So, you’re a small business owner, and you need a website. Congratulations, you’ve entered the chaotic world of web design—a place where everyone from your cousin’s roommate to some mysterious “agency” with a Gmail address is claiming they can make you the next Amazon. But before you dive headfirst into this digital whirlpool, let’s go over a few things. Because picking a web designer is like picking a tattoo artist: You don’t want to end up with something ugly, painful, and expensive to fix.
1. Beware of “I Can Do It All” Guy (or Gal)
First off, you’ll meet someone who says they’re a jack-of-all-trades: web design, SEO, logo creation, coding, social media, and apparently also has time to fix your car and walk your dog. Look, you wouldn’t go to a dentist who moonlights as a tattoo artist, right? Web design is an art (and the actual BUILDING of a site is more tech), not something to be done between bites of a ham sandwich while also “dabbling” in a dozen other things. If they claim to do it all, they probably don’t do any of it well.
2. The “Discount Designer” Trap
You’ll find the budget options. You know, the ones who will build your entire site for less than the cost of a decent pair of shoes. Sure, it sounds tempting—until your site looks like it was coded by a toddler on a sugar high and loads slower than dial-up internet in 1998. And let’s be real: they’re either going to ghost you halfway through, or the final product will make you want to ghost yourself from your own website.
3. Ask for a Portfolio. Not a PowerPoint Presentation.
This is where the fun starts. You say, “Can I see some of your previous work?” and suddenly you’re watching a five-minute PowerPoint with screenshots of things that kinda look like websites but could easily be Canva templates. Real web designers have live, functioning websites they can show you. Click the links. If those sites are ugly, dysfunctional, or filled with Comic Sans and neon buttons, RUN. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
4. “But My Nephew Can Do It For Free!”
Oh, can he now? Your nephew might be a genius when it comes to Xbox and TikTok dances, but building a business website is a whole different ball game. Sure, it’s free—until you realize you need something updated, or your nephew loses interest and starts working on his career as a “pro gamer.” Free isn’t free when you end up paying someone else to clean up the mess. Don’t mix family and business unless you want some real awkward Thanksgiving dinners.
5. Understand What You’re Paying For
Good web design isn’t cheap. That’s because it’s not just about throwing some pretty pictures on the screen. You’re paying for functionality, security, and a design that won’t make your customers think you’re running a scam. If someone tells you they can build your site for $200 but hosting isn’t included and they forgot to mention SEO or mobile responsiveness, then you’re probably going to end up paying three times that in the long run.
6. Communication Is Key (No Ghosting Allowed)
If your designer responds to emails like they’re in witness protection, you’ve got a problem. A good web designer isn’t just a tech whiz—they’re a communicator. They need to know your vision and keep you updated. If they disappear for days or give you answers that sound like a mix between tech jargon and gibberish, it’s time to reevaluate. You need a partner, not a ghost.
7. Don’t Get Bedazzled by Buzzwords
“Custom-built! SEO-optimized! Fully-responsive design with integrated API functionality!” Sounds fancy, right? Half the time, they’re just throwing buzzwords at you to justify a bloated invoice. Sure, those things might matter—but you shouldn’t need a translator to understand what your web designer is offering. If they can’t explain it in plain English, they either don’t know what they’re talking about, or they think you don’t. Neither is a good look.
8. Set Realistic Deadlines
The right web designer will give you an honest timeline. Beware the ones who promise to have your site up by the weekend because, spoiler alert, websites that are built in 48 hours will look like they were built in 48 hours. Good design takes time. If they tell you they can whip up an entire site faster than you can decide what to have for lunch, well, that should be a red flag. Your business deserves better than a rush job.
In Conclusion: Don’t Settle
Your website is the digital front door to your business. You wouldn’t let just anyone build your physical store, right? So why would you let “Discount Dave” or “Nephew Kevin” handle your digital storefront? Do your research, ask the right questions, and be cautious—because there’s nothing worse than ending up with a website that looks like it belongs in the internet graveyard circa 2005.
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. So, unless you want to cry every time you open your browser, invest in a web designer who gets your vision, communicates like a human, and knows how to build something that actually works. Your business (and your blood pressure) will thank you.
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