How to avoid red flags when hiring a Website Designer
Have you been burned when hiring a designer before?
I’ve been chatting to a couple of people recently who have. It's understandably left them hesitant to hire the support they need to grow their business, but they're realising not hiring is holding back their growth.
By not investing in their website when they need to, they’re left with a website that isn't aligned with where they are in business or generating leads and clients as well as it should be. It can also stop you feeling confident in how you show up online, which is never a good feeling!
It really irritates me that there are designers out there that take advantage of amazing women, and it’s not ok!
Most designers are fantastic though, and you'll have an amazing experience working with them. It’s too bad that there are a few out there that make everyone else look bad.
I’ve got you covered though!
Keep reading to find out the red flags to watch out for when you are hiring a designer (along with the things you might think are red flags but are actually common practices), so that you can confidently find the right website designer for you!
And I promise, even if you’ve been burned before, it is still possible to find a great designer to work with!
One of my clients had worked with 2 other Squarespace website designers before we met, and they both told her you couldn’t do pretty much anything that she wanted to do on her website, but after our time working together, we were able to achieve every single customisation she wanted quite easily!
Here are 4 red flags to watch out for when hiring a website designer:
🚩 They don’t ask questions during the discovery process.
At the very least, a good designer will want to know about your business, your goals, what you have been struggling with on your website, how it’s currently performing, etc. This lets them know what you need for your project and ensures they can actually help you achieve the results you are after.
🚩 They don’t have samples of their work, reviews or testimonials.
If you can't easily see a portfolio or reviews on their website, it’s ok to ask for proof that the designer has the experience needed to help you with your project, that their design style is a good fit with yours and that their clients love the experience of working together. After all, website design is an investment in your business growth, and you want to feel confident in your decision to work with them.
🚩 They don’t have a clear process for working on your project.
Having a clear process ensures they know what they are doing, can actually meet your needs and deliver on time and that their work actually gets good results. It shows they know their stuff, and that they can guide you through the process to make things super easy for you, all of which will help your project go smoothly.
🚩 They have pricing that seems too good to be true.
I’m all for a great deal, but if you want a quality result first go, that comes with a price. You’re hiring someone who’s spent years learning what makes a website sell, how to get your website found in Google, how to code and more so that you don’t have to. If the price seems too good to be true, I can assure you, it is!
And here are a few things that can SEEM like a red flag, but are actually STANDARD:
⭐ You need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your design date.
A good designer will only take on a certain number of projects at a time to ensure they can deliver great results on time. By securing a design date with them, they are setting aside that time specifically for your project, ensuring you don’t get bumped down the queue by another project and your project is delivered on time.
⭐ Their prices are higher than others.
Prices will depend on things like the designer's experience, the type of project you need, their area of expertise, proof of the results they get, etc. Unfortunately, a pretty design doesn't mean money in the bank, and a great designer knows this and understands how to create something that WILL get the results you want, and they'll charge accordingly.
⭐ Their prices vary to what is advertised on their website.
Every design project has different needs and outcomes. If a designer lists their prices, it will be a starting point for a basic project. It doesn’t mean the same project is a good fit for your goals and needs. For example, you may need extra pages on your website, or extra support writing your copy or you may want to integrate advanced features on your website, all of which could be additional costs.
Investing in a website for your business is a big deal, and you deserve to work with the right designer for your business. The right designer will make the design process a dream come true, whereas the wrong one can turn into a nightmare.
These red flags will give you a good idea of who to avoid when you are looking for the right website designer for you, but they’re not the only thing to think about when making the decision to get some support.
Check out the post on 10 questions to ask your potential website designer so you can really find the perfect fit for you and can enjoy the website design process so much more!
And if you're wondering, you can view samples of my work, my process and prices on my website here so you know exactly what you're getting, plus we’ll jump on a call to cover any questions we both have to ensure we really are a perfect match to bring your website to life!
Is your website booking you clients while you sleep?
This free website audit checklist will show you what’s working on your website (and what’s not!) so you’ll know exactly what updates to make to help you grow your leads and bookings on autopilot.