Why Choosing the Right Web Design Company Matters
Your website is often the first interaction potential customers have with your business. A great web design partner will create a site that generates leads and builds trust. A poor choice will waste your money and potentially damage your brand.
After 20 years in this industry, I've seen it all—the good, the bad, and the "they took my money and disappeared." Here's how to find the right partner.
15 Essential Questions to Ask
1. "Can I See Your Portfolio?"
Why It Matters: Past work is the best predictor of future results.
What to Look For:
- Sites similar to what you want
- Variety showing range
- Modern, current designs
- Sites that actually work well (test them!)
Red Flag: Limited portfolio, only showing designs (not live sites), or sites that look dated.
2. "Can I Speak With Recent Clients?"
Why It Matters: References reveal the real experience.
Questions for References:
- Did they deliver on time and budget?
- How was communication?
- Were there surprises or hidden costs?
- Would you hire them again?
- How's the site performing?
Red Flag: Reluctance to provide references or only offering testimonials from years ago.
3. "What's Your Design Process?"
Why It Matters: A clear process means fewer surprises.
Good Answer Includes:
- Discovery/strategy phase
- Wireframing before design
- Design review milestones
- Development process
- Testing before launch
- Defined revision rounds
Red Flag: Vague answers like "we'll figure it out as we go" or jumping straight to design.
4. "Who Will Actually Work on My Project?"
Why It Matters: You're hiring people, not just a company.
What to Ask:
- Will I meet my designer/developer?
- Is work done in-house or outsourced?
- Who's my point of contact?
- What's their experience level?
Red Flag: Evasiveness about team, offshore outsourcing without disclosure, or revolving contacts.
5. "What's Included in the Price?"
Why It Matters: Avoid surprise costs.
Get Clarity On:
- Number of pages
- Revision rounds included
- Stock photography
- Copywriting/content
- SEO setup
- Mobile responsiveness
- Hosting setup
- Post-launch support
- Training on how to update
Red Flag: Vague pricing, lots of "that's extra" responses, or no written proposal.
6. "What CMS Will You Use and Why?"
Why It Matters: Affects what you can do after launch.
Good Answers:
- WordPress (versatile, widely supported)
- Shopify (for e-commerce)
- Webflow (modern, no plugins)
- Custom solution (with clear reasoning)
Red Flag: Proprietary systems that lock you in, or "you don't need to worry about that."
7. "Will I Own My Website?"
Why It Matters: Avoid being held hostage.
Confirm in Writing:
- You own the design files
- You own the code
- You can move to another host
- You can hire someone else to maintain it
Red Flag: Monthly "licensing" fees for your own site, or inability to get your files.
8. "How Do You Handle SEO?"
Why It Matters: A beautiful site no one finds is useless.
Good Answer Includes:
- Technical SEO foundation
- Meta tags and structure
- Speed optimization
- Mobile-first approach
- Schema markup
- XML sitemap
Red Flag: "SEO is a separate service" with no foundation included, or vague promises.
9. "What Happens If I Need Changes After Launch?"
Why It Matters: Websites need ongoing updates.
Get Clarity On:
- Post-launch support period
- Cost of changes
- Response time expectations
- Maintenance packages available
- Emergency support process
Red Flag: "Our job ends at launch" or expensive hourly rates for small changes.
10. "What's Your Timeline?"
Why It Matters: Align expectations.
Reasonable Timelines:
- Small business site: 4-8 weeks
- E-commerce: 8-12 weeks
- Custom applications: 12-20+ weeks
Red Flag: "We can do it in a week" (quality concerns) or no defined timeline.
11. "How Will We Communicate?"
Why It Matters: Communication issues kill projects.
Good Answers:
- Dedicated project manager
- Regular status updates
- Clear review/feedback process
- Accessible via email/phone
- Project management tool access
Red Flag: Hard to reach during sales process, delayed responses, or only email.
12. "What If I'm Not Happy With the Design?"
Why It Matters: Understand the revision process.
What to Confirm:
- Number of revision rounds
- What counts as a "revision"
- Process for major direction changes
- Kill fee if project is cancelled
Red Flag: "We'll keep going until you're happy" (unsustainable) or no revision policy.
13. "How Will My Site Perform on Mobile?"
Why It Matters: 60%+ of traffic is mobile.
Good Answer Includes:
- Mobile-first approach
- Responsive design
- Mobile speed optimization
- Touch-friendly interfaces
- Mobile testing process
Red Flag: "It will resize automatically" or mobile as an afterthought.
14. "Can You Show Me Sites You've Built Still Running Successfully?"
Why It Matters: Launch is just the beginning.
What to Check:
- Are past client sites still online?
- Do they still look good?
- Are they fast?
- Are they maintained?
Red Flag: Sites that are down, broken, or obviously neglected.
15. "What Makes You Different?"
Why It Matters: Understand their value proposition.
Look For:
- Specific expertise in your industry
- Clear methodology
- Genuine differentiation
- Honest assessment of fit
Red Flag: Generic answers or "we're the best" without substance.
Red Flags Summary
Walk away if you see:
- **No portfolio or poor quality work**
- **Unwilling to provide references**
- **Vague or missing contracts**
- **Proprietary platform lock-in**
- **Unrealistic timelines or prices**
- **Poor communication during sales**
- **Pushy sales tactics**
- **No clear process**
- **Unable to explain technical decisions**
- **Bad reviews or no online presence**
Green Flags to Look For
Prioritize companies that:
- **Have relevant portfolio work**
- **Provide detailed proposals**
- **Explain their process clearly**
- **Are responsive and professional**
- **Ask questions about YOUR business**
- **Have positive, verifiable reviews**
- **Discuss strategy, not just design**
- **Are transparent about pricing**
- **Have clear contracts**
- **Seem genuinely interested in your success**
The Right Fit Matters More Than Price
The cheapest option isn't the best value. Neither is the most expensive. Look for:
- **Alignment:** Do they understand your business?
- **Communication:** Can you work with these people?
- **Capability:** Can they deliver what you need?
- **Value:** Does the price reflect the value delivered?
Our Commitment
At WebsitesForMorons.com, we welcome every question on this list. We believe transparency builds trust, and trust builds great websites.
- Portfolio: Check
- References: Happy to provide
- Clear process: Documented
- Fair pricing: In writing
- You own everything: Guaranteed
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*Ready to find out if we're the right fit? [Get a free consultation](/contact) with no pressure and honest answers to all your questions.*