Usually I am sitting on the designers side of the fence, where the web design processes are clear and defined. And maybe sometimes I do sneer at the client who has never even heard of what HTML or CSS is, never mind what good design is. So, when the opportunity came along to publish an article on how to hire a web designer from the clients point of view, I thought this might be interesting, and would be nice to see things and perhaps understand how things work from the other side of the fence.
Not only is the article a great guide for hiring a web designer, it is also gives the potential client an idea of the information and resources that a web designer needs to successfully and painlessly build a web site. Developing a site is a two way street, and a lot of prepartion is required from both sides of the fence.
Hire the Best of Web Designers, By Design
So you’re looking for someone to design the website that’s perfect for you or your business, and no, your friend who knows a little HTML and a few bits and pieces of Photoshop and Dreamweaver will not fit the bill. You have to make an effort to find the best person for the job, because your website is your voice on the Internet, the most powerful communication tool that exists today. Now remember that the best person for the job is not necessarily the best in the business, because you should be looking for someone who is able to understand your needs and is able to translate them into the perfect design for your web page. So to hire the best of web designers, by design, here’s what you need to do:
1. Know what you want
If you don’t know what you want, then you’re never going to know if the designer you hire is meeting your needs and working to your satisfaction. So even if you’re new to the world of web design, spend some time looking over websites of organizations or people that are similar to your specifications, pick up a few ideas that you like and that will suit your needs, and then see if you can contact the designers of those websites. Before you even begin to look for a designer, you need to know your budget and what you want to achieve within its limitations.
2. Do your research
Don’t hire the first or even second designer you contact; instead, get in touch with those who are recommended and also put up your project on a freelance job site where designers can bid for it. This way, you get to pick and choose from those who apply to work on your project, or you could invite freelance professionals whose profiles and portfolios interest you (go through their work and experience on job sites) to bid on your project.
3. Test the waters
When you’ve narrowed down your choice to a few designers, ask them for a small sample of their work so that you can gauge their level of skill and also assess how good they are at understanding your needs. Also put all terms and conditions regarding payment, deadlines, the number of designs and the amount of rework that may be required, and other issues on the table so that you can discuss them and reach a mutually satisfying decision.
4. Work with them
Your role does not end once you’ve hired a designer; in fact, you need to be involved in the design process to ensure that the designer has understood what you want. So ask to see rough drafts from time to time so that you can tell the designer what to retain and what to change. Also, you need to coordinate the integration of the text and the design to ensure that your website has a pleasant look and feel. So decide if your designer is doing the writing themselves, or if they are hiring someone to do it, or if you are going to provide the written material.
5. Talk about maintenance
Once your site is up, there will be a few bugs to iron out, so ensure that your designer will stay around to take care of them and also to look after your future maintenance needs. Most designers package the design and maintenance tasks into the same bundle and offer it to you on a consolidated basis, so choose a package that meets your needs.
About the Author
This guest post is contributed by Barbara Williams, she writes on the topic of Becoming a Computer Technician. You can email her at: barbara.williams07@gmail.com.
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5 Feb, 2010
Nice article. As a designer these are the things I try to show a perspective client so they feel comfortable working with me. Thanks for the read.
5 Feb, 2010
Great article – I think point #1 is key – So often clients hire designers or developers with no idea what they want, or how much it will take to get there.
They just know they need a Website, or an eCommerce store, or whatever, and think by handing the designer money, it is going to magically make itself.
I hope to see more posts like this around the internet, so we can all educate our clients more on this subject so that we are all much happier designers/developers.
:) Keep up the good work guys!
5 Feb, 2010
I would have to disagree a bit with this article. A lot of my studios clients are word of mouth and we really would not tell a prospective client to bid on my studio and a few other guys to see who is better off for the job. Instead we make the initiative to help the client understand if WE are the right company to suit what they need. If we are not we would gladly point the client in the direction they need to go.
I think there are few ways for clients to go about things. Personally the bidding thing I feel is more for up and coming freelancers who are looking to build a portfolio.
5 Feb, 2010
Yes i would have to say that the key point of the article is #1. I don’t think many clients even realize that the design and development process is fragile and if they don’t go in understanding what they really need things can get messy for everyone.
I just disagreed with the bidding part as the “best” way to find a web designer by design.
I would love to see more articles like this one it actually inspired me. =)
5 Feb, 2010
Great Article, except you have to be careful when you put a project up for bid.
Before you put something up for bid you have to know what you want, what you need and how to spot a great deal from a lemon.
It’s why you bring a mechanic to a car auction. They can tell you that the shiny black car with the great paint job is really a lemon.
6 Feb, 2010
Excellent tips.
My experience with clients who want website design would see a lot of these “tasks” as work they wouldn’t want to do.
It is hilarious how they want a designer to design their website, and say thing like, I want a simple site, you know with the usual pages. With very little direction, until they see the first round of comps where now they have all the feedback and direction you would have loved to have before you spent 16 hours coming up with the first round design.
Its like they don’t know what they want until they see it…
And most prospects I come across even fight on the process of developing a schematic…
I wish more clients where better educated and more willing to do some leg work to help make the design process smoother…
–
Thanks and Regards
Noel for Nopun.com
a graphic design studio
6 Feb, 2010
I disagree on having a web host first as the vast majority of clients don’t know what is required. Quite often they go with the cheapest web host and one that will not support the requirements of the website.
And who has ever had a client that is able to write great content for SEO. Besides you need to define the site’s architecture, etc.
I no longer bid on jobs. It’s a waste of my time and money.
7 Feb, 2010
Not sure I agree with you.
8 Feb, 2010
Good reminders. The problem is communication. Many times, as designers we need to approach the client and uncover all the key points because they may not realize so much is involved.
Thanks.
2 Aug, 2010
Thanks for sharing. before hiring a web designer you can consider the listed factors