8 Questions to ask BEFORE you hire a designer or developer for your website
When it comes to hiring someone to build your website, it can be beyond nervewracking! I will always ask a potential client, “Do you have any questions for me?”. More often than not I hear something along the lines of, “Oh well I don’t even know what I should ask…”.
So I thought it was time to talk about the questions you should be asking a potential designer or developer BEFORE you sign that contract:
1. What platform do you suggest and why?
If you’re in the process of developing your website then you will know that there are a few different platforms out there that you can use. However, a platform should meet your needs as a business and be easy to manage moving forward.
2. What are the monthly costs for that platform?
Most platforms have monthly or annual fees associated with them. Now this question can be a bit tricky as lots of platforms have a monthly fee but then offer ‘add-ons’ at a price. It may also be a good idea to ask about potential add on fees for widgets or integrations.
3. Do you offer training on how to use the site?
Something to think about is how much you will be needing to use the platform after the build is complete. If you want to be able to execute basic tasks then ask if they will offer training on the platform. Pro Tip: Everyone should offer this, if they don’t then it could be a red flag!
4. What are the terms of our agreement and what is the payment structure?
Don’t just sign a contract! Make sure to ask questions around the payment structure and get them in writing before you start. A few of them are: Are there late fees? When are the payments due? What is the timeline? When will you get access to the site?
5. What happens in the future if I need your help?
Most websites need updates from time to time. Make sure to ask your designer or developer how much things will cost to do future updates and consider asking them if they do a retainer if you know that you want to be adding website features a lot.
6. Do you just design the site or do you create the content?
Content creation is a huge part of building a website. It is good to know if your designer or developer can create your website copy or if you need to outsource this to someone else. Same thing goes for image use. If you don’t supply them with images, how do they source images?
7. What are your terms on reviewing the site and making edits?
While your site is being built, there will be some points that you will want to review before moving forward. Ask how they deal with this. Do you log in to look at it, do they send you a demo site? Similarly, ask how many edits they allow you to make. The most common is 2 revisions included in the build. Anything outside of that or a desire to largely change the originally agreed upon plan, normally will cost you extra.
8. Lastly, do you offer hosting?
If you don’t already have your domain, check-in and see if they offer hosting as part of their service. Most developers and designers will be able to get your domain set up and integrated to your site so that it’s seamless getting your website up for the world to see.
Of course, there are about a million other things you could ask, but this a great foundation to help you make the decision if someone is right to join your team!
When it comes to outsourcing any part of your business, take your time and don’t agree to anything that doesn’t sit right with you.
