Hiring a web designer is one of those jobs where the customer can’t tell if they’re being sold a Rolls or a rebadged Lada.
Most of the time the stuff that matters is hidden behind jargon the salesman hopes you won’t ask about.
Ask these eight questions before you sign. If they can’t answer them plainly, walk out.
1. Will It Be Easy for Me to Update?
This is the first question because it’s the one everyone forgets to ask.
You’re going to want to change a price, add a page, swap a photo, publish a blog post. A dozen times a year, minimum. If every change means a phone call and an invoice to the designer, you’ve bought a leash, not a website.
Ask: “Can I log in and change text or swap photos myself without breaking it?” If the answer’s anything but a flat yes, keep looking.
If every update means a phone call and an invoice, you’ve bought a leash, not a website.
2. Will Every Page Have a Clear Next Step?
A call-to-action is a button, a form, or a phone number that tells the customer what to do next.
A website without calls-to-action is a shop with no counter. The customer’s ready to buy and there’s nobody to take the order.
Ask: “Will every page have an obvious next step the customer can take?” If they say “yeah, there’s a contact page,” they’ve missed the point. Every page. Top, middle, bottom.
3. Where Will My Website Be Hosted?
This is the one nobody asks and everybody should.
Your website lives on a computer somewhere. If that computer is in Texas and your customers are in Melbourne, every click has to travel across the Pacific Ocean twice. That’s two extra seconds of loading. That’s half your visitors gone.
Ask: “Where’s the server? Is it on a shared box with a thousand other sites? What caching setup?” If they don’t know, they’re probably hosting on whatever was cheapest at the time.
We’ve got a whole piece on why hosting location matters more than you think.
4. Will I Own the Site and the Domain?
This is where the scammers live.
Some designers register the domain in their name. They host the site on their own server. If you ever want to leave, you can’t take any of it with you. You start from scratch.
Ask: “Is the domain registered in my name? Can I move to another host if I want to?” The answer has to be yes on both counts. If they hedge, walk out.
5. Will I Be Backed Up Properly?
Websites break. Hackers get in. Plugins fall over. Hosting companies lose data.
Yesterday’s backup isn’t enough if the problem started last Tuesday. You need at least 30 days of daily backups, stored somewhere that isn’t the same box as your website.
Ask: “How many days of backups? Stored where? Who has access? What happens if the host gets hacked?” Good designer has answers. Bad designer says “don’t worry, it’s fine.”
6. How Fast Will It Load?
Speed isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the difference between a visitor and a bounce.
Under two seconds on mobile. Full stop. Any slower and Google pushes you down the rankings and customers click back before your page even shows up.
Ask: “What’s your speed target? Can you show me a site you’ve built and we’ll test it right now on my phone?” If they can’t or won’t, there’s a reason.
More on this in how fast your website needs to be.
Under two seconds on mobile. Full stop. Slower than that and you’re paying for clicks that never read a word.
7. What Happens After It Goes Live?
This is the one that separates the real pros from the one-and-done crowd.
After launch, things break. Plugins need updating. SSL certificates expire. Google changes the rules. If there’s no plan for the first twelve months, the site rots fast.
Ask: “What’s included after launch? Monthly updates? Security patches? Response time if something breaks?” Expect a clear, written monthly fee. Not “she’ll be right, just call us.”
8. Can I See Real Numbers from Real Clients?
Every designer will show you a portfolio of pretty sites. Pretty is easy.
Ask them which of those sites is actually getting leads. Ask for numbers. “This client went from two calls a week to ten over six months.” That’s what matters.
If they only talk about design awards, animations, or “brand experience” — they’re artists, not business builders. Find a business builder.
The Easy Way to Spot a Dud
A good web designer will answer all eight questions without dodging. They’ll probably have the answers on a one-pager already printed out. They’ve heard these before.
A bad one will start using words like “synergy,” “leverage,” or “brand journey.” They’ll talk about how pretty the site is going to look. They’ll quietly steer you away from the technical questions.
Trust your gut. If the salesman’s dodging, the site will too.
What to Do Next
Print these eight questions. Take them to every quote meeting. Tick each one off as you go.
The designer who passes all eight is the one worth hiring. Doesn’t matter if they’re the cheapest or the most expensive. Doesn’t matter if their portfolio’s flashy. What matters is whether they can answer straight.
If you’d like a straight look from people who’ve been doing this a long time, have a look at our web design service. For the rest of the silo, see how to tell if your website is actually working and eight tips to stand out online.
Ask the eight questions. Walk if they dodge. Hire the one who answers straight.
