85ideas.com | What to Ask Before Hiring a Website Design Company

29 Aug What to Ask Before Hiring a Website Design Company

Posted at 01:58h in Blog by Arthur Brown 0 Comments

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Hiring a website design company can feel like stepping into a whole new world. Words like “responsive,” “UX,” and “SEO” get thrown around like confetti. But don’t panic! You don’t need to be a tech wizard to ask the right questions. We’re here to keep it simple and even a bit fun.

Table of Contents

TL;DR

Before hiring a website design company, ask about their past work and how they handle timelines and costs. Make sure they understand your goals and can help after the site is launched. It’s also smart to talk about mobile design and SEO. Ask about everything upfront, so there are no surprises later.

1. Can I see your portfolio?

This is the golden question. A company’s past work tells you a lot. You’ll get a feel for their style, skill, and what kinds of businesses they usually work with.

Look out for:

Diversity – Do all websites look the same?
Functionality – Are the sites easy to use?
Industries – Have they worked with companies like yours?

If everything looks cookie-cutter, keep looking.

2. What’s your website building process?

You don’t want a mystery box. Ask them to walk you through the steps they take from start to finish.

Key steps usually include:

Discovery – Learning about your business
Planning – Sketching out the structure
Design – Making it look pretty (and smart!)
Development – Coding and building
Testing – Making sure it works everywhere
Launch – Pressing the big green “Go Live” button

3. Will my site be mobile-friendly?

Phones are the new desktops. More than half of website traffic comes from mobile users. Ask if your website will look good and work well on phones and tablets.

This is called responsive design. It’s not a luxury—it’s a must.

4. Can I make updates myself later?

You don’t want to have to call someone every time you want to change a word or add a blog post. Ask the company if they provide a content management system (CMS).

Popular options include:

WordPress
Shopify (for e-commerce sites)
Squarespace

Make sure they also show you how to use it. Nobody wants to be stuck after launch.

5. Will you help with content?

You may not have amazing pictures or beautifully written words. That’s okay! Ask if the design company helps with:

Copywriting – Writing content for your site
Photography – Taking or finding images
Video – Some offer help with video too!

Great design + terrible content = not-so-great website.

6. What’s included in your price?

This one is super important. Some companies have all-in-one prices. Others charge for add-ons like hosting, support, or even images.

Ask for a breakdown. Common items include:

Design and development
Hosting (monthly or yearly)
Domain registration
Maintenance or support
Any “extra” charges – watch out for those!

7. Do you offer SEO services?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s how people find you on Google. Without it, your site might as well live in a cave.

Ask:

Will you include basic SEO in the build?
Do you write good SEO-friendly content?
Do you offer ongoing SEO services?

If they say, “We don’t do SEO,” that’s a red flag.

8. How long will it take?

Good websites take time. But they shouldn’t take forever. Ask about their timeline.

Things that can affect timing:

Your response time (Do you approve things quickly?)
Content readiness (Do you already have words and images?)
How busy the design company is

Always get a realistic timeline in writing.

9. Who does the work?

Some companies do everything in-house. Others outsource parts (or all) of the project.

Ask:

Will I have a dedicated designer or project manager?
Is the team local or remote?
Who do I contact with questions?

You want to know who you’re dealing with and who’s pressing the buttons.

10. What happens after launch?

This is where many businesses get left hanging. Once your site is live, make sure you still have support.

Ask about:

Website maintenance
Technical troubleshooting
Content updates
Security checks and backups

If your site breaks in three months, who do you call? Don’t wait to find out.

Bonus Question: What makes you different?

This is a great one to wrap things up. Every design company has a style, a way of working, a “vibe.” Find out what makes them unique—and see if that matches your goals.

Ultimately, you’re not just hiring a service. You’re building a relationship. Find someone who gets you.

Final Thoughts

Hiring the right website design company doesn’t have to be scary. It’s just like hiring any other expert—you ask questions, listen closely, and trust your gut.

Look for a team that hears you, explains things clearly, and brings creative energy to the project. If you find the right fit, your new website will be one you’re proud to show off!

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