Are you starting up a website and need the best designer to complete it? Or are you a disgruntled business owner who has been let down in the past by below par designers who were not as good as they led you to believe? If so then here is some advice to help you in selecting the perfect designer for you:

1. Previous Projects – Checking a prospective web designer’s previous works is the best way to gauge whether they are suitable for your needs. You can find these projects yourself through simple online research or ask them directly to see their portfolio. This enables you to see the style they use and their overall ability.

2. Communication – Gaining an understanding of each other is vital when striking a working relationship with a web designer. You need to make sure they understand everything that you ask of them and vice versa. By regular communication before any agreements are reached you can also determine whether they are genuinely trying to help you or whether they are interested in the financial gains more.

3. Technical Language – As stated above, being able to understand each other is important so if they are using terms and expressions you can’t understand you may be fooled into thinking they appear smarter than they actually are. Ask them to explain everything in words you can comprehend so you are aware of the tasks they will be performing.

4. Reputation – Often, web designers will have reviews and feedback from those they have done work for previously. You will usually find these on social media platforms or local online forums that discuss web designers. You can then see if they are reliable, of good quality and nice to deal with.

5. Length of the project – The estimated length given to you by a web designer can give you an indication of who the good designers are and who the ones trying to swindle money out of you are. You should get estimates of the amount of time it should take to complete the designing of your web page which will help you to determine how long it should take the average designer. If they offer an unrealistically long or even short time then they may not be up to standard.

6. Do you need extra help with the content as well? – There are web designers that can also help with the marketing side of your website such as SEO tips for the content you produce. The problem with this is that sometimes designers who offer too much are lacking in specific web design qualities i.e. if something sounds too good to be true then it often is.

7. Do they have a presence on the internet? – If they have a large social media presence or are avid bloggers then they are more likely to have a genuine passion for their work and enjoy what they do. They will have an understanding for conveying content in its best form because they do it themselves every day.

8. Editing and fixing problems – If you need certain things changed or altered after the designer has completed your page, no matter how long after, you want to make sure they are on hand to help you solve the issue. Someone who has done numerous jobs for a long period of time is more likely to stick around and be there for help as opposed to an unproven designer.

9. Versatility – The web designer you choose for your website shouldn’t be fixed to just one way of designing e.g. all flash pages which slow down the speed in which someone can access your content. They should be able to meet your needs and create the style that you are looking for

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