20 Questions to Ask your Web Designer
Choosing a company to design your website can be difficult. With several web agencies in the area, how can you be sure that you are getting the best bang for your buck?
Here are 20 questions to ask your web developer and web designer to ensure that you are getting the site your business deserves.
1. Do you use pre-made templates? Or will my website be custom designed?
Many web development companies use pre-made templates. These templates don’t look bad, but your website could look eerily similar to a few others in their portfolio. Be sure to ask if your website will be custom or template.
At Techno Goober, we create both custom websites and template sites. The main difference between the two is budget. A larger budget receives a custom website, while we use templates on smaller budget designs to save you money. Don’t worry though. We have plenty of templates to choose from that will make your website look one-of-a-kind every time.
2. Did you build any websites for my competitors?
Some web development companies specialize in developing websites for a specific industry. This can be an advantage since they will have a better understanding of your industry-specific needs. However, an ongoing relationship with a competitor may be a conflict of interest with smaller companies. Weigh the pros and cons of the specific company you are interested in and the competitor(s) they work with.
Techno Goober makes it a policy to avoid conflicts of interest as much as possible. If you are receiving SEO, social media, or other special services from us, we will not take on another client from the same industry.
3. How will my project be managed? Who will be point-of-contact?
Every company has different managing styles. Some use a project manager, while others rely on a project flow to keep track of efforts. Knowing exactly who will be in charge and who you will communicate with about your project is vital to ensuring that your project is completed on time and on budget.
Techno Goober relies on a single project manager to keep track of all of our projects. The project manager will be your primary point-of-contact throughout the entire project. You may communicate with other members of our team, but our project manager will always be there to answer your questions and keep you updated on the status of your project.
4. How long will it take to complete my website?
The timeline for creating a website varies a lot from project to project and from company to company. Freelance designers might be able to develop a website faster, but they may also charge more and the project may not have as many bells and whistles as a website designed by a team.
The typical timeframe for many freelancers and companies is anywhere from 6-12 weeks. This also largely depends on the type of project. Smaller websites don’t take as long, while larger websites with e-commerce solutions may take much longer.
Techno Goober websites typically take 2-3 months. To learn more about how long your project may take, and how to speed up the process, read our blog post “How long does it take to create a website?”
5. How much input will I have with my website design?
Some designers take the website and run with it providing the client very little interaction with the product. Others require the client to be heavily involved with the project from the beginning. Both options have their pros and cons.
When you choose to work with Techno Goober, you can be as involved as you WANT to be with the project. If you want to sit back and let our designer make most of the decisions, then we can work with that. If you want to be heavily involved with the project, we can make that work as well. Be sure to convey your wishes from the beginning.
6. Can you create me a logo?
Logo design is not always a specialty of some companies. Others include as part of their regular package. Knowing what you want is important when working with a freelancer or a web design company.
Our designers at Techno Goober have experience with logo design, and it can be included in your website package. If you don’t want a logo, we can work with you to create an alternative to a logo for your website. Learn more about logo design with Techno Goober.
7. Can you write the content for my website?
Content writing is not a service that many web companies and freelancers offer. Not everyone is a writer, and writing content for a website is different than writing other kinds of content. We recommend working with a professional content writer if you don’t plan on writing the content yourself.
Fortunately for you, Techno Goober does have writers on staff. We can work with you to develop the sitemap for your website and write the content you need for your new website. Content writing can be included in your web package, but it may also be an additional charge. Be sure to discuss your content writing needs before you sign your contract to avoid the extra charges.
8. Do you do SEO?
SEO or Search Engine Optimization can either be a simple process or a complex process. It involves many parts that can take a lot of time to do properly. In fact, Techno Goober recommends signing a contract for on-going SEO work to truly get the most out of your website. Although many companies and freelancers advertise SEO services, you and your website may not be getting the best services.
Techno Goober offers multiple packages for SEO services. You can receive one-time services to ensure your site is ready to take care of you and your business. We also offer on-going services to keep you high in search rankings over time. Contact us to learn more about SEO for your business.
9. Will you be outsourcing any of the work?
This is an important question to ask large and small web development companies. Many companies outsource work rather than hiring local workers. This outsourcing is not always a bad thing, but it can delay your project at times.
Techno Goober avoids outsourcing our work at all costs. We outsource for only very advanced custom coding projects on some websites. Ask about outsourcing costs before signing a contract with any web developer.
10. What is the procedure for billing work outside the project’s quote or deliverables?
Adding bells and whistles to your website outside of the project quote can become expensive. Some web companies or freelancers will charge outrageous prices for additional revisions to the design or for additional pages. Avoid getting blind-sided by a large bill by asking ahead of time.
Techno Goober bills all work hourly outside of your quote. After we reach your quoted price, we will ask if you still want to keep going. If you say yes, we will bill all the time hourly. This includes content writing, SEO, additional design revisions, custom coding requests, and custom photography. We will always communicate with you regarding requests or charges that will be outside the scope of your project quote.
11. Will my website be mobile friendly?
Never accept a website that is not 100% mobile friendly. In this mobile era, you must have a mobile-friendly website to be competitive in nearly every industry.
Every website that Techno Goober designs will be mobile friendly. We will test your website thoroughly on a variety of devices and at a variety of sizes to ensure that the site is always usable. Learn more about mobile web design with Techno Goober.
12. Will you be available to make changes in the future?
After receiving your website, it is important to maintain it and keep it up to date. You may want to add new events, add new pages, or change images around. Some companies will leave you high and dry without a way to request additional changes to your website.
That is not the case with Techno Goober. If you ever have any requests or needs in the future, simply send us an email with the request or give us a call. We will do our best to meet your expectations. This work will be billed at our hourly rate.
13. What if there’s something wrong with my website after it goes live?
Before making your website live (meaning that your website is accessible to the general public), it will be thoroughly vetted by our entire team with our Quality Assurance checks. Most errors on the site will be caught through our Quality Assurance check. However, if there is anything wrong with your site after it goes live, simply email or call us to request a fix. This fix may be billed at our hourly rate.
14. What do I need to do to get my project started?
Most companies and freelancers follow a similar pattern. To get your project started, you will need to express your needs for the site, sign a quote, and begin paying. You may need to pay half of your project upfront with some companies.
After signing and paying, Techno Goober will begin working on the design. While we work on the design, you should work on providing images and content to help us develop your website as fast and smoothly as possible. The longer you take to provide images, content, and approve the design, the longer your project will take.
15. Will I be able to change pictures or content in the future?
Some web designers and freelancers hand the website over to you when the project is finished. You will be able to make all the changes you want if you know how. They may not train you to make the changes yourself. Others will require you to send them the updates rather than making them yourself.
After your website is completed and live, you will be trained on how to make future updates on the site. This includes editing most images and content. Some content will be locked to avoid breaking the website. However, the majority of the content and images on your homepage and other pages will be fully editable. If you ever need any help, give us a call or send an email with your request.
16. Will you implement Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel on my site?
Some web development companies do not implement Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel on the websites they develop. They will require that you handle those tasks yourself or hire someone else. They may even ask that you pay them extra to handle those simple tasks.
At Techno Goober, implementing Google Analytics is a standard part of our web development process. We can also implement Facebook Pixel on your site if you request it.
17. Will my site be integrated with social media?
Integrating your website with social media should be an automatic part of any web development process. It takes very little time and can be a huge help to your business. That said, some companies will not include social media links unless you request it. Always be sure to ask about social media integration.
Techno Goober will add as many or as few links to your social media accounts as you want. Many of our designs support social media streams as well to allow visitors to see your recent Facebook posts or tweets directly on your websites.
18. What if I want to start a blog?
Starting a blog is a great choice for many companies and industries. It is relatively simple, but many freelancers or design companies may steer you away from it because their content management system doesn’t support blogs. If you would like to include a blog as part of your design, make your intentions clear from the beginning.
Techno Goober uses WordPress, which fully supports blogs and regular blog posts on your website. Simply call or email Techno Goober to ask about having a blog set up on your website.
19. Do you have a list of other websites you’ve completed that I can look at?
This is a good question to ask for 2 reasons. 1) You can evaluate the look and feel of the other websites this company has done. If their work is not up to the caliber that you require, it might be time to move on. 2) You can look for ideas! Look at the designs of these other websites, specifically ones that might use a similar color-palette or in a similar industry as your company. This will help when pointing out elements that you like or dislike.
20. What if I have questions?
We’ll be honest, Techno Goober isn’t a good fit for everyone, but we do our best to accommodate every client that walks through our doors.
If you have any questions about whether Techno Goober is the right fit for you or about your project, contact us! Shoot us an email or give us a call to speak with someone directly about your questions or concerns. We will do our best to address your concerns and answer your questions in a way that you understand.
