What to look for when hiring a bad a** web designer

You should love your website. 

A head over heels type of love. 

Your website is a direct reflection of your brand and business. A place where potential clients come to see all the goodness you offer.

There have been many times I’ve had others ask me how to find the right web designer for their brand or what to look for in a web designer. And, I know, it can be a confusing and also a vulnerable process trying to find the right designer to bring your website vision to life. 

I’m going to take a guess and say if you’ve ever tried posting to a Facebook group calling out for a web designer, the responses you have gotten have been… overwhelming to say the least. There are a lot of designers out there, but not all are the same.

So, what is most important when it comes to finding the perfect web designer match for your business? 

Read on to find out. 

Referrals 

Referrals are one of the best ways to find your website designer match. When you are sifting through the many designers who are ready to help you it’s hard to see past their initial portfolio or their own personal website.  Referrals can help to take away a lot of worries when investing in a designer.

It’s like when your friend or family tells you about a product they absolutely love…so you run out to get it the next chance you get. Because you trust them. A referral for a website is no different. Ask around and see what others in your network recommend and take it from there. 

Timeline

Do you want your website done like, yesterday? Or do you have some time to wait for a build? It’s important you understand what your designer’s timeline looks like. Many designers will be booking into the future and if your a tad impatient like me that means this step is crucial! 

Make sure you know how long the process will take from a contract signed to website delivered. At Wild Boheme Studio we build-out and launch your website in 3 weeks. Meaning no waiting around. We know how excited you are to show the world your brand and we love to watch you launch it! 

Style 

Let’s get this straight – not every web designer is able to create your unique style. Making sure your designer’s style is relatable to your own is key. The goal of working with a designer is to create a smooth process, not to try to wedge a square peg into a round hole. That won’t work for either party (& likely won’t be much fun). 

Check out their website, Instagram, and any other social media you can. This will give you a good idea of what the designer’s style, feel, sound and personality is like. You are diving into a working relationship, but that doesn’t mean it can’t feel like you’ve known each other forever.

Inspiration 

Check out their portfolio. If you open it up and are drooling over the designs already created and thinking “sign me up!”, chances are this could be a great web designer for you. Great designers create a feeling that almost makes the brand feel invincible, something to look up to and admire. 

Other details to keep in mind when hiring a website designer

Budget 

Make sure when you looking for a web designer you have a budget in mind. 

Will this mean that every designer will be able to work within that budget? No. But don’t let that worry you! It’s okay to have a low budget, to begin with.  Every business starts somewhere. There are many designers who will work within that budget to build you a beautiful website. 

My Tip: get that website launched with the budget you have then continue to save so that you can reinvest again into upgrading your website.

As I mentioned in “4 Ways in Refresh your Brand”, your brand will evolve over time, as will your website – embrace where you are right now and grow where you can!

Payment Plans 

If you are sticking to a smaller budget, don’t be shy to ask about payment plans! Many designers offer them.  At Wild Boheme Studio, we offer payment plans to our clients to make the option of investing in a well-designed, beautiful website within reach. 

Vision 

Lastly, while you may hope that a designer can read your mind (& we wish we could!), that’s just not the case. Come prepared with ideas, websites you love, and a vision for your brand. As a designer, we will build upon that vision and keep the work on brand. It’s our job to take your vision and bring it to life! 

Picking a web designer is an important step in your business.  Make sure you take the time to go through the steps above and truly feel comfortable in your decision. 

Ask lots of questions.

Talk to as many designers as you’d like before making a decision.

Don’t let anyone push you into anything you’re not comfortable with & 

Remember, it’s supposed to be fun! 

Enjoy the process and fall in love with your brand & website!

I’ll be here, cheering you on.