Hiring a website design company can be daunting if you’re not familiar with the web design industry. Or, if you prefer the one-on-one attention of working with a freelancer, you might be wondering how to hire a web designer that will do right by your business.
No matter which route you take, when hiring a web designer, it’s important to consider a variety of factors to ensure that the one you ultimately choose can deliver a high-quality website that is functional, accessible, tells your brand story, and converts visitors into clients.
Here are a few steps to help you find the right web design company for your project.
How to Hire a Website Design Company
Determine your project requirements
Make a list of the features and functionality you require for your website, as well as any design preferences you have. This will help you communicate your needs to potential designers and ensure that you find someone who can meet your requirements.
Before you start looking for a web designer, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you need.
Does your practice have a long list of services? If so, they need to be organized and presented in a way that your website visitors understand them (in layman terms) to further optimize your website for SEO.
Do you offer a membership that requires a dedicated landing page to sell your visitors on its perks? Or, do you need to integrate e-commerce into the site to sell skincare products? And, are these products you keep in stock, or does the point of sale happen on the manufacturer site?
The more pages or features you need, the more complex and larger the project.
Research potential candidates
Start by doing some research online to find web designers who have the skills and experience you’re looking for. Look at each candidate’s portfolio to get an idea of their design style and the types of projects they’ve worked on in the past.
Working with a web designer who understands your niche audience will save you lots of back and forth and ensures they understand what your website needs. Not only that, but they will be able to offer solutions that an agency inexperienced with your industry might not be able to.
Check their reviews, ratings and testimonials from previous clients to see if they have a good track record of delivering quality work.
Interview potential candidates
If you want hire a website designer and ensure they’re a good fit, initiating a discovery call and getting to know them is the best first step.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential candidates, it’s time to start interviewing them. Schedule a call or meeting to discuss your project requirements and get a sense of their communication skills and work ethic.
Ask questions about their experience, approach to design, and process to ensure that they’re a good fit for your project. Here are a few key points to keep in mind during the interview process:
- Does the web design company have experience in designing medical spa websites?
- Are they asking about the problems you’re needing to solve with a new website, or are they simply offering blanket promises in order to close the sale?
- Do they understand your services, or why your audience might be searching for your services?
- Will you be able to see the web design and give feedback BEFORE web development begins?
Ensure the web designer or web design agency understands the medical spa and aesthetics industry and your services. Otherwise you might find yourself needing to send off yet another email or set up another call to ensure they understand the difference between a bio stimulator or a dermal filler, for example.
Review their proposal
After interviewing potential candidates, ask them to submit a proposal that outlines their understanding of your project requirements, the scope of work, and the timeline and budget.
Review each proposal carefully to ensure that it aligns with your needs and budget.
Check references
Before making a final decision, ask for references from each candidate and contact their previous clients to get a sense of their experience working with the designer. This will help you determine if they are reliable, responsive and produce high-quality work.
If their site or social media handles do not have client testimonials, look at their Google Business Profile for insight on their past clients’ experiences.
Sign a contract
Once you’ve selected a web designer, make sure to sign a contract that outlines the scope of work, timeline, budget, payment terms and any other important details. This will ensure that both parties are on the same page and that you have a legal agreement in place.
By following these steps, you can find a web designer who can create a website that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.
Pilar Hogans, APRN
Hello Smooth Med Spa
The most seamless, stress-free and pleasant experience!
Before we worked with Mila Design Co., who we are and what we stand for did not shine through on our website. Our website is now 100% a true representation of Hello Smooth Med Spa!
Lisette has made our website work smarter so we can redirect our time and efforts towards more important tasks. You will not find a more organized, passionate, smart, kind and helpful designer.
