How To Find & Hire a Web Designer, Where to begin?

1.) What Are Your Needs?

A great place to start is by figuring out what features you want your website to have.

Every designer works differently and some are more experienced with certain tasks than others, such as creating animations or using specific plugins. Hiring a web designer who has experience working on websites like yours or industries similar to yours can help ensure that they understand the look and feel of your business and will be able to replicate it on your new site, or starting from scratch based off your company’s needs.

Just like with most Custom Services the costs will vary depending on who you decide to work with and you may be asking yourself why you should hire someone versus DIY with all the Website Builders out there. However, it's important to note that Websites require consistent and full-time maintenance to be effective in today's digital marketplace. You need to have content rich pages, offer topical authority in your industry and so on. A web Designer will typically be able to handle all of the back-end stuff for you and depending on maintenance plans you choose, offer quality content created for you!

2.) What is your budget?

Determining your budget will play a significant role in who you choose to design your site. Most Website Designers and Agencies start at anywhere from $3,000+. The Average for most agencies is $15,000-$30,000 based on project needs, variables and other assortments. However, that is not to say that there aren't quality designers out there for way less.

Typically, we recommend hiring an individual freelancer rather than hiring a large firm because this type of company typically charges hourly rates which cause costs to add up quickly. If you’re on a budget, we also suggest trying one of our all-inclusive packages where there aren’t any hidden fees involved. We have had to increase our prices as we grow, but that's something we truly want strive to cater to the business' induvial needs and not overcharge. That being said all services cost time and money for equipment, expenses, etc., so please bare that in mind anytime you're considering 'getting the most bang for your buck.'

Of course, At R. Designs we do offer 3mo-6mo payment plans depending on the package you need and specific to the needs of your business' budget. We strive to do our best at being affordable because we know a website is a long-term and ongoing investment that should provide you with leads, sales and ultimately pay for itself. 

3.) What are some vetting questions you should ask?

Sometimes the only way to make a good choice is by asking questions!

What criteria should you use when discussing your project with a designer?

Here's some examples of topics to discuss when it comes to their expertise:

- Knowledge of Webhosting & Digital Website Platforms such as Duda, Wix, Shopify, WordPress WebFlow, Squarespace, etc. Could they help with these or do they do custom build jobs only?

- HTML/CSS & PHP knowledge for custom coding, If they aren't a web developer do they have a team of developers that support them?

- Graphic design skills and ability to create original logos, graphics or images needed for your site if they do not already exist. At R. Designs We can help source stock photos as well!

- Do they have good copywriting skills? Do they provide the copy or do you? In my experience being a good designer doesn't typically make you good at writing compelling sales copy; What tools do they use to develop copy?

- Do they provide SEO services in their routine maintenance packages?

These are just some examples. Comment below if you have more!

Your website isn’t a museum of artwork that should be built once
slapped on the web and left to rot.

It requires routine maintenance, content building, marketing, promotion and above all someone who you trust to provide value to you, the business owner.