Trying to figure out how to find a good web designer? Finding good help in any industry is usually not easy and can take some trial and error. Web design & development is no different! We’re sharing tips of what to look for when searching for web development or design help to assist in making sure you choose the right person or company.
The idea for this blog topic actually came to mind when I was looking at another designers website (who I will not mention) and absolutely shocked by how terrible it looked and how they could even convince anyone to trust them with a project. Knowing what to look for when hiring someone is KEY to success here.
1. SSL CERTIFICATE
SSL Certificates authenticate a website’s identity and enables an encrypted connection. I don’t care who you are, if you are in web design or web dev, this is ESSENTIAL. If their URL is missing the “s” at the end of http, stop looking right then and there. Another way to tell is if the URL bar says “not secure” or the lock icon is in the unlocked position. This is an element even a beginner should be aware of.
2. FAVICON
You are probably asking yourself, “what the heck is a Favicon?” This is something that search engines pay attention to and should ALWAYS be in place on any website. How to tell? Look up at the tab. If there is a blue W (for WordPress), black box (for Squarespace), or something other than an image from their brand, they probably didn’t set one.
3. CONSISTENCY
So, they’ve made it past the SSL check, great! The next thing to look for is consistency across THEIR site. Things to look for are consistent margins, fonts, imagery, etc.
- Do their margins vary from section to section, causing your eyes to jump all over the page?
- Are their fonts all different or oddly sized?
- Is their imagery consistent with their brand?
A web developer or designers website is a reflection of their work and should be top notch across the board.
4. MOBILE/TABLET
Did you know more than 50% of website visits happen on a mobile device. Pull up their site on your phone! Does it look right or are things running off the screen? If so, this may be cause for concern.
Based on data, tablets are not used much by visitors, but their site should still look good there too! If you have a tablet, check there next. If not, Inspect the page from your desktop or laptop and adjust for tablet size. Not sure how to do this? Alphr.com has a great tutorial here.
5. DESIGN PORTFOLIO
There are a couple of different situations here. Deciding to work with someone who is just starting out and giving them a shot is amazing and actually how I got my first few projects. If they can answer your questions and the rest of their website passed the first two tests of SSL + Consistency, my hat goes off to you and I fully support working with them.
If you are working with someone who is more established, check out their design portfolio (they should have one available). There, you will find samples of their work. Check out some of their projects and see if they align with something you may be interested in. This is another great place to check for consistency. If they websites they build are a wreck, there’s a good chance yours will end up that way too. Our own design portfolio is available here.
6. KNOWLEDGE
So you’ve found someone who checks all the boxes so far – perfect! Hop on a call with them, as you likely have a slew of questions anyway! Ask about their process, strategy, background, anything that might make sense. You should be able to tell almost immediately if they actually know what they are doing. If they aren’t able to answer your questions this may be a red flag.
7. PRICING
Pricing can vary wildly from person to person or agency to agency. Make sure you know their rate(s) before you sign a contract. Your designer should be able prove their worth in the items above.
8. COMMUNICATION
I’m just gonna go ahead and group the entire industry here and say that web designers & web developers are NOTORIOUS for being absolutely awful communicators. If you haven’t been able to get an initial conversation going, run. Things will not improve over time. Communication is key to success in any project, in any industry. Trust your gut here.
At the end of the day, you know our business best. After following the tips above, you should know how to find a good web designer. Spend your time and resources on someone you can trust and has the background and knowledge to prove themselves.
At Milk & Honey Digital, we demonstrate all of the above items, PLUS some. Our web projects are 100% custom and your finished product is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind.
Want to get off on the right foot (whether you use our services or not)? Start with a great sitemap to outline your content. We have ours (yes, the Sitemap we actually use!) available to you here. It’s FREE, high-converting, includes examples and all yours!
Ready to wow your visitors and customers with a lasting and meaningful first impression? Contact us using the button below to level-up your digital presence!
