Website quotes vary a lot, in price and above all in what is included. These questions help you find out whether someone is a good fit.
Before the first call
- Is there work you can look at, on mobile too?
- Is the website designed individually or built from a ready-made template?
- Who is your contact person, and how do you reach them?
About the quote
- Does it state in writing which pages and features are included?
- How many rounds of feedback are planned?
- Who writes the copy, and who takes care of images?
- What does it cost if something is added later?
After launch
- Do you own the domain, the content and the logins?
- Who takes care of hosting, updates and backups?
- Can you make small changes yourself, or is there a support plan for that?
Freelancer or agency?
Both can work well. With a freelancer you usually talk directly to the person who designs and builds, which keeps communication short. An agency has more people and can handle large projects in parallel, but conversations often go through a project manager. More important than size is whether the way of working suits you and whether someone stays reachable.
How to check references
- Open the examples on your phone, that is where most of your visitors are.
- Notice how fast the pages load and how easy it is to get in touch.
- Ask what exactly the provider did on the project: design, copy, development or everything.
- A reference from your industry is nice but not necessary. What matters is whether the pages feel clear and well thought out.
Warning signs
- Guaranteed rankings on Google. Nobody can promise that.
- The domain is registered to the provider instead of you.
- Long contract terms that were not mentioned in the conversation.
- No written scope, just an hourly rate without a framework.
- Evasive answers to the question of what happens after launch.
Make the most of the intro call
A good intro call is about your business and your customers, not about technology. Afterwards you should know how the project works, who your contact is and what you need to contribute. If you have more questions after the call than before, that tells you something.
Making quotes comparable
Two quotes at a similar price can contain very different things. To compare fairly, put the same points side by side. If something is missing from a quote, ask rather than assume it is included.
- Scope: pages, languages and features.
- Design: custom design, adapted template or website builder.
- Content: who provides the copy and images?
- Process: how many feedback rounds are there, and how do you give feedback?
- After launch: hosting, maintenance, changes and what they cost.
- Ownership: who owns the domain, logins and content?
I explain what drives the price and how to put costs into context in the post What does a website cost?.
What working together looks like
Don't just ask what you will get at the end, ask what the way there looks like. How often will you hear from the designer? Where can you see progress? Do you give feedback by email, in a call or in a portal? Clear processes save time on both sides and stop comments getting lost in long email threads. The post How a website project works shows how I do it.
Clarify ownership
A point that often only comes up later: who owns what? The domain should be registered to your business, not to the designer. You should have access to your content and be able to take it with you if you switch later. For images and fonts, it is worth asking whether the licences still apply to you after the project. All of this can be settled in one sentence in the quote.
Local or remote
Many projects can be carried out entirely via video calls and a client portal. Meeting in person can still help, for example when photos are taken on your premises or you prefer to show your business face to face. What matters is that the designer is easy to reach and keeps to agreed dates, whether they are in the same town or not.
Who is your contact after launch?
A website needs care after launch too. Find out beforehand whether the designer offers hosting and maintenance, how quickly they respond to change requests and what that costs. Also ask what happens if you want to end the support later: will you receive all logins and files? More in the post Hosting and maintenance.
Your preparation
- Write down what the website should achieve: more enquiries, fewer phone calls, a better first impression.
- Collect two or three websites you like and think about why.
- Decide who on your side makes decisions and gives feedback.
- Check what material you already have: logo, images, copy.
- Think about a rough budget range. It helps the designer suggest a suitable scope.
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three are usually enough. More important than the number is that every designer receives the same information. Only then can the quotes be compared fairly.
Does my web designer need experience in my industry?
No. Industry experience can help but is not a requirement. What matters more is that someone asks the right questions about your customers and understands what they are looking for on your website.
What if I don't like the design?
That is what feedback rounds are for. Say early and specifically what doesn't work and why. A good designer asks instead of guessing and settles the direction at the structure stage, before details are designed.
Can I switch designers later?
Yes, if the domain, logins and content belong to you. Have this confirmed in the quote and keep the logins safe.
A good sign is when someone also tells you what you do not need. A bad sign is evasive answers to these questions.
