WS - First Time Web Design - Questions to Ask

Web design can be a tricky field to navigate. There are a number of providers who do good quality work, but where does that leave you when they are done their job? Whenever you are looking for a web designer for the first time, you need to pay attention to a couple details:

1. Are they Charging You for Hosting? If your web designer is hosting your website for you, are they overcharging you? Web hosting can come at a number of different cost levels, but if you only have a basic site it should never be too exorbitant. You can find deals online at $10 a month, and $15 per month usually provides you with all the space you will need for a basic business site. If you are paying way more than that, you might be getting ripped off. Some hosting is quite expensive, but if your site is basic you might be paying for way more than you need.

2. Can You Find Your Site on Google? Google is the leading search engine in the world. It is where the majority of your website's traffic should be coming from. When you have a website in a small or medium sized local market there is no reason your site shouldn't be on the first page of Google for local keywords (i.e. Orangeville Electrician). Your designer just needs to take some very basic steps to make sure your site ranks well. The problem is many web designers don't know how to optimize your site for search engines. If you notice your new site is nowhere to be found on Google then you might need to look to outsource your search engine optimization. Better yet, learn how to do it yourself!

3. How Much Does it Cost to Update? Most web designers don't include education as part of their package. This isn't a slight towards them at all, traditionally web designers don't do that. The problem is it might be hard or impossible for you to update your own site. Every time you are faced with a change, you have to go back to your designers and that usually includes another cost. This can be a real pain especially considering that small businesses usually want to update regularly to add sales, events and discounts.

If you are working with a professional web designer you are likely to get a quality job done. You need to ask some questions before any deal you make though. Ask about their hosting costs. If it is expensive. why is it so expensive? Also check out if they will guarantee your site a spot on the first page of Google for a local term. Lastly make sure they offer reasonable priced updates, and/or the education that will allow you to make your own.