You’re ready to hire a website designer, but you’re not sure what to ask to make sure you’re making the right choice. You don’t want to get ripped off, end up with a website that doesn’t work, or hire someone who disappears after taking your money.
This guide gives you the exact questions to ask any web designer before hiring them—whether you’re talking to a local Dalton designer, a national agency, or a freelancer.
Why Asking the Right Questions Matters
Most small business owners hire a web designer based on price or a nice portfolio. Then they’re surprised when:
- The website takes 6 months instead of 6 weeks
- They can’t update content themselves
- The site doesn’t work on mobile
- They don’t actually own their website
- The designer disappears after launch
- Hidden costs pile up
The problem? They didn’t ask the right questions upfront.
The solution? This list. Ask every question on this list before signing any contract or paying any deposit.
Questions About Experience and Portfolio
1. Can I see 3-5 websites you’ve designed recently?
Why this matters: You need to see their actual work, not templates or stock examples.
What to look for:
- Get actual URLs, not just screenshots
- Check if the sites are still live and working
- Look at sites similar to what you need
- Test on mobile devices
Red flags:
- Only shows screenshots
- Can’t provide live links
- All sites look identical (templates)
- No recent work (over 1 year old)
Follow-up: “Can you walk me through your design decisions on this site?”
2. Have you built websites for businesses like mine?
Why this matters: Industry experience means they understand your customers, competitors, and common features you’ll need.
What to look for:
- Similar business type (contractor, professional services, retail, etc.)
- Understanding of your industry
- Familiar with features you need
Example: If you’re a plumber, have they built sites for home service businesses? Do they understand the importance of emergency calls and service area pages?
Follow-up: “What specific features did you include for [industry] businesses?”
3. Can you provide 2-3 references from past clients?
Why this matters: Past clients will tell you the truth about working with this designer.
What to ask references:
- Was the project completed on time?
- Was communication clear and responsive?
- Were there hidden costs?
- Does the website generate business?
- Would you hire them again?
- Any problems or issues?
Red flags:
- Won’t provide references
- Only gives fake-sounding testimonials
- References are all very old
Questions About the Design Process
4. What is your design process?
Why this matters: A professional designer has a clear, structured process. Amateurs just “start building.”
Good answer includes these phases:
- Discovery (understanding your business and goals)
- Planning (site structure and features)
- Design (visual mockups for approval)
- Development (building the site)
- Review (your feedback and revisions)
- Launch
- Training and support
Red flags:
- Vague or no clear process
- “I just start building and show you when it’s done”
- Can’t explain their workflow
Follow-up: “At what points do I review and provide feedback?”
5. How long will this project take?
Why this matters: You need realistic timelines, not fantasy promises.
Realistic timelines:
- Basic 5-7 page website: 4-6 weeks
- E-commerce site: 6-10 weeks
- Complex custom site: 8-12+ weeks
Red flags:
- “We can have it done in 48 hours”
- “As long as it takes” (no commitment)
- Way longer than normal (12 weeks for simple site)
Follow-up: “What usually causes delays in projects?”
6. How many rounds of revisions are included?
Why this matters: You need to know upfront what’s included and what costs extra.
Standard: 2-3 rounds of revisions
Get clarity on:
- What counts as a “revision”
- What happens if you need more changes
- Cost for additional revisions
- Timeline for revisions
Red flags:
- “Unlimited revisions” (usually becomes a problem)
- “No revisions included” (too rigid)
- Won’t specify what’s included
7. What do you need from me to get started?
Why this matters: You need to know your responsibilities and what to prepare.
Typical requirements:
- Logo and brand guidelines
- Content/copy for pages
- Photos (or budget for stock photos)
- Examples of sites you like
- Access to hosting/domain
- 50% deposit
Tip: The more prepared you are with content and materials, the faster the project goes.
Questions About Technical Details
8. What platform will you build the site on?
Why this matters: The platform affects everything—cost, flexibility, your ability to update, and future changes.
Best answer: WordPress (most common, flexible, thousands of developers)
Also acceptable:
- Squarespace (for very simple sites)
- Shopify (for e-commerce)
- Wix (budget option)
Red flags:
- Proprietary platform you’ve never heard of
- “My custom CMS” (you’re locked in forever)
- Can’t explain why they chose that platform
Follow-up: “Can I move my site to another host if needed?”
9. Will the site be mobile-friendly?
Why this matters: 60%+ of traffic is mobile. Google penalizes sites that don’t work on phones.
Only acceptable answer: “Yes, we design mobile-first” or “Yes, fully responsive design”
What “mobile-friendly” means:
- Works on all phone sizes
- Touch-friendly buttons
- Readable text without zooming
- Fast loading on mobile
- Click-to-call phone numbers
Red flags:
- “Mobile version costs extra”
- “We can add that later”
- Hesitates or seems unsure
Follow-up: “Can you show me mobile examples of your work?”
10. How will you optimize the site for speed?
Why this matters: Site speed affects rankings and user experience. 53% of users leave if a site takes over 3 seconds to load.
Good answer includes:
- Image optimization
- Code minification
- Caching
- Fast hosting
- Lazy loading
- Regular speed testing
Red flags:
- “We don’t worry about speed”
- Can’t explain how they optimize
- Sites in their portfolio are slow (test them)
Follow-up: “What’s your target load time?”
11. What about SEO—is that included?
Why this matters: SEO should be built into the foundation, not added later.
What SHOULD be included (basic SEO):
- SEO-friendly URL structure
- Proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
- Meta titles and descriptions
- Image alt text
- XML sitemap
- Google Search Console setup
- Mobile-friendly design
- Fast loading speed
What might be extra (advanced SEO):
- Keyword research
- Competitor analysis
- Content strategy
- Link building
- Local SEO optimization
- Ongoing SEO services
Red flags:
- “SEO doesn’t matter anymore”
- “SEO is $5,000 extra” (basic SEO should be included)
- Can’t explain SEO basics
Follow-up: “Will the site be ready to rank in Google when it launches?”
12. How will you set up analytics and tracking?
Why this matters: You need to know what’s working and what’s not.
Should be included:
- Google Analytics setup
- Goal tracking (form submissions, calls)
- Google Search Console
- Basic reporting dashboard
Follow-up: “Will you show me how to read the reports?”
Questions About Ownership and Costs
13. Who will own the website when it’s done?
Why this matters: You need to own your website, not rent it.
Only acceptable answer: “You will own the website completely”
Verify:
- You own the domain
- You own the content
- You own the design
- You can take it to another host
- You get all source files
Red flags:
- “You lease the website from us”
- “The website stays on our platform”
- Vague answer
- Won’t put ownership in contract
This is non-negotiable. If you don’t own it, don’t hire them.
14. What exactly is included in the quoted price?
Why this matters: Hidden costs are the #1 complaint about web designers.
Get specifics on:
- Number of pages
- Number of revisions
- Mobile optimization
- SEO basics
- Contact forms
- Training
- Support period
Things that might be extra:
- Domain registration ($10-20/year)
- Hosting ($10-100/month)
- Premium plugins
- Stock photos
- Content writing
- Additional pages beyond agreed scope
- E-commerce functionality
- Advanced features
Red flags:
- Won’t provide itemized breakdown
- “Everything’s included” but won’t specify
- Price seems too good to be true
Follow-up: “Can you provide an itemized quote?”
15. What are the ongoing costs?
Why this matters: Websites aren’t one-time costs. You need to budget for hosting, maintenance, and updates.
Typical ongoing costs:
- Domain renewal: $10-20/year
- Hosting: $10-100/month
- SSL certificate: Often free or $10-50/year
- Backups: Often included in hosting
- Updates/maintenance: $50-150/month (or DIY)
- Security monitoring: Often included in hosting
Questions to ask:
- “What will I pay monthly/yearly?”
- “Can I handle updates myself?”
- “What happens if I stop paying for maintenance?”
16. What’s the payment schedule?
Why this matters: You need to protect yourself while being fair to the designer.
Standard payment schedule:
- 50% deposit to start
- 50% at launch
Also acceptable:
- 33% deposit, 33% at design approval, 33% at launch
- Monthly payments for large projects
Red flags:
- 100% upfront
- No contract
- Pay per page as delivered
- Vague payment terms
Follow-up: “Do you offer a refund if I’m not satisfied?”
Questions About Support and Maintenance
17. What kind of support do you provide after launch?
Why this matters: Problems come up. Plugins need updates. You need someone to call.
Should be included:
- 30 days of email support
- Bug fixes
- Training on updates
What might be extra:
- Ongoing maintenance
- Content updates
- Design changes
- Feature additions
Questions to ask:
- “How quickly do you respond to support requests?”
- “What’s covered in post-launch support?”
- “How do I reach you if something breaks?”
18. Do you offer ongoing maintenance packages?
Why this matters: Websites need regular updates, backups, and security monitoring.
What maintenance should include:
- Software/plugin updates
- Security monitoring
- Regular backups
- Uptime monitoring
- Some content updates
- Bug fixes
Typical cost: $50-150/month
Alternative: You can do this yourself or hire another service
Follow-up: “What happens if I don’t do maintenance?”
19. Can I update the website myself?
Why this matters: You don’t want to pay $100 every time you need to change a phone number.
Good answer: “Yes, I’ll train you on how to update content”
What you should be able to update:
- Page content
- Photos
- Blog posts
- Contact information
- Hours of operation
- Prices
What you might need help with:
- Design changes
- New pages
- New features
- Technical issues
Follow-up: “What format is the training—video, written docs, or live session?”
20. What if something breaks after launch?
Why this matters: You need to know you’re covered if issues arise.
Questions to ask:
- “What’s your response time for emergencies?”
- “Are bug fixes covered?”
- “What qualifies as a ‘bug’ vs a change request?”
- “Do you guarantee your work?”
Red flags:
- “Not my problem after launch”
- Won’t specify support terms
- No way to contact after project ends
Bonus Questions About Results
21. How will the website help my business goals?
Why this matters: A website isn’t just pretty—it needs to generate business.
Good designers ask YOU about:
- What actions you want visitors to take
- What conversions matter (calls, forms, purchases)
- How success will be measured
- Your business goals
Red flags:
- Only talks about aesthetics
- Doesn’t ask about your goals
- Can’t explain how design supports conversions
22. Can you show me how similar sites perform?
Why this matters: You want proof their sites generate results.
Ask for:
- Traffic numbers
- Conversion rates
- Ranking improvements
- Client testimonials about results
Note: They may not be able to share specific client data, but they should be able to show general results.
Red Flags Checklist
Walk away immediately if you see 3+ of these:
Communication red flags:
- Slow to respond to emails/calls
- Vague answers to direct questions
- Pushy or high-pressure tactics
- Won’t put things in writing
- Gets defensive about questions
Portfolio red flags:
- Won’t show portfolio
- Only shows templates
- No recent work
- Broken links in portfolio
- Can’t explain design decisions
Process red flags:
- No clear process
- Won’t sign contract
- Vague timeline
- No project management
- Won’t show work in progress
Technical red flags:
- Uses obscure platform
- Dismisses mobile importance
- Doesn’t mention SEO
- Can’t explain technical choices
- Sites in portfolio are slow/broken
Business red flags:
- You don’t own the site
- Hidden costs
- 100% payment upfront
- No references
- Too cheap to be true
- Negative reviews online
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before hiring anyone, make sure YOU’RE ready:
1. Do I have a clear budget?
- Know what you can afford
- Include ongoing costs
- Budget for contingencies
2. Do I have realistic expectations?
- Websites take 4-8 weeks minimum
- Professional work costs $1,500+ for basic sites
- You’ll need to provide content and materials
3. Am I ready to commit time?
- Providing content
- Reviewing designs
- Giving feedback
- Testing before launch
- Learning to update
4. Do I trust this person/company?
- Gut feeling matters
- Do they understand your business?
- Are they someone you want to work with?
5. Can I afford NOT to have a professional website?
- How many customers find you online?
- What’s the cost of a bad first impression?
- What’s a new customer worth to your business?
Your Website Designer Interview Checklist
Print this and take it to every consultation:
Experience ✓
- Saw 3-5 portfolio examples
- Checked live website links
- Verified industry experience
- Spoke to 2-3 references
- Reviewed online reviews
Process ✓
- Clear design process explained
- Realistic timeline provided
- Revision policy clarified
- My responsibilities clear
- Contract terms understood
Technical ✓
- Platform choice explained
- Mobile-friendly confirmed
- Speed optimization discussed
- Basic SEO included
- Analytics setup included
Ownership & Costs ✓
- I will own the website
- Itemized quote received
- Ongoing costs understood
- Payment schedule clear
- No hidden fees
Support ✓
- Post-launch support explained
- Maintenance options clear
- Emergency response time stated
- Training format confirmed
- Can update content myself
Red Flags ✓
- No major red flags spotted
- Communication is clear
- Process is professional
- References check out
- Gut feeling is positive
What to Do Next
Before you hire anyone:
- Interview at least 2-3 designers – Don’t hire the first one you talk to
- Ask ALL these questions – Print this list and check off answers
- Get everything in writing – Verbal promises don’t count
- Review the contract carefully – Have someone else read it too
- Check references – Actually call them
- Trust your gut – If something feels off, it probably is
Documents you should have before starting:
- Detailed written proposal
- Itemized cost breakdown
- Signed contract
- Timeline/milestones
- Support terms in writing
- Payment schedule
Ready to Hire a Website Designer?
We’ve built professional websites for dozens of Dalton and North Georgia small businesses. We answer every question on this list honestly and provide everything in writing.
Our process:
- Free consultation to discuss your needs
- Clear proposal with itemized pricing
- Defined timeline with milestones
- 2 rounds of revisions included
- Training on updates
- 30 days post-launch support
- You own everything
Our pricing:
- Basic business website: $1,500-2,000
- Service area website: $2,000-2,500
- E-commerce website: Starting at $2,500
- Website hosting & support: $97/month
Call 706-313-5627 or contact us here for a free consultation.
We’ll answer every question on this list and explain exactly what you’ll get for your investment. No pressure, no hidden costs, no surprises.
Serving Dalton, Calhoun, Lafayette, Chatsworth, Ringgold, Rocky Face, and all of Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, Walker, and Catoosa Counties.
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