers and developers but perform mostly graphic design and work in print media. Being able to use Web creation software such as Dreamweaver does not make a Web designer. Your Web designer should, at the very least, be able to help you with Web design and development, Web hosting, graphics creation, database creation, Web content, maintenance and Internet marketing and promotion.

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