This post may contain affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure for more.

Preventing Common Mistakes When Hiring a Website Designer

Table of ContentsUpdated Jun 13, 2022

Hiring a website designer can be stressful. There are many considerations to make, such as the designer’s price, design style, and experience level.

We will discuss some of the most common mistakes people make when hiring a website designer. We’ll also provide tips for avoiding these mistakes and finding the right designer for your business.

Before choosing whether or not to employ a designer, you should know that there are other alternatives, such as creating the website design yourself or hiring a freelancer. If you decide to go with a freelancer, make sure that they have plenty of experience and are well-reviewed.

email alerts

Get Weekly Freelance Gigs via Email

Enter your freelancing address and we'll send you a FREE curated list of freelance jobs in your top category every week.

Alternatively, creating your own website might seem like a difficult job, but there are several resources available to assist you – like Editor X.

If you choose to undertake this work yourself, be sure to conduct your homework and give yourself plenty of time to build a website that you’re satisfied with.

Mistakes When Hiring a Website Designer

Hiring a website designer should be an exciting process. By following the tips below, you can avoid common mistakes and find the perfect designer for your business. With the right designer, you can create a beautiful and effective website that will help grow your business.

Research

One of the most common mistakes people make when hiring a website designer is not doing their research. This can lead to hiring a designer who is not a good fit for your business. It’s important to take the time to read reviews and look at examples of the designer’s work before you hire them.

Get referrals

Another common mistake is not getting referrals from people you trust. If you know someone who has used a website designer in the past, ask them for their opinion of the process and their hire. This can help you narrow down your choices and find a designer with the requisite experience. When you have a referral, you can also ask to see examples of their work and get a feel for their design style.

Pro tip: When you are looking for referrals, don’t just ask for the name of a website designer. Ask your friends and family if they know anyone who is familiar with web design or has experience creating websites. This will help you find someone who is qualified and can give you some insight into the kind of work they provide.

Communication

One of the most important aspects of working with a website designer is communication. Before you hire a designer, be sure to have a clear idea of what you want your website to look like and what type of functionality you need. Once you’ve found a designer, make sure to keep the lines of communication open throughout the project. This will help ensure that your vision is being met and that any problems are quickly resolved.

Communication is essential in any type of project, but it’s especially important when working with a website designer. This is because your company’s website is a key element of your public presence and business. Keeping the lines of communication open can help you avoid misunderstandings and will help guarantee that your website comes out exactly as you planned.

Be clear about your goals

One of the most important things when hiring a website designer is to be clear about your goals for the website. What do you want the website to achieve? What kind of design do you want? By being clear about your goals, you can ensure that the designer you hire is a good fit for your project and knows what the project entails.

For example, let’s say you want to hire a designer to create a website for your small business. You should be clear about what type of design you are looking for, how many pages, and what type of functionality you need. By being clear about your design goals, you can avoid wasting time and money on a designer who is not a good fit for your project.

Check their portfolio

When looking for a website designer, one of the first things you should do is look through their portfolio. This will give you an indication of their design style and skills. If they don’t have a portfolio or if it’s badly designed, it’s probably best to look for a different designer. Designers who are professionals should have a well-designed portfolio that showcases their work.

Pro tip: When assessing a designer’s portfolio, keep an eye on the sites’ overall design as well as their individual components. Are the sites easy to navigate? Do they make effective use of colors and fonts? Is there a balanced blend of text and images? These are all things to think about when hiring a website designer.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate

Many individuals are hesitant to negotiate when hiring a website designer. However, keep in mind that you have the ultimate say over what you’re willing to spend and what you want in return for your investment. Before you hire anyone, discuss pricing and project scope with them. If you don’t like their first offer, let them know and see if they’re willing to negotiate.

Get a contract

Another common mistake people make when hiring a website designer is not getting a contract. A contract will protect both you and the designer by specifying the scope of work, a project timeline, and your payment terms. Without a contract, there is no guarantee that the project will be completed or that you’ll be happy with the final product.

A contract may seem like a formality, but it’s crucial that you understand what you’re getting into and clarify everyone’s expectations. Doing so, will help you avoid misunderstandings and potential conflicts down the line.

For example, are you hiring them as a freelancer, as a work-for-hire, or as a contract-to-hire? Each of these comes with a unique setup and you’ll want to investigate each option in order to make the most of your partnership.

To sum up, there are a few common mistakes that you should try to avoid when hiring a website designer.

First, be sure to ask for referrals from friends or family members who have used a website designer in the past. This can help you narrow down your choices and find a designer with the right experience.

Second, be clear about your goals for the website before you start working with a designer. This will help ensure that they are a good fit for your project and have the necessary skills to accomplish the design you want.

Finally, don’t forget to get a contract! This will protect both, you and the designer, by specifying the scope of work, the project timeline, and your payment terms.

Keep the conversation going...

Over 10,000 of us are having daily conversations over in our free Facebook group and we'd love to see you there. Join us!

email alerts

Get Weekly Freelance Gigs via Email

Enter your freelancing address and we'll send you a FREE curated list of freelance jobs in your top category every week.

Profile Image: Millo Team

Written by Millo Team

Staff at Millo.co

Millo has been serving founders & freelancers since 2009. We are a team of experienced freelancers ourselves with over 30 years of combined freelancing experience. This piece was written by multiple members of our expert staff.

Millo's Articles

At Millo, we strive to publish only the best, most trustworthy and reliable content for freelancers. You can learn more by reviewing our editorial policy.

How to Write a Discount Offer Email + 3 Copy/Paste Templates

How to Write a Discount Offer Email + 3 Copy/Paste Templates

Giving discounts to clients or customers via email can be a great marketing strategy to spark a little energy into your business and drive sales...