Tips on Hiring a Web Designer
Creating a website can be overwhelming so I wrote this for all of you wanting a new website but you don't know where to start. Hopefully this post will take away any (or at least some) of the overwhelm you may feel!
First, I list out questions that will help you develop a vision for your new website. I talk about the 1 main goal that will define your entire website and what to consider in order to come up with a goal.
After you are able to answer the questions, you will have a good idea as to what kind of a professional you will need to hire. I then talk about the 4 types of website professionals:
Copywriter
Web Consultant
Web Designer
Web Developer
After reading this post, you will be able to take an educated first step towards making your dream of a new website a reality.
Let's dive in!
IMPORTANT TO KNOW:
When a client first comes to me, 9 times out of 10 they do not have all of the following questions figured out. Personally, I love walking through the different options with them so we can find the perfect solution together! So please, do not feel like you have to do this all on your own. If you read through the following post and feel overwhelmed, remember: these are just tips to help you get started! This post is simply meant to help guide you in making the best decisions for you and your business.
What Do You Want in Your New Website?
First you need to define the one (and only one) reason as to why you want your website. What is the one action you want your visitors to take once they get to your website? Do you want them to contact you? Buy your product? Sign up for your email list? Define your ONE goal for your website and try to keep it as simple as possible. This goal will influence the design of the entire website.
Next, in order to understand the full scope of your project, work through the following questions:
Do you already have a brand or do you need a brand designed?
If you want to know more about branding, you can go to my blog post here!
How many pages do you want?
Do you have the content for each page? Copy (written material), pictures and graphics?
Will you need any type of graphic design material? Click here to read a post I wrote on graphic design!
Will the website need to contain any sign-up forms? Be sure to list out all the information you need to gather from those forms.
Will you need to connect a PDF? If so, do you have the PDF developed? And is it in the correct PDF file format?
Will you need an E-Commerce page on your website? If so, do you have photos of all your products as well as the price and description for each product?
Last but not least, do you have quotes from happy customers? (Social proof is EVERYTHING when you are first introducing something to a new audience.)
Once you are able to answer the following questions, ask yourself if there are any parts you can do yourself. Maybe you love design and you know EXACTLY how you want your website to look. Or, do you not have a creative bone in your body and the thought of creating something makes you want to run from your business forever? You know your own strengths and weaknesses better than anyone, so this is the time to list out all the parts of your website you will need a professional to complete.
Who Do You Need to Hire?
Who you decide to hire heavily depends on what you need done. Let's start with the 4 main types of professionals in the web business:
Copywriter
Web Consultant
Web Designer
Web Developer
A consultant is someone who understands nearly everything there is to know about a particular industry in addition to web design. If going this route, be sure to find a consultant that understands YOUR industry and how that specific market works. A consultant would help you map out the best way to have your website flow so it will appeal to your target market.
A copywriter creates written content throughout the website. A benefit to hiring a copywriter is they understand how to best connect with your target audience through your copy which is a crucial part of having a successful website.
A web developer is someone who codes and develops websites. Often, they work closely with a web designer as the designer will create the look of the website and the developer will bring the design to life. You would hire a developer if you know exactly what you want in your website, including the design, and you simply need someone to bring that design to life.
A web designer creates the design of a website. Most web designers also offer branding services (however, not all) so you would also need to determine if you need a new brand or if you just need a new website with your current brand.
It's important to note that many professionals who work on websites, especially freelancers, do a mix of those 4 options. Not every single person who labels themselves as a web designer only designs websites so it's important to find out exactly what services they offer.
For an example, you can check out my services. Although my actual title is a Digital Design Strategist, I tend to call myself a Web Designer when I introduce myself simply because it is more widely understood. However, I offer much more than just web design. I also develop websites, create brands, offer graphic design and, if I feel confident in my understanding of a client's specific target audience, copywriting.
Need More Guidance to Get Started?
If you would like even more guidance for your new website, I wrote a booklet called "Web Design Defined" that I send to all my clients and members of Design by Heather Rae. In the booklet, I include a creative brief that can help lay the foundation for the brand and design you want for your new website.
If you are already a member and have a copy of "Web Design Defined", I challenge you to start filling it out today! If you are not yet a member, I invite you to join and become one today. Not only does the booklet contain a "Creative Brief", it also contains a "Branding Style Board Guide" and a "File Guide" that will help you understand how each branding piece is implemented into your business or organization. (Not to mention, you will get exclusive discounts and be the first to know about client openings.) Click the link below to download "Web Design Defined"!
Yes, I Want the FREE Booklet!
Alright, it's time to take action! Read through the questions in the post and booklet to create a vision for your new website. In the comments, let me know what your ONE main goal will be for your website! I can't wait to hear all about it.
With love,
- Heather
Heather Brockell is a Web Designer and Copywriter based out of North Dakota, USA. When she isn’t designing websites or writing, she performs as a professional figure skater and singer in ice shows all around the country.
Want to hire Heather to create something magical for your online presence?