How to Find a Reliable Web Designer

It can sometimes be hard to find a reliable web designer, which we hate. It’s embarrassing for us that there are so many people in the same industry doing such a bad job that lots of people come to us saying things like, “I’ve been burnt before” or “I had a bad experience with a web designer in the past”. But fortunately people don’t say the same thing about us.

In our book, The Website Handbook we provide a list of red flags to look out for when searching for a web designer or developer to create a website for you. This list is specific to if you are getting a bespoke website designed but some of them are applicable to any method of creating a website with a web designer such as using an off the shelf template, which I’ve listed below.

Key Things to Be Wary of When Looking for a Reliable Web Designer…

They don’t have a portfolio of work or any client testimonials or clients you’re able to contact for a reference.

Now, everyone has to start somewhere in their business and they may not have done much client work since they started out on their own but they should be able to at least provide the contact details of a past employer who can vouch for their work.

All of their projects look the same.

You want your website to stand out online so you don’t want it to look like all the others created by the same person. Even if you’re going for a lower budget template website, your website designer should still be able to make it look unique to you.

When you ask questions their answers are vague.

This may suggest that they don’t really understand the web design or development process and they just know how to put your content into a template. This is a concern if there are any tech issues down the line that they’re unable to support you with.

They don’t have a clear process or a contract or Ts&Cs for you to agree to.

The project is unlikely to work if you aren’t clear on the process from the start and your role and timescales for providing content and images. If you enter into an agreement without them having formally stated everything you are getting for your money then you leave yourself vulnerable.

And on the subject of money…

If they ask for 100% payment upfront for a bespoke job.

This is only a warning for bespoke work. If you’re signing up for a template service and you get access to the system and support as soon as you pay then that’s fine because that’s more of a productised service and you get it then and there. But if it’s going to be a longer process with various rounds of designs and approval before the build starts which takes time before it going live then we would expect you to pay in stages. Usually a percentage upfront, then another payment after the first part is delivered such as the design being signed off and then at other stages as agreed.

If you pay 100% upfront this is often when we hear the horrible stories of, “I paid X thousands and they never delivered anything and now I can’t get hold of them”.

They buy your domain name for you.

If they own your domain name it means if you decide to leave them they could keep hold of it meaning you’ve lost your address where everyone is used to coming to. Some web designers will offer to help you purchase your domain name yourself or they might be a domain reseller to make it easy that everything is done through them but all the emails confirming your ownership of it will come to you and you will make the payments for it directly.

Don’t Be Put Off Creating a Website by This List

I want to make it clear that there are a lot of really lovely, reliable web designers out there. I know this because I have a lot of them as friends and if you follow this list it will make sure you end up with one of the good ones (or us 😀) and not one who doesn’t really know what they’re doing or who will rip you off.

Also, if you’re ever in doubt ask for recommendations and read reviews and you will be ok.

If you are considering working with us you can see everything we do here.