Hiring a Web Designer: What to Consider — The Complete Guide

You've made the decision: your business needs a professional website. But how do you find the right partner for it? The options are vast — from agencies to freelancers to DIY website builders. This comprehensive guide walks you step by step through what you should look for when hiring someone to build your website.

From the first proposal to a successful launch, I'll guide you through all the key decisions. By the end, you'll know exactly which questions to ask, what should be included in a fair proposal, and how to spot red flags before it's too late.

Step 1: Making the Right Choice — Agency, Freelancer, or DIY Builder?

The first and most important question: who should build your website? Each option has its pros and cons. Here's an honest comparison:

My recommendation: For small and medium-sized businesses, an experienced freelancer is often the best choice. You get personal attention, fair pricing, and a direct line to your web designer — without the overhead costs of an agency, but with professional results that DIY builders can't deliver.

When does a DIY builder make sense? Only for pure hobby projects or temporary landing pages. As soon as you're serious about winning customers, you need a professional solution. DIY builders are technically limited, SEO-unfriendly, and often look cheap.

When does an agency make sense? When you have a very complex project (e.g., e-commerce with thousands of products, custom software, multilingual corporate sites) or when you need a large team with various specialists.

Step 2: Check the Portfolio — The Proof Is in the Work

A good web designer shows you what they can do — with real projects, not stock images or purchased templates.

What should you look for in a portfolio?

1. Real projects, not templates: Ask for live URLs. Anyone can buy a template and present it as "their work."

2. Variety and relevance: Has the designer worked in your industry before? If so, they'll understand your target audience better.

3. Responsive design: Open the portfolio projects on your smartphone. Do they work flawlessly? Mobile-first isn't a buzzword anymore — it's the standard.

4. Performance: Do the websites load fast? Use PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to test.

5. Design aesthetic: Do you like the style? Does it fit your brand?

Example: Take a look at real projects in the portfolio. You'll see right away: real screenshots, real URLs, measurable results. That's exactly what every portfolio should look like.

No portfolio? Red flag! A web designer without a portfolio is like a chef without any dishes to taste. Stay away.

Step 3: Understanding the Proposal — What Needs to Be in It?

You've received a proposal. But is it a good one? Here's what a professional proposal should include:

Scope of Services

What exactly are you getting?

• Number of pages (e.g., Home, Services, About, Contact)
• Design revisions (at least 2 rounds of revisions should be included)
• Responsive design for all devices
• SEO fundamentals (meta tags, structured data, sitemap)
• Content creation or design only? (Clarify this upfront!)
• CMS training, if you want to manage content yourself

Pricing Structure

Fixed price or hourly rate? Both can work, but:

• Fixed price is better for you as the client (budget certainty, no risk of costs spiraling)
• Hourly rate can make sense for very loosely defined projects, but then you need a binding cost cap

A good proposal names clear numbers. If all you see is "from €2,000," ask for a concrete price for your project.

Realistic pricing: More on this in our pricing guide.

Timeline

When will the website be ready? A serious web designer gives you a realistic timeline with milestones:

1. Concept & wireframes (1-2 weeks)
2. Design mockup (1-2 weeks)
3. Development (2-4 weeks)
4. Content integration (1-2 weeks)
5. Testing & launch (1 week)

More details on this in our article about realistic timelines.

Red flag: "Done in 3 days" — quality takes time. Anyone promising unrealistically fast delivery is usually cutting corners.

Hosting & Domain

Who takes care of it? Some web designers include hosting, others don't. What's important:

• The domain should be registered in YOUR name, not the designer's
• Hosting costs should be transparent (typical: €5-20/month)
• SSL certificate (HTTPS) should be included

Legal Matters

Who owns the website? The proposal should state:

• Copyright: After completion, you should have all rights to the design and code
• Image licenses: Do you have licenses for all photos used?
• GDPR compliance: Legal notice, privacy policy, cookie banner

Maintenance & Support

What happens after launch? Clarify this upfront:

• Is there a warranty for bugs?
• How much does post-launch support cost?
• Are there maintenance contracts for updates?

Step 4: Technical Must-Haves — What Your Website Needs to Do

Even if you're not a tech expert, there are a few things you should definitely look for:

1. Responsive Design

What it is: Your website must look perfect on all devices — desktop, tablet, smartphone.

Why it matters: Over 60% of website visitors come from smartphones. If your site doesn't work there, you're losing more than half your potential customers.

How to test it: Open the finished website on different devices or use browser developer tools.

2. SEO Fundamentals

What it is: Search engine optimization ensures that Google finds and displays your website.

What should be included:

• Meta titles and descriptions for every page
• Structured data (Schema.org markup)
• Sitemap.xml
• Mobile-friendly (see Responsive)
• Fast loading times (see Performance)

Red flag: If your web designer says "We'll handle SEO later," that's a problem. SEO needs to be planned from the start.

3. Performance

What it is: How fast does your website load?

Why it matters: Google ranks faster websites higher. And users bounce if the page takes longer than 3 seconds to load.

Benchmark: Your website should be fully loaded on mobile in under 3 seconds.

4. GDPR Compliance

What it is: The General Data Protection Regulation — mandatory in the EU.

What you need:

• Legal notice (Impressum)
• Privacy policy
• Cookie banner (if you use cookies)
• SSL encryption (HTTPS)

Red flag: A web designer who doesn't bring this up on their own hasn't done their homework.

5. Content Management System (CMS)

What it is: A system that lets you edit text and images yourself, without any coding knowledge.

Why it matters: You don't want to have to pay your web designer for every small change.

Popular options: WordPress, Contentful, Sanity, or a custom CMS.

At YB Digital, all these points are included in every package — no hidden costs, no unpleasant surprises.

Step 5: Red Flags — When to Say "No"

Some web designers are unprofessional or unreliable. Here are the most important warning signs:

1. No Portfolio

If a web designer doesn't have their own website or portfolio, that's a massive red flag. How can someone build professional websites but not have one of their own?

2. Unrealistically Low Prices

"Website for €300!" — sounds great, right? Unfortunately, no. Professional web development takes time and expertise. If the price sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

What you get for €300: A purchased template, zero customization, no support, no SEO, no GDPR compliance.

3. Vague Proposals

A proposal should be specific. "Website creation: €2,000" is too vague. What's included? How many pages? Which features?

4. No Concept Phase

A good web designer doesn't jump straight into design. They ask you questions:

• What's your goal?
• Who's your target audience?
• What should visitors do on the website?

Then they create a concept (wireframes, structure, content strategy) BEFORE they design.

Red flag: "I'll send you a design mockup" — without having talked to you first.

5. Poor Communication

If your web designer is already hard to reach before the project starts, gives vague answers, or takes days to respond — how will it be during the project?

Tip: Test the communication during the inquiry phase. If it's already spotty, it won't get better later.

6. No References or Client Testimonials

Reputable web designers have satisfied clients who are willing to leave a review. If there are no testimonials, no Google reviews, no case studies — why not?

Step 6: The Process — What to Expect

A professional website project runs in several phases. Here's the typical workflow:

Phase 1: Briefing & Concept (1-2 Weeks)

What happens:

• Kickoff meeting: goals, target audience, budget, timeline
• Competitor analysis
• Sitemap (which pages does the website need?)
• Wireframes (rough layout without design)

Your input: The more clearly you communicate your goals, the better the result.

Phase 2: Design (1-2 Weeks)

What happens:

• Design mockup based on the concept
• 1-2 revision rounds for feedback

Your input: Give constructive feedback. "I don't like it" isn't helpful. Better: "The color doesn't match our brand — could we try [X] instead?"

Phase 3: Development (2-4 Weeks)

What happens:

• The design is converted into code
• Features are implemented (forms, animations, etc.)
• CMS is set up

Your input: Minimal. Let the developer work.

Phase 4: Content (1-2 Weeks)

What happens:

• Copy is written (by you or by the web designer)
• Images are added
• SEO optimization

Your input: Deliver text and images on time. Delays in this phase are usually caused by the client.

Phase 5: Testing & Launch (1 Week)

What happens:

• Browser testing (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Device testing (desktop, tablet, mobile)
• Performance testing
• GDPR check
• Launch!

Your input: Final review. Any typos? Do all links work?

Total duration: 6-10 weeks for a professional business website. More details in our article on realistic timelines.

Checklist: Hiring a Web Designer — What to Look For

Print out this checklist and tick off every item before you sign a contract:

Choosing a Provider:

• Seen portfolio with real projects
• References or client testimonials available
• Professional communication during the inquiry phase
• Positive first impression (website, presentation, professionalism)

Proposal:

• Detailed scope of services included
• Fixed price or binding budget stated
• Realistic timeline with milestones
• Number of revision rounds clearly defined
• Hosting costs transparently communicated
• Copyright ownership terms included

Technical Must-Haves:

• Responsive design for all devices
• SEO fundamentals included (meta tags, sitemap, structured data)
• Performance optimization guaranteed
• GDPR compliance (legal notice, privacy policy, SSL)
• CMS for self-service content management

Process:

• Concept phase planned before design starts
• Regular check-ins scheduled
• Clear point of contact defined
• Post-launch maintenance and support clarified

Red Flags Check:

• NO missing portfolio
• NO unrealistically low prices
• NO vague proposal without details
• NO skipped concept phase
• NO poor communication

Conclusion: The Right Partner Makes All the Difference

Having a website built is an investment — in your business, your brand, your future. The right partner makes the decisive difference between a website that just looks pretty and a website that actually brings you customers.

The key points summarized:

1. Choose the right type of provider: For most businesses, an experienced freelancer is the best balance between quality, price, and personal attention.

2. Check, check, check: Portfolio, references, communication — look closely before you sign.

3. Scrutinize the proposal: It should be detailed, transparent, and realistic. No hidden costs, no vague promises.

4. Technical basics are non-negotiable: Responsive, SEO, performance, GDPR — all included, not "optional" or "later."

5. Trust your gut: If communication is already a struggle at the start, it won't get better during the project.

Want a website that doesn't just look good but actually brings in customers? Let's have a no-obligation conversation — I'll show you how I work, what to expect, and whether we're a good fit.

Because at the end of the day, it's not just about code and design. It's about finding a partner who understands your vision and brings it to life. Someone who's transparent, communicates reliably, and delivers a website you'll be proud of.

Ready to take the next step? Check out my portfolio, learn more about how I work, or contact me directly for a free initial consultation. Together, we'll find the perfect solution for your project.