Hiring a web designer should feel like making a strategic business investment.
Instead, many business owners treat it like buying a commodity.
They compare quotes. They look at aesthetics. They choose the lowest price or the fastest timeline. And months later, they are frustrated because the website is not generating leads, not ranking on Google, and not helping the business grow.
The truth is this: most website disappointments do not happen because of bad design. They happen because of bad buying decisions.
Many business owners choose a designer based on surface-level factors:
- How nice the portfolio looks
- How affordable the proposal is
- How quickly the project can be completed
- Whether the designer seems “easy to work with”
Those things matter, but they are not what determines long-term success.
What actually determines success is strategy.
A website is not just a digital brochure. It is a sales tool. It is a credibility signal. It is a marketing engine. It is often the first impression someone has of your company. And in competitive markets, it directly influences whether you win or lose business.
When you hire a web designer, you are not just buying pages and graphics. You are buying:
- User experience design
- Conversion strategy
- Technical structure
- Search visibility
- Performance optimization
- Messaging clarity
If those pieces are not discussed before the project begins, the outcome is usually disappointing.
This guide exists to help you make a smart decision.
Whether you hire BWS Development or another agency, the goal is the same: you should understand what you are paying for, what questions to ask, and what separates a professional web partner from someone who simply builds websites.
The right web designer will help you grow.
The wrong one will leave you with something that looks fine but does not perform.
Let’s walk through how to hire the right one.
- 1. Define Your Website’s Goal
- 2. Understanding Website Pricing
- 3. SEO: The Overlooked Factor
- 4. Analytics & Conversion Strategy
- 5. Mobile Optimization
- 6. Website Ownership & Control
- 7. Ongoing Maintenance & Support
- 8. Questions to Ask a Web Designer
- 9. Red Flags to Watch Out For
- 10. Contract Checklist
- Final Thoughts
1. First: Define the Real Goal of Your Website
Before you start comparing designers, reviewing portfolios, or requesting quotes, you need to answer a fundamental question:
What is your website actually supposed to do for your business?
Many website projects fail because this question is never clearly defined. Business owners often focus on colors, layout, and visual style before they have identified what the website should accomplish.
A professional website should support your business objectives. It should attract the right audience, communicate value clearly, and guide visitors toward taking action.
At a high level, every business website should perform three core functions.
1.1 What Is Your Website Meant To Do
Your website has 3 core functions:
- Brand Image – Like every touch-point that your business interacts with customers, your website is a representation of the quality of your brand. Most of the time potential customers will see your website before seeing you in person, so their experience online will dictate their entire perception of your business.
- Information – Your website is the only hub of information that will exist about you online that’s all in one place. Users need to be able to figure out anything and everything about your business without having to jump through hoops or go to multiple sources. The website should sell them and make them want to buy from you.
- Closing Sales – Once potential customers learn about why your business is so awesome and decide to give you a try, your website needs to close the deal. It should be frictionless for them to take the next step. The site should be designed to make appointments or reservations, book something, make a purchase, or contact you.
1.2 Why Goals Matter More Than Design
Design is important, but it is not the starting point.
Many business owners approach web design by focusing primarily on visual style. They want something modern, attractive, and polished. While those qualities matter, design alone does not determine whether a website performs well.
A beautiful website that does not generate leads or sales is simply an expensive brochure.
When goals are clearly defined at the beginning of a project, design decisions become easier and more purposeful. Layout, navigation, messaging, and calls to action can all be shaped around what the website is supposed to accomplish.
For example:
- A lead generation website will prioritize clear contact forms and strong calls to action.
- An e-commerce website will focus heavily on product presentation and checkout flow.
- A service-based website will emphasize trust signals, testimonials, and process explanations.
- In each case, the visual design supports the goal instead of existing for its own sake.
The best web designers start by asking strategic questions about your business objectives before they ever begin designing.
1.3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Contacting a Designer
- If your website could only be good at one thing, what would you want that to be?
- Identifying your top priority helps guide the entire design and development process.
- What is the highest potential you could imagine your website could reach?
- When you start a website project with a clear vision of its potential, you are much more likely to build something that delivers real business value.
2. Understanding Website Pricing
2.1 The Website Vendor Cost Spectrum
Tier 01 — DIY
DIY Website
Builders
Typically $10–$50 / month · Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy
Drag-and-drop platforms designed for business owners without technical experience. Hosting and maintenance are bundled so you only have to focus only on content.
Pros
- Very low cost
- Quick to launch
- No coding required
- Platform handles hosting
Cons
- Limited customisation
- Often slower performance
- SEO limitations
- Generic, template feel
- Difficult to scale
Good for very small businesses or early-stage projects that simply need a basic online presence — but most outgrow these platforms quickly.
Tier 02 — Freelancer
Freelancer-Built
Template Sites
Typically $500–$3,000 · WordPress, Webflow
Independent designers using template frameworks offer more flexibility than DIY builders while remaining relatively affordable with faster delivery than agencies.
Pros
- More customisation
- Professional assistance
- Lower cost than agencies
- Faster timelines
Cons
- Quality varies widely
- Limited long-term support
- Minimal strategy & SEO
- Heavy template reliance
A great fit for smaller businesses that want something more polished than DIY but don’t yet need a fully strategic digital presence.
Tier 03 — Agency
Professional
Agency Websites
Typically $4,000–$20,000+ · Strategy-driven
An agency's focus is strategy, brand positioning, and measurable lead generation. Services include strategic planning,, SEO architecture, custom design systems, and analytics integration.
Pros
- Strategy-driven design
- Stronger SEO foundation
- Scalable technology
- Long-term consulting
Cons
- Higher upfront cost
- Longer timeline
For most established small businesses, this range represents the best balance between cost and long-term value.
2.2 What You Are Actually Paying For
When someone hires a professional web designer, they are not just paying for visual design.
A high-quality website involves many layers of work that happen behind the scenes.
These may include:
Strategy and planning
- Before a single page is designed, a good designer will spend time understanding your business, your audience, and your goals.
User experience design
- The structure of your website determines how easily visitors can navigate it and find what they need.
Visual design
- This is the aesthetic layer most people think about, including typography, layout, imagery, and branding.
Development
- Developers turn designs into a functioning website that works across devices and browsers.
SEO foundation
- A well-built website should include proper page structure, metadata, and performance optimization to help it rank in search engines.
Performance and speed optimization
- Page speed directly impacts both user experience and search engine rankings.
Conversion strategy
- The best websites guide visitors toward taking meaningful actions such as contacting your business, booking services, or making a purchase.
When you look at the price of a website, you are paying for a combination of expertise, time, and strategic thinking that goes into building something that performs well.
2.3 Red Flags in Cheap Website Pricing
Not all affordable websites are bad, but extremely low prices can sometimes signal problems.
Here are a few warning signs to watch for when evaluating proposals.
No discussion of business goals
- If a designer jumps straight to visual design without asking about your goals, they may be treating the project as purely cosmetic.
Unusually fast timelines
- Building a thoughtful website takes time. Promises of a full custom site in just a few days often mean heavy reliance on templates or shortcuts.
Lack of clarity about what is included
- Some low-cost proposals exclude important elements such as SEO setup, mobile optimization, or analytics integration.
- Always ask what is included and what would cost extra.
No conversation about ongoing support
- Websites require maintenance, updates, and occasional improvements. If support is not discussed at all, you may be left on your own after launch.
No contract or clear scope
- A professional project should always have a clear scope of work, timeline, and deliverables.
- Transparency protects both you and the designer.
3. SEO: The Most Overlooked Buying Factor
When business owners evaluate web designers, they often focus on design style, cost, and timeline. Those things matter, but one of the most important factors is frequently overlooked.
That factor is SEO, or search engine optimization.
For many businesses, the majority of new customers discover companies through search engines. Someone searches for a service, reviews the results, visits a few websites, and chooses a company they trust.
If your website is not built with SEO in mind from the beginning, it can be very difficult to compete for those searches later.
A well-designed website that no one can find does not help your business grow.
SEO is not a separate add-on that happens after launch. It is a foundational part of how a website is structured, written, and built.
3.1 What SEO Actually Means
SEO stands for search engine optimization, which refers to the process of improving your website’s visibility in search results.
When someone searches for a service you offer, SEO helps your website appear among the results they see.
For example, a local business might want to appear when people search for:
- “plumber near me”
- “Charleston web design”
- “HVAC repair Mount Pleasant”
- “best restaurant in downtown Charleston”
Search engines like Google analyze thousands of signals to determine which websites are most relevant for a search.
Some of those signals include:
- The structure of your website
- The quality of your content
- Page speed and performance
- Mobile usability
- Links from other websites
- Location relevance for local searches
Good SEO helps search engines understand what your business does, who you serve, and why your website should appear in results.
Without that clarity, search engines may struggle to rank your site effectively.
3.2 Technical SEO vs On-Page SEO
SEO is often discussed as a single concept, but it actually includes several different components. Two of the most important are technical SEO and on-page SEO.
Understanding the difference can help you evaluate whether a web designer is considering SEO properly during a project.
Technical SEO
Technical SEO refers to the underlying structure and performance of your website.
It includes things such as:
- Proper site architecture and navigation
- Clean, crawlable code
- Page speed optimization
- Mobile responsiveness
- Secure HTTPS connections
- XML sitemaps and indexing setup
- Structured metadata
These elements help search engines crawl and understand your website.
If technical SEO is poorly implemented, even great content can struggle to rank.
On-Page SEO
On-page SEO focuses on the content and messaging on each page.
This includes:
- Page titles and meta descriptions
- Headings and page structure
- Keyword targeting
- Internal linking between pages
- Image optimization
- Content clarity and depth
On-page SEO helps search engines understand what each page is about and whether it matches the user’s search intent.
When both technical SEO and on-page SEO are handled correctly, your website has a much stronger chance of appearing in search results.
3.3 Questions to Ask a Web Designer About SEO
Not every web designer approaches SEO the same way. Some focus primarily on visual design, while others build websites with search visibility in mind from the beginning.
Before hiring a web designer, it is worth asking a few key questions.
How do you approach SEO during the design process?
A good designer should explain how SEO is incorporated into site structure, page planning, and development.
Will my website include proper metadata and page structure?
Every page should have optimized titles, descriptions, and heading hierarchy.
Do you plan the site architecture around search intent?
The way pages are organized can influence how well they rank for relevant topics.
Is page speed and performance part of the build process?
Speed is both a user experience factor and a ranking factor.
Will my site be easy to expand for future SEO growth?
Your website should allow you to add new pages, articles, and landing pages over time.
The goal is not necessarily to turn your web designer into your long-term SEO agency. However, the site should at least be built on a strong SEO foundation.
3.4 Why “We’ll Add SEO Later” Is a Problem
One of the most common phrases heard during website projects is:
“We can add SEO later.”
While some aspects of SEO do happen after launch, the foundation of SEO must be built into the website from the start.
If SEO is ignored during development, fixing it later can require significant rework.
For example, problems may include:
- Poor site structure that does not support search topics
- Pages that target the wrong keywords
- Slow page performance
- Missing metadata and heading hierarchy
- Content that lacks search relevance
Correcting these issues after launch often means revisiting design decisions, rewriting content, and restructuring pages.
It is far more efficient to consider SEO from the beginning.
A well-planned website aligns design, content, and technical structure with the way people search online. When those pieces work together, the site becomes much more likely to generate organic traffic over time.
In other words, SEO should not be treated as an optional add-on. It should be treated as part of the website’s foundation.
4. Analytics & Conversion Strategy: Does the Website Actually Generate Leads?
Every website topic you can think of – aesthetics, design, search rankings, clicks, returning users, etc. – all end with conversions. Without conversions, none of it really means anything. I mean, you probably didn’t invest in a beautiful website just for the sake of the art. So what exactly are conversions, how do we track them, and why are they so important?
4.1 What Are Conversions?
Conversions are any action a user takes on your website that result in either leads toward a sale, or an actual sale. This is up to you to define and depends entirely on your industry. Here are some examples of common conversions:
- Making online purchases
- Adding items to your cart
- Calling your business
- Submitting forms to contact your business
- Making reservations, bookings, or scheduling tours
- Signing up for subscriptions, email lists or memberships
- Viewing important content such as menus, events or information
- Clicks that lead to important 3rd party pages like online ordering, reservations, etc.
You can use multiple conversion events to create a sales funnel through your website. For example a restaurant might have a funnel like this:
- User enters the website
- Views the menu
- View your hours and location
- Makes a reservation
There’s no such thing as too small of a conversion action. You know your business and what’s important to your sales. The important thing is that something is marked and tracked as a critical action from your potential customers.
4.2 Conversion Tracking & Analytics
Website Tracking Simplified
Let’s say you want to set up tracking of form submissions on your website and we are your website partner. We are going to add code to the site that does two things: tracks specific actions through “triggers”; and sends that data to 3rd party sites like Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta Ads, and others. There are many ways to do this, we personally use Google Tag Manager which allows us to use their software and avoid manually updating the code every time.
Let’s say you want to set up tracking of form submissions on your website and we are your website partner. We are going to add code to the site that does two things: tracks specific actions through “triggers”; and sends that data to 3rd party sites like Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta Ads, and others. There are many ways to do this, we personally use Google Tag Manager which allows us to use their software and avoid manually updating the code every time.
4.3 How Can We Use Conversion Data
Analytics
This data is important for several reasons:
- It measures the overall performance of the website. We can compare this month over month to measure our overall marketing performance.
- We can calculate the Conversion Rate – the percentage of total website traffic that converts to leads or sales – and use that to optimize things like the website design, marketing campaigns, and your overall funnel.
- It’s the secret weapon in all marketing campaigns you run through your website. Let’s get into this below
Ad Campaigns
The same conversion data we’ve sent to Google Analytics can also be sent to marketing platforms like Google Ads, Meta Ads and more. We can set up campaigns to optimize for the exact website actions we’ve defined and tracked as conversions. This means that Meta and Google will run our campaigns with the goal of finding people most likely to be interested in actually purchasing your products or services. If one user comes to your site from the ads and makes a purchase, these platforms will use their data and technology to find others with similar interests or traits.
Many businesses make the mistake of running campaigns just to get people to their website. Using website conversions to optimize these campaigns instead results in a massive difference in efficiency and effectiveness.
5. The Importance of Mobile Optimization
Not long ago, most websites were designed primarily for desktop computers. That is no longer the reality.
Today, a majority of website visits happen on smartphones. People search for businesses while commuting, sitting in a waiting room, walking down the street, or comparing options in real time. Because of this shift, the mobile experience of your website is often the most important version of your site, not the desktop version.
If a website is slow, confusing, or difficult to use on a phone, many visitors will simply leave and choose a competitor instead.
Mobile optimization is not just about making a site “fit” on a smaller screen. It is about designing the entire experience around how people interact with websites on mobile devices.
5.1 Why Most Traffic Is Mobile
Across many industries, more than half of website traffic now comes from mobile devices.
Search engines have adapted to this shift as well. In fact, Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means the mobile version of your site is considered the primary version when evaluating search rankings.
This means that if your site performs poorly on mobile, it can negatively impact both:
- User experience
- Search engine visibility
Mobile users also behave differently than desktop users. They typically want information quickly and with minimal effort.
Common mobile behaviors include:
- Searching for services nearby
- Looking up business hours or contact information
- Quickly comparing options between competitors
- Calling or messaging a business directly
If your site makes these actions difficult, visitors may leave before ever contacting you.
5.2 What a True Mobile-First Site Looks Like
A mobile-friendly website is not simply a desktop layout that shrinks to fit a phone screen. A mobile-first website is designed with small screens and touch interactions in mind from the very beginning.
Some characteristics of a strong mobile-first design include:
Clear, Simplified Navigation
Menus should be easy to access and organized logically so users can quickly find what they need.
Large, Readable Text
Text should be easy to read without zooming or squinting. Headlines and body content should be structured for quick scanning.
Touch-Friendly Buttons
Buttons and links should be large enough to tap easily with a finger. Small or crowded links can frustrate users.
Fast Loading Speed
Mobile users are often on slower connections. Pages should load quickly, with optimized images and efficient code.
Prominent Calls to Action
Important actions like calling, booking, or contacting your business should be immediately visible and easy to complete.
Clean, Focused Layouts
Mobile screens offer less space. A mobile-first site prioritizes what matters most rather than trying to show everything at once.
When these elements are handled properly, visitors can quickly understand what your business offers and take action without friction.
5.3 Mobile UX Mistakes That Cost You Leads
Even attractive websites can lose potential customers if the mobile experience is poorly designed.
Here are some common mistakes that can cause visitors to leave before contacting your business.
Slow Loading Pages
If a page takes too long to load, many users will abandon the site before it finishes. Speed is one of the most important factors for mobile performance.
Overly Complex Navigation
Large menus, hidden pages, or confusing navigation structures can make it difficult for users to find important information.
Forms That Are Hard to Complete
Long or poorly designed input fields can frustrate mobile users. Forms should be short, simple, and easy to complete on a phone.
Buttons That Are Hard to Tap
If buttons are too small or too close together, users may accidentally tap the wrong thing or give up entirely.
Cluttered Layouts
Trying to fit too much onto a small screen can overwhelm visitors. Mobile layouts should prioritize clarity and focus.
Important Information Buried Too Deep
Contact details, pricing, or service information should not require excessive scrolling or searching to find.
A well-designed mobile experience removes friction and makes it easy for visitors to take the next step. For many businesses, improving mobile usability alone can significantly increase leads and conversions.
As mobile usage continues to grow, designing for smartphones first is no longer optional. It is a core requirement for any modern website.
6. Website Ownership, Hosting, and Control
When hiring a web designer, most business owners focus on the design, price, and timeline of the project. However, one of the most important topics is rarely discussed in detail: ownership and control of the website itself.
Your website is a digital asset. Just like your brand name, your domain, and your customer relationships, you should understand exactly who controls the pieces that make it work.
Unfortunately, many businesses discover ownership issues only after a problem arises. For example, they may want to switch designers, move to a new hosting provider, or update their site, only to find out they do not have access to the tools or accounts required to do so.
Understanding ownership and control before starting a website project can prevent these situations.
6.1 Who Owns the Website?
In most professional website projects, the business owner should ultimately own the website and its assets.
This includes:
- The website files and code
- The design assets created for the site
- The website content and images (unless licensed from stock libraries)
- Access to the content management system
- Administrative control of the hosting and domain accounts
A web designer or agency may manage these systems on your behalf, but the accounts should generally be owned by the business.
There are some exceptions. Certain website platforms operate as subscription services where the underlying infrastructure is controlled by the platform provider. For example, platforms like Wix and Squarespace host websites entirely within their own ecosystems.
In those cases, you technically own the content and site configuration, but you are still dependent on the platform’s hosting environment.
Before hiring a designer, it is reasonable to ask how ownership will be handled and what access you will have once the project is complete.
6.2 What Happens If You Leave Your Designer?
Another important question to consider is what happens if you decide to change web designers in the future.
Businesses evolve, and relationships with vendors sometimes change. You should be able to move your website to another developer or agency without losing your digital assets.
A professional website setup should allow you to:
- Transfer your website to another hosting provider
- Grant access to a new developer
- Retain ownership of your domain and content
- Continue operating your site without interruption
Problems arise when key elements of the website are controlled exclusively by the original designer.
For example, some businesses discover that:
- Their designer owns the hosting account
- The designer registered the domain name under their own account
- The site cannot be exported from the platform it was built on
Situations like these can make it difficult and expensive to move your website elsewhere.
A trustworthy web partner will be transparent about how the website is structured and will not lock you into a system that prevents you from maintaining control of your own business assets.
6.3 Domain Ownership
Your domain name is the address people use to find your website. It is one of the most important digital assets your business owns.
Domains are registered through companies known as domain registrars, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap.
Ideally, the domain should always be registered under an account controlled by your business. Even if your designer helps with the setup, you should maintain access to the registrar account and ensure that your company is listed as the owner.
If a domain is registered under someone else’s account, you may encounter difficulties if you ever need to transfer or update it.
A simple rule is this: your domain should belong to you, not your designer.
6.4 Hosting Explained
Website hosting is the service that stores your website’s files and makes them accessible on the internet.
When someone visits your domain, their browser connects to the hosting server where your website is stored.
There are several types of hosting environments, including:
Most affordable
Multiple websites share the same server resources. This is one of the most cost-effective options available, though shared demand can sometimes affect performance during peak periods.
Popular choice
Providers handle performance, security monitoring, automatic updates, and support — reducing the technical burden on your team so you can focus on running your business.
Scalable
Your website is distributed across multiple servers, improving reliability and scalability. Cloud infrastructure adapts to traffic spikes without the limitations of a single physical machine.
All-in-one
Services like Wix or Squarespace combine hosting, site management, and editing tools into a single system — ideal for those who want everything handled in one place without managing separate providers.
Hosting quality affects several important aspects of your website, including:
- Page speed
- Reliability and uptime
- Security
- Scalability as traffic grows
Because hosting directly impacts user experience and search engine performance, it is an important part of the website ecosystem.
A professional web designer should explain where your website will be hosted, how backups are handled, and what level of performance and support you can expect.
Understanding ownership, domain management, and hosting ensures that your website remains under your control and can continue supporting your business long after the initial project is complete.
7. Ongoing Maintenance and Support
One of the biggest misconceptions business owners have is that a website is a one-time project. In reality, your website is a living digital asset. It requires maintenance, monitoring, and strategic updates to stay secure, competitive, and effective.
If you are investing thousands of dollars into a professional website, protecting and maintaining that investment is just as important as building it.
Let’s break down what ongoing maintenance really means.
7.1 Why Websites Are Not “Set It and Forget It”
Technology changes constantly. Browsers update. Security vulnerabilities are discovered. Search engine algorithms evolve. Competitors redesign their sites.
A website that performs well today can slowly decline if it is not maintained.
Here is what happens when businesses ignore maintenance:
- Broken forms stop collecting leads
- Plugins become outdated and create security risks
- Page speed decreases over time
- Google rankings slowly drop
- Contact information becomes outdated
- Design elements start to look dated
Small issues compound. Over time, performance declines.
Professional web design should include a plan for ongoing upkeep, even if that plan is minimal.
7.2 Security Updates
If your website runs on a content management system like WordPress or another framework, it likely depends on:
- Core software updates
- Plugin updates
- Theme updates
- Server updates
When those are not maintained:
- Your site becomes vulnerable to hacking
- Malware can be injected
- Data breaches become possible
- Google may flag your site as unsafe
Security issues can damage your reputation quickly.
A responsible web partner should either:
- Offer ongoing maintenance services
- Clearly explain how updates are handled
- Or train you on how to manage them safely
Security is not optional. It is part of owning a digital asset.
7.3 Content Updates
Your business evolves. Your website should evolve with it.
Over time, you may need to:
- Add new services
- Update pricing
- Add team members
- Publish blog articles
- Refresh photos
- Improve messaging
- Launch new landing pages
A good web designer should explain:
- Whether they offer ongoing content support
- Or how easy it is for you to update content yourself
- How new features are scoped and priced
Websites that grow regularly tend to perform better in search engines because Google favors fresh, relevant content.
If your site never changes, it can slowly lose relevance.
7.4 Analytics and Performance Tracking
Your website is a living digital asset of your business, so you’ll probably want to be able to keep tabs on it right? Take your car for example. You might not know everything you’re looking at when you pop the hood, but it still has an interface that you understand with relevant data like how full your gas tank is, how fast you’re going, and when you need maintenance.
Your website is exactly the same. Your website developer should set up the website to send data to Google Analytics or another 3rd party platform where you can log on and view the performance of your website yourself.
The Basics
Installing the basic Google Analytics code on your website will provide you with all sorts of data such as:
- Traffic – how many people visited your website? How many new vs returning visitors?
- Pages & Screens – how many times is each page viewed?
- Traffic Acquisition – where are users coming to your website from?
- Form Submissions – how many users are contacting you through your site? How many started to fill out a form but never went through with it?
These can all be found on your own with a proper set up of Analytics. There are tons of YouTube videos on more advanced data analysis techniques and using Google Analytics to the fullest if you want to go deeper. Plus, the Gemini AI assistant within Analytics has gotten so good that you can actually just ask it to generate the reports you’re looking for!
The Advanced
Alternatively, you might want to see analytics of specific actions that go past what Google Analytics can do on its own. These might be things like:
- Clicks – specific button or link clicks
- Contacts – if you have multiple forms and want data on the individual submissions, or tracking calls to your business
- Purchases – adding items to cart, what was bought, how many, and for how much
- Sign Ups – sign ups for email lists, waiting lists, or making reservations
- Content Views – when users scroll far enough to view specific content, and/or look for long enough
- 3rd Party Software – if you have an API embedded in your site such as booking software and want to track how it’s interacted with.
These all require your developer (or a 3rd party) to set up custom tracking for. The good news is that once these are tracked, you can easily send the data to marketing platforms like Google Ads and Meta Ads to optimize for conversions. This has a huge impact on the results of your campaigns.
Analytics Reporting
If you do have someone set up advanced tracking of actions on your website, or you just don’t have the time and patience to learn the depths of Google Analytics, ask your developer for monthly reporting. Many developers (like us) have packages for reporting on the ins and outs of your website performance and marketing results overall. They already know how to use these tools and are happy to add reporting to your monthly package so you can still get the full data and insights without the legwork.
This typically makes it easier to take away actionable insights to optimize things like your sales catalogue, marketing content, allocation to different marketing channels, results of different promotions, and even the website design.
8. Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer
Hiring a web designer is not just about finding someone who can make a site look good. You are choosing a partner who will influence how your business is presented online, how customers interact with your brand, and how effectively your website generates leads or sales.
Because of this, it is important to ask thoughtful questions before committing to a project.
The goal is not to interrogate the designer, but to understand how they think, how they work, and whether their approach aligns with your business goals.
Many businesses find it helpful to review these questions in an FAQ-style format. This allows you to quickly explore the most important topics during early conversations with potential designers.
Below are several key questions worth asking.
What platform do you build websites on and why?
Different designers use different platforms and technologies to build websites. Some use website builders, others use content management systems, and some build custom solutions.
Understanding the platform matters because it affects:
How easily you can update your website
How flexible the site will be as your business grows
How portable the site is if you change providers later
A good designer should be able to clearly explain why they use a particular platform and how it benefits your business.
Will my website be custom or template-based?
Not every website needs to be fully custom, but it is important to understand what approach your designer plans to use.
Template websites typically rely on pre-designed layouts that are customized for your brand. Custom websites are designed from the ground up with your specific goals and structure in mind.
There is nothing inherently wrong with either approach. The key is transparency so you know what you are paying for and what level of flexibility you will have.
How do you approach SEO during the build process?
Search engine visibility should not be an afterthought.
Ask whether the designer considers SEO when planning site structure, writing page titles and descriptions, and building the technical foundation of the website.
Even if you plan to invest in SEO later, the site should still be built with good practices in place from the start.
What is included in the project price?
Website proposals can vary widely in what they include.
Before agreeing to a project, it is helpful to clarify:
How many pages are included
Whether copywriting is part of the project
Whether images or graphics are provided
Whether SEO setup is included
Whether revisions are included
Whether hosting or maintenance is part of the package
Clear expectations prevent misunderstandings later in the process.
What is the typical timeline for a project like this?
Website timelines vary depending on the size and complexity of the project.
Some small sites can be completed in a few weeks, while larger projects may take several months.
A professional designer should be able to outline the general stages of the process, such as planning, design, development, revisions, and launch.
Understanding the timeline helps you plan around marketing campaigns, product launches, or other business initiatives.
Do you provide ongoing maintenance or support?
Websites require occasional updates, security monitoring, and technical support.
Some designers offer ongoing maintenance packages, while others deliver the completed site and leave long-term management to the client.
Neither approach is inherently right or wrong, but you should understand what happens after the site launches.
If you do not want to manage updates yourself, it may be helpful to work with a designer who offers ongoing support.
Who owns the website and the domain?
Ownership is an important but often overlooked detail.
Make sure you understand who will own:
The domain name
The hosting account
The website files and code
Access to the content management system
Ideally, your business should retain ownership of these assets even if your designer helps manage them.
What happens if I want to switch designers in the future?
Even if you expect a long-term relationship with your web designer, it is wise to understand what happens if circumstances change.
Ask whether the site can be transferred to another hosting provider or developer if needed. A transparent designer will not lock you into a system that prevents you from maintaining control over your own website.
Can you show examples of websites you have built for businesses like mine?
A portfolio can reveal a lot about a designer’s capabilities.
Instead of only looking at visual style, try to evaluate whether the sites appear:
Clear and easy to navigate
Mobile-friendly
Fast loading
Focused on user experience
If the designer has experience working with businesses similar to yours, they may already understand your audience and industry challenges.
How do you measure whether a website is successful?
This question often reveals how strategically a designer approaches their work.
Some designers focus only on aesthetics, while others think about metrics such as:
Website traffic
Conversion rates
Lead generation
Search visibility
A website that looks good is valuable. A website that consistently brings in customers is far more valuable.
9. Red Flags to Watch Out For
Not every web designer approaches projects with the same level of professionalism or strategy. While there are many talented designers and agencies out there, there are also situations where business owners end up with websites that look fine on the surface but fail to deliver meaningful results.
Before hiring a web designer, it is worth paying attention to certain warning signs. These red flags do not automatically mean someone is unqualified, but they can indicate that the project may not be structured in a way that sets your business up for success.
Below are several common warning signs to watch for during the hiring process.
“Unlimited Revisions” Promises
At first glance, unlimited revisions can sound appealing. It may seem like a sign that the designer is flexible and willing to work until you are satisfied.
However, in practice, unlimited revisions can signal a lack of structure in the design process.
Professional website projects usually follow a clear workflow that includes stages such as:
Discovery and planning
Wireframing or structure approval
Design presentation
Revision rounds
Development and testing
Each stage is meant to move the project forward in a controlled and collaborative way. When a designer advertises unlimited revisions, it may mean the project lacks defined boundaries, which can lead to confusion, delays, and inconsistent results.
A more realistic and professional approach is to include a specific number of revision rounds within the project scope, with additional revisions available if needed.
Extremely Fast Turnaround Claims
Building a thoughtful website takes time.
A proper project typically includes planning, design exploration, development, testing, and feedback. Each of these stages helps ensure the final product works well for your business.
If someone promises a fully custom website in just a few days, it is worth asking how that timeline is possible.
Very fast turnaround times often mean:
Heavy reliance on pre-made templates
Minimal strategy or planning
Limited attention to SEO and performance
Little time for collaboration and feedback
Speed can be valuable for certain projects, but if the timeline seems unusually short, it may come at the expense of quality or long-term effectiveness.
10. Final Checklist Before You Sign a Contract
Before committing to a website project, it is important to review the agreement carefully and make sure the scope of work is clearly defined. A well-written contract protects both you and the designer by outlining expectations, deliverables, and responsibilities.
Website projects involve many moving parts. Without clear documentation, misunderstandings can easily arise about what is included, how long the project will take, and what happens if additional work is needed.
Before signing a contract with a web designer or agency, take a few minutes to confirm that the following details are clearly addressed.
Project Scope and Deliverables
The contract should clearly describe what will actually be built.
Make sure it specifies:
The number of pages included in the website
The types of pages being created (home, services, about, contact, etc.)
Any special features such as booking systems, e-commerce, or integrations
Whether content writing or copy editing is included
This section helps ensure both parties understand the scale of the project.
Number of Revisions Included
Most website projects include a limited number of revision rounds during the design phase.
The contract should specify:
How many revision rounds are included
What counts as a revision
What happens if additional revisions are needed
Clear revision policies help keep the project moving forward and prevent scope creep.
Timeline and Project Milestones
The agreement should provide a general timeline for the project.
This might include milestones such as:
Discovery and planning
Initial design presentation
Development phase
Final review and testing
Website launch
While timelines can shift depending on feedback and collaboration, having an outline helps both sides stay aligned.
Payment Structure
Website contracts should clearly explain how payments are handled.
Common structures include:
An upfront deposit before work begins
One or more milestone payments during the project
A final payment before launch
The contract should also clarify whether additional work outside the scope will be billed separately.
Ownership and Access
It is important to confirm who will own and control key parts of the website once the project is complete.
The agreement should clarify:
Ownership of the website design and code
Access to the content management system
Ownership of the domain name
Ownership or control of the hosting account
In most cases, the business should retain ownership of the website and its core assets.
Post-Launch Support
Ask whether the contract includes any support after the website goes live.
Some projects include a short support period to address minor issues that arise after launch. Others offer optional maintenance plans for ongoing updates, security monitoring, and improvements.
Even if ongoing support is not included, the agreement should explain how future updates or changes can be handled.
Responsibilities for Both Parties
Successful website projects require collaboration.
The contract should outline what is expected from both sides, such as:
Providing content and images
Reviewing design drafts
Approving milestones
Providing feedback within a certain timeframe
When responsibilities are clearly defined, projects tend to run much more smoothly.
Taking the time to review these details before signing a contract can prevent frustration later. A transparent agreement ensures that both you and your web designer share the same expectations for the project.
With the right structure in place, you can move forward with confidence knowing that your website project has a clear plan and a solid foundation.
Final Thoughts
For most businesses today, your website is often the first impression someone has of your company.
Before a customer calls you, visits your store, or meets you in person, they will almost always look you up online. The experience they have on your website shapes how they perceive your professionalism, credibility, and quality.
A well-built website does more than just look nice. It helps people understand what you do, trust your business, and take the next step toward becoming a customer.
The biggest takeaway from this guide is not that every business needs the most expensive website possible. It is that the right website starts with the right strategy and the right partner.
When your website is designed with clear goals, strong technical foundations, and a focus on real results, it becomes an asset that continues to support your business for years.
And the good news is you do not have to navigate all of this alone.
At BWS Development, we help businesses plan, design, and build professional websites that are designed to grow with them. From strategic planning and modern design to performance optimization and ongoing support, we help businesses create websites that work as hard as they do.
👉 Reach out to schedule a Free Strategy Call with BWS Development. If you are in Charleston, we are always happy to grab a coffee and talk through your goals in person.
Thank you for reading, good luck!
