How to Choose a Web Designer (Without Getting Burnt)

Most bad website experiences aren't caused by bad design. They're caused by unclear expectations: who writes the content, who owns the domain, what happens when you want a change. Sort those out up front and the rest usually goes fine.

Ask about ownership

You should own your domain and your website. Some arrangements register the domain in the designer's name, or build on a platform you can't take with you. That's not automatically wrong — but you should know before you start, and you should know how to leave.

Ask who writes the words

This is the most common cause of a site that never launches. If you're supplying the content, be honest with yourself about whether you'll write it. If they are, check that it's included, not an extra.

Ask about ongoing costs

Hosting, domain renewal, platform subscriptions, security updates, and changes. A "one-off" build with none of that arranged tends to become either neglected or expensive.

Ask what a change costs

You will want changes — new services, new photos, a new phone number. Find out the price and the turnaround before you're in a hurry.

Ask who you'll actually deal with

With an agency, the person who sells it is often not the person who builds it. Neither is wrong; just know who you'll be emailing in three months.

Look at their actual work

• Open three of their sites on your phone.
• Time how long they take to load on mobile data.
• Check whether service pages exist, or whether it's all one page.
• See whether the sites look like real businesses or template demos.
• Look at their own website — it's the clearest sample they have.

Warning signs

• Guaranteed page-one rankings.
• No written scope or quote.
• Large deposits with no milestones.
• Long lock-in contracts with no exit.
• Vague answers about ownership.
• No examples of finished work.
• Pressure to sign today.

Cheap, fast, good

You can usually have two. A very cheap site normally means you write everything and nobody maintains it. That's fine if you know that's the deal — the problems come from expecting an all-inclusive result at a DIY price.

How I do it

$299 setup then $45/week, six-month minimum term. Up to 10 pages, content written for you, your own domain, hosting, SEO foundations, 3 rounds of revisions before launch and one update a month afterwards. You own the domain, and you deal with me directly — I build every site myself. See what's included or who I am.