Every web designer has a nice portfolio. That’s the easy part to judge. The things that cause grief come later: who owns the site, what a change costs, and who answers the phone when it breaks.
Ask these ten questions before you sign. Under each is what a good answer sounds like.
1. Is the price fixed, and what exactly does it include?
A good answer: “Yes, it’s fixed, and here’s the list.” Look for copywriting, photography, search setup and hosting by name. An hourly rate or a vague “estimate” means the risk sits with you.
2. Who writes the words?
A good answer: “We do, with your input.” Many quotes look cheap because they assume you’ll supply all the content. That’s weeks of work for someone in your office, and it’s why so many projects stall.
3. Who will we actually be working with?
A good answer: names. You want to know who designs, who builds and who you call. Be careful if the senior person who pitched disappears after the deposit.
4. Have you worked with firms like ours?
A good answer: relevant examples, and an understanding of how your clients choose. A syndicator, a law firm and a builder each win work differently, and the site should reflect that.
5. How long will it take, and what do you need from us?
A good answer: a dated timeline that also shows what they need from you and when. Delays almost always come from waiting on feedback or content, so a good studio plans for it.
6. How many rounds of changes are included?
A good answer: a clear number, plus how extra changes are priced before they’re done. Surprises on the final invoice are a sign of a loose process.
7. Will it work on phones, load fast and show up in Google?
A good answer: “Yes, and here’s how we test it.” These should be standard, not extras. Ask to see the mobile version of a recent site and its PageSpeed score.
8. What happens after launch?
A good answer: clear hosting and maintenance terms, and a simple way to get changes made. Ask how fast a small change turns around, and whether it’s billed.
9. Where do our enquiries go, and is the data safe?
A good answer: they can tell you where form submissions are stored, who can see them and how the site is secured. Under the Privacy Act 2020 your firm is responsible for the personal information your forms collect, so the people running your site should know this well.
10. If we leave, what do we keep?
A good answer: “Everything: your domain, your content, your files.” Your domain should always be registered in your name. Get ownership in writing before you pay the deposit.
One more: do they ask you questions?
A good studio will push back on your brief. It will ask who your best clients are, why they chose you and what you want more of. If an agency just says yes to everything, it’s building a website rather than solving a problem.
Our answers
Fixed price, yes, and listed on our homepage. We write the copy and source the photography. You work directly with the people designing and building your site. Six months of hosting, maintenance and updates come free, and every change is made for you. Your domain and content are yours. Ask us anything else on the list. We’re happy to answer.
