So, you’re looking for a web designer near you. It can be a minefield if you don’t know what to look for.
Do you choose a freelancer, in-house web designer or an agency? Do you base it on word-of-mouth or customer reviews? How do you know that a particular web designer will be right for your project? Confusing right?
Perhaps you hadn’t even thought of some of these questions, but at least you have now! This article will cover everything you need to know before hiring a freelance web designer near you.
I’ve put this article together to help you decide how to go about choosing the right web designer for your needs, but you can always skip it and shoot me an email if you’re in a hurry! 😉
Should I hire a freelance web designer or a web design agency?
Whether you are upgrading your old website or simply need a new one, it always starts with the most crucial question: Do you choose a freelance website designer or go to a digital agency?
Surely an agency has some obvious benefits, but that’s not always the case. After all, you might find a freelance web designer (like me) has more time to devote to your project.
Here are the main differences between freelancers and web agencies, which will hopefully help you to answer this first and essential question.
Cost.
There’s almost no doubt with this one; a freelancer should always be cheaper than an agency.
And if they’re not, then you’re asking the wrong freelancer, or there is something wrong with the agency that gave you a quote.
A freelancer will usually work from home or small office space, which means they don’t have as many costs to meet.
With an agency, however, they have to cover all the extra costs. The office space, equipment, and even the staff who isn’t working on your project.
This issue doesn’t need any more explanation because a freelancer will almost always win on cost over an agency.
Services.
Surely an agency will have a better range of services?
Not always, freelance web designers like myself do everything possible to diversify our service package so that we can compete with these big agencies.
Similarly, many freelancers will have friends or colleagues for advice, if nothing else, which means they might not work as alone as you think.
When it comes to agencies, there’s no denying that by having more people they’re more likely to have a more significant range of services.
However, the trade-off with this is that your new website will pass around between several people, and if the communication isn’t there, then ideas can easily be lost along the way.
And on that note comes one of the most important issues when deciding who will work on your project:
Communication.
It hardly needs saying that you expect excellent communication when you pay someone plenty of money to build you a new website, but who will be better at communicating?
When it comes to freelancers, they generally try to be available for you whenever even if this means outside of typical office hours.
If nothing else, most freelancers will respond to an email, but many are happy to deal over the phone too.
What’s more, agencies will typically have many clients at one time, and will often have a receptionist of some kind fielding their calls.
This means messages can get missed or might take a while to reach their intended recipient, which is all time wasted.
And when their time is on your money, this is the last thing you want.
Who should I hire to build my website, a freelancer or a web design agency?
Of course, there are plenty of things to consider when it comes to hiring a web designer, but the first decision is whether to choose a freelancer or agency. In general, freelancers will be more available, cheaper, and more responsive to communications, meaning your project will be smoother with a freelancer rather than an agency. However, agencies can cope better with huge website projects on an international scale, especially if the deadline is tight.
In my biased opinion, a freelancer wins every time! 😅
DID YOU KNOW…
In 2019 alone, worldwide e-commerce grossed roughly £3.1 trillion.
A website is your portal to this slice of profit, while still being inexpensive to make and somewhat easy to maintain. The first step to any successful business website is, well, making it. You must make one, that much is clear. There’s no reason not to have one, then, while there’s ample business opportunity to emerge from having one.
E-commerce is an invaluable asset to any business
Many concerns will arise along the way, such as promoting it and fine-tuning it accordingly, but the first, fundamental question remains – who will make it?
I compared a freelancer with a web design agency, but there are two more options available:
- Hiring an in-house web designer
- Doing it yourself
Option #2 is undoubtedly viable in some circumstances, and lots of online material can help with that. But in most regards, professional help is always preferable if you can obtain it. Hiring a web designer near you, in this case – in-house ones or freelance ones.
If you’re here, it should be safe to assume that this dilemma concerns you too.
Should I hire a freelance web designer or an in-house web designer?
For a simple initial breakdown of the two, a rule of thumb would be to consider your website’s role and significance. It will be your business’s 24/7 representation, so it needs to be done right on the first try; you can correct minor mistakes and oversights over time, but you need to prevent critical flaws. It is vital; your site must work properly as soon as you launch it. After all, a visibly dysfunctional or poorly presented website can create a very negative first impression on customers, which may be hard to remedy later.
Your web designer, in-house or freelancer, must get it right in one go.
That said, just what your business intends to gain from its site can vary; thus, the ideal web designer can differ too. To oversimplify the issue, a new business may need to establish a web presence and little else – a freelance designer or a small agency may be ideal for that. A company that hinges on e-commerce may find complex site functions and items to be critical marketing assets – an agency may be best suited to provide such varying skillsets.
Should I make my own website or hire someone?
Popular myths aside, it is indeed a viable option to make your website yourself. There is a very personal sense of achievement when one’s website is one’s own creation, top to bottom. It ensures that the web presence one establishes is strictly and completely their own, and smaller starting businesses may not need much more than a simple, functional web presence. There is ample online material that can assist you with this, and moderate familiarity with WordPress can be both very beneficial and rather easy to acquire.
That said, most individuals do not tend to possess enough expertise in this area to be wildly successful. Anything beyond the basics may not be feasibly left at the hands of a single individual, or even a small circle of their friends; basic websites may be easy to make, but refining, updating and maintaining them may require an advanced skill set.
In short, making your website yourself will likely not be the best choice in most cases. Budget concerns are understandable, but both in-house and freelance web designers can be very affordable – the latter even more so. Hiring professionals will thus be a profitable investment; your business can only benefit from a professional presence, and even the cheapest options will certainly offer more than inexperienced individuals’ expertise can.
Keeping up with a website’s demands and needs may end up being challenging for some
Hiring Freelance Web Designers
PROS
Cost.
Freelance web designers have far fewer work expenses and standard costs, such as office rent or staff salaries. They set their own rates and are thus more flexible – typically charging by the hour, which can only cut down on the final price.
Specialisation and involvement.
Most freelancers tend to be specialised in their field, making them the perfect solution for individual tasks. Refining specific features or functions is thus both more efficient and less costly than hiring a full agency team.
Since freelancers are individuals, rather than hierarchical teams, there is much more room for personal involvement. As a client, you can be involved in the creative process much more easily.
CONS
Manpower and turn-around.
Since freelancers are not supported by large teams, they often need to manage their own schedule and stretch it across many projects. It’s thus not unlikely that they may be too busy to respond or complete their task as swiftly as an agency if their schedule doesn’t permit it.
Managing.
Since they are often specialised, larger projects may require that you employ multiple freelancers. Since there won’t be a structure to coordinate them beyond individual contact, it may be harder to manage their work and make sure the end result suits your preferences.
Hiring In-House Web Designers
PROS
Credibility.
Web designer agencies need to uphold their reputation, both among their industry peers and among their community. It is in their best interest to remain competitive and therefore offers quality services. Reviews hold them accountable for their work, and it is generally easier to hold a named agency accountable in their sphere of work.
Resources & expertise.
Agencies usually have access to a wide array of resources, such as design materials and technology, since their budgets tend to be higher. They often also have in-house tools to assist with content management and even website hosting.
It is very common for an agency to have professionals from various areas of expertise. A successful, highly regarded agency will often be comprised of reputable employees with years of experience. This also means that, more often than not, they will also have business connections to rely on if need be.
CONS
Cost.
In-house web designers will inevitably be more expensive. Agencies have multiple employees on any given project, as well as physical office spaces; thus, their rates will be higher, and so will fixed costs.
Bureaucracy.
Role hierarchy and internal processes are also inevitable with larger teams. While this may ensure higher end-product quality, it also means that work takes longer to process and reach you.
So, should I hire a freelancer or start interviewing in-house web designers?
On the other hand, if you need a large project and your budget is ample, search for a web design agency instead. If you do choose a web design freelancer, you couldn’t be in a better place! 😉 Request a quote today; it only takes a minute!
How to find freelance web designers near me?
The global freelance market is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world.
The freelance industry has shown the potential to become the driving force of the economy for many underdeveloped countries.
With such a significant boost in the market, these days you can find almost all types of products and services in the freelance marketplaces.
Web design is no different. Thousands of web designers all over the world offer their services at a competitive rate on various freelance platforms.
Finding the right freelancer for your task can be tricky.
With thousands of people offering the same service, you are bound to find some liars in there as well.
You can find amateurs posing as expert web designers.
Such things can not only ruin your project but can also waste your time and money.
However, irrespective of all these issues you can also find gems who know their profession inside out.
So today, I am going to help you find the best freelance web designers for your projects.
Google it!
I know it sounds quite obvious, but you should always start your search on Google.
Just type in ‘Freelance Web Designer‘ and press search.
Google will then show you some of the best freelance web designers near you.
On Google, you can narrow down your search and choose a web designer that you feel will be able to work according to your needs.
Google uses over 200 factors to decide the rankings on search results, so it is also a great idea to choose a freelance web designer from the first page.
Ask for recommendations.
Even in the modern world of technology, word of mouth is still considered a compelling way of advertisement.
People use freelance services all over the world, so you are bound to find someone who has used freelance web designers before.
You can ask them for recommendations.
Top 10 Freelance Web Design Sites in the UK
Freelance websites are a great way to find the right freelancer for your project.
You get to see the portfolio and reviews of the freelancers before you can hire them, which is a great thing.
I have gathered a list of the ten most used freelance websites in the UK and hopefully help you find the best web designer for your project:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- Freelancer
- FlexJobs
- Toptal
- 99Designs
- People Per Hour
- Design Crowd
- Behance
- Dribbble
These ten freelance websites are great platforms to find professional web designers.
How can hiring a freelance web designer help me?
Hiring the right freelancer can not only get the job done but also provide a lot of other benefits as well.
Hiring a freelance web designer can help you:
- Save your time;
- Add value to your website;
- Take away the stress of additional work;
- Speed up the website launching process;
- Make your business website more SEO friendly;
- Make a more responsive website.
How can I get a great website for my business?
Have you ever wondered why people dress up in three-piece business suits when heading out for important business meetings? Well, the answer is simple; they want to look presentable so that they can leave a lasting impression on the other party. The way you appear says a lot about your business and your professional ethics. However, this idea of appearance isn’t just restricted to human beings but also your brand. The way your brand appears to the world can have some very significant consequences for your business.
The 21st century is, without a doubt, the era of information and technology. In the current world, if you don’t have an online presence, then you wouldn’t even be considered a competition by other players in the market. Having a website is crucial for your business. It can act as the face and identity of your business. So you must dress it up like it was wearing a three-piece business suit.
These days, people tend to look online for everything, including tutorials for designing your website by yourself. Well, some might succeed to a certain extent, but at one moment in time, you will need to hire a professional to sort your website out. An experienced and well-trained web designer can do wonders for your business. So it is highly recommended that you hire a professional web designer for your website.
As mentioned above, when thinking about hiring a web designer, there are two main options that you can consider; You can hire a professional web design company, or you can go for a freelance web designer. At this point, you already know that both of these options have their perks; however, the perks of hiring a freelance web designer outweigh that of hiring a web design agency for the vast majority of business owners.
The 5 Strongest Reasons to Hire a Freelance Web Designer
Direct and clear communication.
One of the biggest perks of hiring a freelance web designer is that you can communicate directly with them. You don’t have to wait in a long queue before the company’s customer service representative takes your call. When you hire a freelance web designer, you talk directly to the person who is going to build your website. This advantage results in a better understanding of the work, and you can also communicate your ideas efficiently to the freelancer. All of this eventually has a positive effect on your website and your business as a whole.
Most freelance web designers are cost-efficient.
Freelance web designers don’t work out of an office. They have low overhead costs. The positive effect of these low overhead costs eventually trickle down to the client and thus the client has to pay less for a service which would have cost way more if the client had gone with a web design company.
Freelance web designers are generally more creative.
Direct and clear communication with the person building your website is bound to yield great results for you. Freelance web designers tend to be more creative and don’t shy away from taking the initiative. A web design agency will always try to work by the book and may not be as creative. Creativity is essential if you are looking to create a competitive advantage. Freelance web designers are also more open to revisions. Their priority is customer satisfaction, and they try their best to satisfy their clients completely.
Flexibility and freedom of work.
Imagine you are lying down in your bed at 8 PM and you think of an idea for your website. Now, if you have an agency building your website, you will have to wait till morning (when their office opens) to communicate that idea to them. The case is different with a freelance web designer. Freelance web designers can check their email addresses or phones 24/7. You can contact them at any time you want, and they are likely to get back to you when they see your message or email. You don’t have to wait till morning, share the idea precisely at the moment you get it.
Some companies may have certain restrictions on building websites. For example, a company might have a specific set of rules like not making a casino related website or other similar websites. Some freelancers may also follow similar approaches, but in most cases, a freelance web designer will be open to working on a wide variety of projects.
More credibility.
Whether you hire a freelance web designer from a freelancing platform or directly from their website, you will see that there are ratings, reviews and testimonials from previous customers. Some web design companies might also show testimonials on their website, but freelance web designers thrive on these reviews and testimonials like no agency! It is the best sort of marketing they can get as it gives them more credibility over their company counterparts.
When you read a review on the freelancer’s website, you know that the review is directly for the freelancer. However, the testimonials on a company’s website are more of a review about the services provided by the company (which has multiple web designers). So you never know who you are reviewing when you hire a company.
Finding the right freelancer is tricky though, but it’s not that hard if you know where to look. First and foremost, you should know what you are looking for and then search for web designers with a similar portfolio. The online freelance websites mentioned in this article offer a great platform to people looking to find web designers near them. However, if you like a particular freelancer then make sure to check their portfolio, rates, reviews and other similar information before you order. Doing so will help you to find the best freelancer for the job.
You can find thousands of freelance web designers online. You can either hire them through different freelancing platforms or just search for the best freelance web designers near you.
If you are looking for a highly-rated freelance web designer for your business in the UK, then look no further and contact me; I am Tiago Lavis-Fernandes, an award-winning Freelance Web Designer based in Manchester. Not only are you going to get your money’s worth, but you will also get a responsive website that will do wonders for your business.
How to choose a good freelance web designer
So, you’ve been thinking about it, and now it’s finally time for you to get a website for your small business. Or maybe you need a major remodel of an already existing site. Both of these things are big tasks to undertake, and if you don’t have any experience in web design, you don’t want to tackle them on your own. So, you must learn how to pick a good freelance web designer that will, with your guidance, do everything for you.
And that’s how most small businesses do it. It’s only natural to outsource building your website, but knowing that you need someone to do it for you is just the start. Many other questions will open as well. You’ll want to know how much a website costs, where you will find a designer, and how you can determine who the right person to hire is.
These are all excellent questions, and we’ll try to answer them all today. So, read on and learn how to find the expert you need.
Why are freelancers the way to go?
A lot is going on in the web design industry, and this works in your favour. You’ll have plenty of choices to choose from, and you’ll be able to find the perfect fit. However, there are all kinds of prices, as well. And if you don’t want to spend a ton of money, agencies are out of the question, and you want to go with a freelancer.
If you never worked with one, you might be worried about how that will go. Usually, the process is informal, and that has both good and bad sides. If you pick the right person, they’ll have all of the needed traits. You want them to be:
- Communicative
- Helpful
- Do the work in a typical amount of time
On the other hand, there are many unprofessional freelancers out there. Working with them isn’t fun by any means, so you want to avoid them at any cost.
If you work with a freelance web designer, you can spend less and still get a great website.
Set a budget
Even when you know what you want, before you can start searching for someone to take the job, you must think about how much you want to spend. There are no universal prices here, but you need to know what your limit is. Depending on this, you’ll know what you can expect to get and where you can search for a designer. Of course, the more you spend, the nicer site you’ll end up with.
Once you know how much money you have to work with, you can start your search. Here are the things you should focus on.
Look at their portfolio
If you have someone you’re considering, the first thing you want to do is look at their portfolio. See if they have experience with making sites in your industry or with anything specific you want.
For example, let’s say you want to add a Convert More callback widget to one of your landing pages. Ideally, the person you choose already worked with something similar before. The portfolio offers great insight into what a freelance web designer can do, and that’s why it should be important to you.
Also, look at their design style. Do you like it? If they can do all the technical things you want, this is the next thing you should think about. With so many options to choose from, there’s no reason to settle for a site that doesn’t suit you. Look until you find something you really like.
Read client testimonials
Now that you found what you’ve been searching for design-wise, you want to focus on reliability. Client testimonials are a great place to see how they treat their clients. In essence, these are reviews, and they’ll show you what kind of service you can expect from a person you’re considering.
You want to see as many testimonials as possible, and you want them to be positive, of course. However, look out for red flags and make sure that all the positive reviews are legitimate. Although fake reviews are rare among freelancers, they still exist, so watch out for them.
Ask a lot about the process
If you’re not in the industry, it can be hard for you to understand all aspects of web design. On the other hand, a good designer will be glad to explain to you what exactly they do, how they do it, and what you’ll get in the end. You want to see that they’re experienced and that they know what they’re talking about.
If you don’t understand what they’re talking about, ask them to slow down and explain it to you more thoroughly. All the chances are that the better they can explain it to you, the better at their job they probably are.
On top of that, if you have other team members that will use the website once it’s done, include them in the conversation. Your web designer and copywriters should work together to build a site that will suit your needs the most. You don’t want to end up with one of those ”one size fits all” solutions.
Talk with multiple freelance web designers
No matter what you do, don’t let anyone pressure you into signing the contract right away. You’re making an important decision, and you have every right to explore all your options. Don’t rush with it and spend as much time as you need to find the right person to work with.
It’s needless to say that any respectful designer will give you a free quote or consultation, and you want to take advantage of that. You’ll get a better idea of what kind of work they need to do to build a site you want to have.
If you feel like the person you’re talking to is pushy, don’t work with them. This is never a good sign, and you don’t have to put up with it.
Hire a good freelance web designer
In today’s world, a business can’t survive without a website. If you don’t exist on the internet, it’s like you don’t exist at all. So, if you want your company to grow, you’ll need a site, and you’ll need it to be good. Only if your visitors are engaged will they spend some time on your website, and they’ll spend money on what you sell.
Hire a good freelance web designer, and you’ll get there. Be sure to talk to them as much as possible and help them realise what you want them to make. The more effort you put into it, the more motivated you’ll make them. Outline everything important to you. You’ll make their job easy, and you’ll end up with a site you dreamed about.
Meta description: Learn more about how to find and hire a good freelance web designer. Get to know more about the traits they should have and how you can recognise them.
How should I start my web design project?
There’s more to a web design project than who to hire. After you’ve decided whether you want to go with a freelancer or agency, it’s worth getting your ideas together on what you want from this project. Only then will you be able to communicate effectively with your web designer, which hopefully results in a better end result. Here are the main things to consider before contacting a web designer.
Website goals.
What specifically do you want from your website? Is it to sell products or services, or more information-based? Either way, knowing your goals will help to solidify your ideas at an early stage. Start by searching for sites similar to what you want, as this will help you visualise your needs more coherently.
Create a mood board.
Mood boards are an excellent starting point for a range of projects, particularly something visual like web design. Your mood board can be physical (on paper) or digital. Either way, it gives you a chance to hash some ideas out and should make everything smoother. Start with colours and visuals because these will be the most striking parts of your site. Build from there to include things like fonts and graphics, including different examples, so you’ve got options in the future. Get enough information so that you can choose, but not too much that you overload your designer with ideas.
Budget.
Of course, next comes the budget. There are two ways to go about this: pick your price and work to it, or do some research. This is why planning helps because you can then contact several web designers with your basic needs, and they can provide you with some estimates. Obviously, don’t always go with the cheapest, or in fact the most expensive. Use price as a starting point, and then investigate some of their previous work. Also, you can expect the web design project to cost more than you think, so if you’re just setting a budget before you start, I’d recommend making it at least 10% higher than what you initially decided.
Get yourself prepared.
Even before you’ve chosen a web designer, it can help to start building your resources so you can jump into the project whenever. This can include compiling images and graphics for your site (just make sure everything is correct with copywriting) and also designing a site map so your designer has a better understanding. One of my biggest tips for this part is to create a cloud-based storage centre for your ideas. This could be Dropbox or Google Drive, or similar, but using one of these will make things much easier for your web designer. Even if you live close to one another (which often won’t be the case), online and cloud-based collaboration tools are the way forward.
Don’t forget the contract.
Most web designers will provide you with a contract to sign that covers things like exit fees and expected work. However, even if they don’t offer you a contract to sign, it can be helpful to both parties if one is set up. More than anything, a contract helps to manage expectations around things like cost and timeline. Sitting down and working this out before the project starts is an ideal way of keeping things proper between you. Want daily/weekly updates? Put it in the contract. Have certain expectations for communication? Put it in the contract.
How do I choose a good website designer?
The Ultimate Small Business Owner’s Guide
It’s no surprise that a large, well-established company have a budget bigger enough to afford extra expenses. Hiring marketing agencies for full services or even creating internal teams to increase productivity and efficiency is a common practice for big organisations.
Several business-related activities need more employees to make these dedicated teams. That is why web designers, programmers, graphic designers, etc. are now a must-have to grow any business and make it highly competitive.
Do small businesses require extra workforce?
Now the question arises, do small business owners require a workforce as well as large companies? If you are a small business there is a chance that you might lack financial resources to afford extra expenses. You need to have a reasonable budget at your back to support additional workforce for your business. Naturally, a small business needs to be competitive enough to survive in the markets and the industry. A small business requires a strong workforce that can increase the level of productivity and compete against large companies as well.
What should small businesses do to become competitive?
I am sure you must be thinking about what you should do to hire a new workforce that can manage the programming, web designing, videography, copywriting, etc. of your company. Well, you have various options to climb the ladder of growth. One of the best options is to hire a freelance workforce. It is budget-friendly and will always provide a two-sided benefit. So if you own a small business and are looking for a web designer to improve your online presence, then make sure you go for a freelance web designer. This must-have put you into some real stress now, but you don’t have to worry. I’m here to guide you on how to hire the best freelance website designer and what qualities should you look for in the web designer.
What to look for in a web designer?
Hiring a web designer for the first time for your company might be a bit overwhelming for you. That is why I will discuss a few tips that will be helpful for you in hiring the best one for your business.
Experience in your industry.
Make a smart move and hire a web designer that is relatively familiar with your industry. There are chances that the candidate might not be exactly familiar with what you have in mind though, but hiring a designer from a similar sector will ease down your part a bit. You might not have to invest more time in the web designer to train him/her from scratch. You need to deliver your idea and provide a few instructions on how you want it to be. The rest is on the abilities of the designer and how well he pulls it off.
Appropriate and fair pricing strategy.
You might have no idea about the average cost of a web designer. Naturally, you would not because it is your first time. But make sure you do a research to set an average estimate in your mind. The charges of the services of web designers do vary due to a range of factors. You need to make sure that you are setting an appropriate and fair budget. Make sure you have a decent budget because otherwise, you might miss some of the best web designers for your project.
Should have SEO knowledge.
The web designer you choose should have in-depth SEO skills. SEO holds great importance in the world of marketing today. Search Engine Optimisation is the backbone of the digital marketing world. If the designer you chose lacks these skills, then your entire web development process is wasted. There will be no traffic generated to your web pages, and your content will never be present on search engines. The web developer should know the basics of keyword implementation, page loading speed, and other Google guidelines. SEO is a competitive field, and there is much more to it than what a web developer can do, such as your online reviews, the quality of your content, etc. But if your website is invisible or confusing to search engine bots, you will never stand a chance.
Expertise in analytics.
If you want to know about your customers carefully and convert their behaviour to generate profits, then make sure that your web designer knows how to play with analytics. The web designer can get customer insights, and all the information required about the target audience. He should know how to attract customers and convert their behaviour to pay using pop-ups, CTA’s (call-to-action) and other techniques. Web developers should know how to boost sales rapidly through in-depth research. This factor is also part of the SEO strategy, so make sure you have enough budget to hire a web developer who will apply these practices while building your website.
Web development skills.
A good web developer must have expertise in all the web development tools and programs required for each task. Your web developer should be familiar with software and web development code such as HTML, CSS, WordPress, WooCommerce (if you need an online shop), Photoshop, etc.
Do small business owners ever hire freelance web designers?
How to hire a website designer and not get burned?
You might be concerned about how should you hire a designer and ensure that you do not get burned. Therefore, we will discuss a few common questions that must be triggering your mind.
What should I prepare before contacting a website designer?
You need to make a note of all the requirements for your website before hiring a web designer. That is why most business owners start by writing a website design brief. It will help you set your budget accordingly and give you a clear vision on what basis should you hire a website designer.
First of all, you need to make sure how many pages your website will need. If it is for a micro business, then you should only require a maximum of 5 pages. You need to include only the basics like a home page, about us, contact page, services, testimonials, etc.
Next, you should prepare the content for your website. If you already have a website and the only reason why you need a new website is to make it mobile-friendly, you should just send it to your web designer so they can use the current content on your new website.
You should also send some examples of other websites you like and describe your favourite elements on each one of them. By doing so, you will give a clear idea of your web design taste, and your website designer will be able to design your perfect website more accurately.
How to find the right web designer for my project?
Hiring the right web designer can be the most challenging part. After all, you have invested your money and efforts to maintain your customers. You shouldn’t compromise on it. Therefore, I have discussed some main tips above as well to help you find the best web designer. Other than that, make sure of the following elements as well:
- They should be available to work with you;
- The charges of their services should be within your budget;
- They should be able to create your site your way so that it is easy for you to edit it when required.
What else should I know before I pick a web designer?
You looked for a web designer and made some in-depth research on him/her. Now you must pick the right web designer for the job. Make sure you follow these tips:
- Observe how much the web designer asks about your business. Common questions should be related to your target audience, marketing objectives, and tools, your brand, business goals, etc;
- Make sure you go through their previous work to have an idea. It will help you understand their quality of work and level of creativity;
- Ask if they just do the programming or if they do graphic design as well;
- Always ask for recommendations if they don’t offer graphic design so they can work with a graphic designer that they can trust;
- Ask them whether they have a systematic and well-structured process of planning for the guidance and phases of the design;
- Make sure they know about SEO, internet marketing and all about analytics to create profitability, increase ROI and generate traffic;
- When you ask about the cost, they shouldn’t tell you straight away. It is decent to suggest after you have discussed the services in detail;
- Make sure you ask about their payment method and when will the payments take place;
- Make sure you tell the designer that you accept work to be delivered before the deadline.
Tips for Hiring the Best Web Developer
If you are running a small business and need to boost your online presence then you need a website. While there are templates available online that you can use, they are just a short-term solution and won’t get you far.
This is why you need a professional web developer to make sure your website attracts traffic. They will be responsible for creating the face of your business so you will need one that is experienced and professional.
Here are some great tips to hire the best web developer and designer for your business.
Do your research.
Look online and also ask people you know. Compile a list of developers and designers that are right for you and then proceed to do more research.
Don’t just rely on second-hand research. Ask around people for recommendations so you know that they have done work and are legit.
Experience.
It takes trial and error to be successful in this field. You will need someone who has made mistakes and learned from them so they can give you the best experience.
There are many new web developers and designers in the market but there is a skill gap that can only be filled with experience.
Ask for a portfolio.
Does buying something before looking at it make sense? No, right? So, you will need to see their previous work before you can make an informed decision.
See their work and think about whether they are right for you to create your brand name. They will be responsible for the way your brand is represented virtually. This is why you will have to decide after looking at their work.
Make sure they have their ideas.
You need someone who is creative so they can visually captivate the audience into staying on your site. While you can provide ideas, also hire someone who thinks out of the box and offers you ways you can make your site better.
This way you will also know that your web developer and designer know what they are doing and you will be able to have more faith in them.
Look for relevant skills.
These days many people lack basic skills in their specialised field. And as you probably guessed, it’s not just about having the best desktop for graphic design; you should always do your research and ask whether they are equipped with the relevant skills too!
You can equip yourself with coding and programming knowledge to ask before hiring. Then you can judge whether your potential web developer has the right skills to help your business.
Take your time.
Don’t be in a rush, and look for every option before coming to a decision. If you are just starting a business then the best ones might be out of your budget. However, you can still find some great web developers that don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Just don’t hurry and take your time in finding the right fit for your business. Because at the end of the day whey will create your digital presence and you need a good one for your business to succeed.
My Freelance Web Design Services
Now that you’ve made the wise decision to choose a freelancer for your web design project, I’ll tell you why you should hire me for it. Not only am I good at what I do, I go out of my way to ensure my clients are always satisfied with my work, as you can see from my reviews. Here are the main reasons you should hire me for your web design project.
I build websites in WordPress.
WordPress is a dream tool for the client. Sure, big companies might prefer to have their sites built with custom code so they can charge more for website maintenance, but there are some obvious benefits to going with WordPress, particularly for smaller businesses with lower budgets. These include:
- Cheaper & faster. WordPress comes with default features and settings that are essential to every website on the internet. These best practices maximise the performance of every website from the very start. If you went with a custom-coded website, then you’d have to pay plenty more to cover the time of setting up these core elements from scratch, let alone the next stages of development and design.
- More scalable. WordPress has a vast plugin database that makes it incredibly easy to add new features to your website with the help of a worldwide community of passionate experts. Rather than having to create from scratch significant parts of your website like email notifications or blog features, which you’d do with a custom site, WordPress lets you download a plugin and add it to your website in seconds. It is that easy!
- Easier for you to edit. There might be plenty of reasons why you’d want to edit your site in the future, and these might not be big enough for you to pay a web designer. The benefit of WordPress is that it’s so easy to use, meaning pretty much anyone can make changes to their site with little to no problem, as easy as updating your Facebook profile information.
- Safer. WordPress comes with its range of built-in security features, many of which you won’t find by only buying a domain name and building your site. What’s more, these safety features are built into WordPress, meaning you’re secure at every layer.
WordPress is like renting a market stall in a shopping centre. It allows you to have your own space branded to your liking, but you don’t have to worry as much about business rates and such. This gives you more time to focus on making your website everything it needs to be.
I’m easy to deal with.
Like any freelancer, I try to make myself available for clients whenever they need me, which isn’t usually a service you’d get from an agency. I’m almost always available during evenings and weekends, so no matter when your question pops up, you can ask it and know you’ll get a response quickly. What’s more, I go out of my way to make every experience as personal as possible. One of the most useful tools for building someone a new website is to know what they need, and the only way to truly understand this is by talking about it. This might seem obvious, but I go further than just working to your brief. I find out what you need and then build your new website around everything we discuss. Similarly, this means I’m also always on hand to change anything or re-work your design briefs. For me, customer satisfaction is the main priority, so I go out of my way to ensure my clients are happy.
I provide aftercare.
What counts as website aftercare? Are you expected to maintain everything on your site after I’ve built it? Of course not! Not only is website maintenance probably not your area of expertise, but you’ve also got a business to run. I make a point of offering website aftercare so you can feel safe knowing your website is still being handled by a professional. Website maintenance includes things like security and backups, meaning your website will always be protected against a range of common security concerns. This is particularly helpful if you’re dealing with customer data, in which case you can’t leave your website with a professional.
CONCLUSION
If you’re looking for a web designer, something you thought was going to be a challenge, hopefully, this article has helped you streamline your ideas. What’s more, hopefully, this article has made you realise that I’m the web designer you’ve been looking for! I’ll ensure that your project will be the very best it can be and will get you the results you expect. I don’t think about each new project as another example of my work. I think about it as creating a stable and accessible platform from which your business can develop and grow.
Above are just a few of the many reasons why I’d be the best freelance web designer for your project, but if you still have any doubts, then please take a look at some of my examples of previous projects. Alternatively, contact me with your requirements or questions, and I’ll happily discuss it with you.
I found this post really useful. I remember the last time I had to find a web designer for one of my projects, what a painful experience!
I’m glad you found this post useful and took the time to leave a comment, thanks Janice!
I think it’s really helpful to use local web designers, even though work is done online. More than anything, it means they should have a good understanding of the client’s local market. Keep up the good work!
Definitely, most people like to shop close to home, even when it comes to remote work! Thanks Bethan, it’s always a pleasure to help.
Your article makes some interesting points. You’re right though, using local, freelance web designers offer a more tailored experience that can be hard to find in this industry. Keep up the good work!
I can tell you’re a top webmaster. The site loading speed is great. It sort of feels like you are using some sort of trick, you need to teach me! Furthermore, your blog is a masterpiece. You wrote a wonderful piece on this topic!
Great post, thanks for sharing!
I could not resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
Great post but what if I am a website designer looking for freelance jobs? Is there any site you can recommend to start searching?
Hi Charly, there are plenty of job sites you can try but I would definitely recommend starting with Jooble.org if you are looking for freelance jobs in the UK. Hope this helps!
Heya, I’m for the first time here. I came across this board, and I find It useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others as you helped me.
Excellent site you have got here. It’s hard to find good quality writing like yours these days, especially on topics about web design. I seriously appreciate individuals like you!
Take care!
I love your posts. I will try to use all the methods to rank my WordPress website. And please contact me via my Email. I learn something new about WordPress Marketing every day and we can share. Thanks!
Nice post! The information you provided is very helpful if someone is planning to develop a new Website.
Great post, continue the good work!