12 questions to ask before having your website designed

12 Questions to Ask Before Talking to a Web Designer

Before you even engage with a web designer about your new website, it's important to have a clear idea of your needs and expectations. Answering these questions in advance saves time, ensures clarity, and helps both you and the web designer to understand the project requirements. Let’s dive into the essential questions to consider.

1. What is Your Budget?

Understanding your budget is crucial. Think beyond the upfront cost of building the website; there are usually ongoing expenses like hosting, domain registration, and maintenance/support. Communicating your budget early helps the designer determine if you’re looking for a fully bespoke website or a more cost-effective, off-the-shelf solution.

2. Is It a New Website or a Redesign?

Are you planning a brand-new website, or are you replacing an existing one? Alternatively, do you need your current site updated or tweaked? Knowing this helps set the scope and direction of the project.

3. Do You Have a Domain Name?

If you already have a domain (e.g., www.silverwebsites.co.uk), let the designer know. If you need a new one, have you considered the name and extension (e.g., .co.uk, .com, .net)? Additionally, are you interested in setting up custom email addresses (e.g., name@yourwebsite.co.uk) along with your website?

4. What is the Main Purpose of Your Website?

Define the primary goal of your website. Are you aiming to generate leads, enhance your business’s professional image, facilitate online sales, or something else? Be clear on what you want your website to achieve and whether specific features, such as an e-commerce store, a blog, or a membership area, are necessary.

5. What Does Your Organisation Do?

Providing detailed information about your business, organisation, or charity is vital. It helps the designer tailor the website to fit your unique needs and industry requirements. If there are any specific legal or compliance needs, these should be highlighted from the outset.

6. What Style of Website Are You Looking For?

Consider the style you envision for your website. Is it modern or traditional? Do you have inspiration from other sites you’ve seen or examples from the web designer’s portfolio that you particularly like? Think about your target audience—how do they interact with websites, and what will they expect from yours?

7. How Many Pages Will Your Website Have?

Having an idea of the structure and number of pages/sections you’ll need is essential. Think about what each page or section will include and how they will link together. This information will help the designer develop a cohesive layout.

8. Are You Providing Your Own Images and Logo?

Decide whether you will provide your own images and logo or if you need assistance from the designer. Access to a professional photographer, a stock photo library, or a graphic designer might be necessary if you don’t have these assets. Any existing marketing material can also be helpful for visual consistency.

9. Are You Providing Your Own Content?

Will you write your own content, or do you need help creating it and ensuring it’s optimised for search engines? Additionally, consider how frequently the content will be updated—will it be static, or do you plan to add new content (e.g., blogs, images) regularly? If so, do you want the web designer to assist with updates?

10. Are You Using Social Media?

If you already have a social media presence, can any of that content be repurposed for your website? Alternatively, are you looking for help with setting up or managing social media accounts as part of your digital strategy?

11. When Do You Need the Website to Be Launched?

Is there a deadline for launching your website, or are you flexible with the timeline? Understanding this helps manage expectations and ensures a smoother workflow.

12. How Will You Measure the Success of the Website?

Determine how you’ll measure your website’s success. Will you track enquiries, sales, or visitor numbers? Defining these metrics and the timeframe for evaluation will help both you and your web designer establish clear goals.