6 Things To Consider Before Hiring a Website Designer
It's time! You've finally decided to work with a designer & get that website you've been dreaming about! But before you go and hire a website designer, there are a few things you need to do to get ready.
I’ve mapped out 6 things to consider before hiring a website designer, to ensure a smooth design process! Let’s get started.
1. What is the # 1 goal for your website?
Put simply, what do you want people to do when they're on your site? Book a call? Download a freebie? Buy a dozen fall-scented candles? Whatever it is, you need to get specific & have a plan on the steps your visitors need to take while on your site.
When website visitors land on your page, you want to roll out the red carpet for the exact action item you want them to take. Make it a no-brainer for them.
2. Don’t hesitate to ask questions.
Many aspects of website design can be pretty tough to understand, especially if you’re not entirely familiar with the industry.
With every industry, there’s specific jargon thrown around. Don’t hesitate to ask your designer to clarify terms and encourage them to communicate in layman’s terms.
When you hire a designer, you’re essentially hiring a partner/co-pilot – so it’s vital that you’re always on the same page. If you’re dealing with a web designer who has difficulty letting you in on what they’re doing, perhaps it’s wise to re-think who you’re hiring.
TIP: Be proactive and do some research into the industry and common branding jargon you may hear when talking to a designer.
3. Consider your brand goals.
This is probably the most important thing to figure out before hiring a website designer. You need to know what your goals are for your business.
Doing your research beforehand on the sites you like and identify with, will help you form your own original & unique brand image. When you present these sites to a web designer, they’ll have a clearer picture of what you intend for your final product!
4. What’s on your vision board?
If you haven’t created a vision board for your new branding & website, now’s the time to do that. Having a vision board can help you visualize how your brand will look throughout instagram, your business cards, website, etc… It can also help remind you of your business goals.
With this in mind, vision boards are vital when working with a designer because they allow you to fully be on the same page. As an example of the importance: Think how many ways the colour “dark green” can be interpreted. A vision board ensures that the colour scheme and vibe you want your site to exude is on point.
Simply put, vision boards give your web design journey a direction.
Don’t overthink your vision board- it’s as simple as pinning images, icons and designs on a Pinterest board.
5. Are your photos ready to go?
If you want a website that looks professional, then you need to get professional photos taken or, at the very least, find some high-quality stock images that are on-brand.
Check out these websites for high quality stock photos:
Unsplash (lots of free options)
Pexels (lots of free options)
Kaboom Pics (all free!)
Professional photos give you credibility in your industry; they also engage website visitors for longer, making it way more likely that they will buy your products or services.
6. What is the scope of your project?
Meaning, how many pages do you need? And perhaps, how much content is going to go on those pages?
Generally, web design projects are priced on the number of pages created. A 3-page website will be far less than a 20+ page website.
Try to think through the basics: about page, services page, contact page, etc., and then any additional pages your specific business might need.