What to Have Ready Before You Hire a Web Designer

The clients who get the most out of a web design project come prepared. I do not say that to put pressure on you before we even talk. I say it because the projects that go smoothly and produce results that clients are genuinely proud of almost always start with a little prep work on the client side.

None of this is hard. It is just stuff that is worth having thought through before your first conversation with a designer.

Know your goals

Before anything else, be clear on what you want the website to do for your business. Not what you want it to look like. What it needs to accomplish. Some examples of clear goals:

• I want people to find me on Google when they search for my service in my city
• I want potential clients to feel confident enough to reach out after visiting my site
• I want to reduce the number of repetitive questions I answer by phone by putting that information on the site
• I want to look more professional than my competitors when a potential client searches for us both

Goals like these shape every design decision. "I want it to look modern and clean" is a preference, not a goal. Know the difference.

Have a sense of your audience

Who is your ideal client? Not just their demographic, but what they care about, what they are nervous about, and what would convince them to pick you over someone else. A good designer will ask you these questions, but coming in with some answers saves time and leads to a better result.

Gather your content assets

This is the thing that most often slows projects down. The design can be done in a week. Waiting on content can stretch a project to two months. Get these together before you start:

• Professional photos — of you, your work, your space, or your products. Real photos almost always outperform stock photography on small business sites.
• Your logo files — preferably in SVG or PNG format with a transparent background. If you do not have these, tell your designer upfront.
• Business information — phone number, address or service area, hours, and any licenses or certifications worth mentioning
• Examples of sites you like — two or three websites that have a look or feel you want to aim for. Be specific about what you like about them.

Have a budget range in mind

You do not have to commit to a number before the first conversation, but having a range helps both you and your designer quickly figure out what is realistic. If your budget is $800 and a designer starts at $2,500, you both save time by knowing that upfront.

Be honest about what you can invest. A designer who knows your budget can build a scope that makes sense rather than proposing something you cannot afford and spending time on a proposal that goes nowhere.

Know your timeline

Do you have a hard deadline? A product launch, a trade show, a season that drives most of your business? Tell your designer at the start. Most projects take four to eight weeks depending on scope and how quickly feedback cycles go. If you need something in two weeks, that is important to know on day one.