Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer

Hiring the right web design team is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your business or organization. Your website is often the first impression customers have of you—and for small businesses, where more than half outsource their web design needs, choosing wisely matters more than ever.

A great website should be creative, easy to use, innovative, and practical. But finding the right designer can feel overwhelming in an oversaturated market full of similar price points and wildly different quality levels. Asking the right questions upfront can save you time, money, and frustration—and help ensure you end up with a website that actually works for your business.

Below are the most important questions to ask before hiring a web designer—and how we approach them at Traverse Web.

How Much Experience Do You Have?

Experience matters. While newer designers can do great work, industry experience brings efficiency, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of what actually works long-term.

Look for designers or firms with at least five years of experience building real-world websites for real businesses.

Traverse Web has over 20 years of website design experience, working with small businesses, nonprofits, and organizations across many industries.

Will You Review My Existing Website First?

If you already have a website, reviewing it should be non-negotiable.

If a designer says they don’t need to see your existing site and want to “just start fresh,” that’s a red flag. Your current website holds valuable information—tech tools, software integrations, platform limitations, SEO history, content structure, and even your online reputation.

A good designer evaluates what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs improvement before rebuilding or rebranding.

At Traverse Web, we always review your existing website so we can build smarter, not blindly.

Do You Work In-House or Outsource Projects?

Some agencies outsource part or all of their web design work. This isn’t always bad—but it can lead to communication issues, delays, unexpected costs, or inconsistent quality if not managed well.

Ask:

  • Who is actually building my website?
  • Who manages the project?
  • Who do I communicate with?

There’s a big difference between cheap outsourcing and a vetted, trusted team working closely together.

All Traverse Web websites are built in-house. In fact, we’re often contracted by other local web design firms to build their client sites. Skip the middleman and work directly with us.

Which Content Management System (CMS) Do You Use?

Most websites today are not coded entirely from scratch. They’re built on a content management system (CMS) that allows you to update and manage content more easily.

You should ask:

  • What CMS do you use?
  • Can I make updates myself?
  • Will it support my business as it grows?

Consider future needs like:

  • E-commerce
  • Scheduling or booking tools
  • Memberships or digital products
  • Scaling up—or down—without rebuilding

Traverse Web builds websites using WordPress and HTML, depending on your needs and preferences.

Do You Build Custom Sites or Use Templates?

“Custom” can mean different things.

Most professional designers use a CMS like WordPress as a foundation and then build a custom theme and layout from there. Fully custom-coded sites are usually reserved for enterprise-level projects.

CMS-based sites are practical, scalable, and cost-effective—when done right.

At Traverse Web:

  • We primarily use WordPress with custom themes
  • We also offer fully custom HTML websites for clients who prefer them

How Long Will It Take to Design My Website?

There’s no universal timeline, but the answer should align with your needs.

If you’re on a tight schedule and hear “six months,” that may not be the right fit. Timelines depend on scope, communication, and how quickly content and approvals are provided.

Most Traverse Web websites are completed in 4–8 weeks, depending on responsiveness and project complexity.

What Do You Need From Me Before the Project Starts?

This question helps prevent last-minute scrambling.

Designers typically need:

  • Written content
  • Images
  • Branding assets
  • Logins or access credentials

Content is usually collected in phases to keep things manageable.

At Traverse Web:

  • You provide the majority of your content
  • We help guide and organize it
  • We can connect you with professional content writers if needed (additional cost)

Written content is critical—for users and search engines. You know your business best, so even bullet points are incredibly helpful.

Important note on images: Any images you provide must be owned by you or properly licensed. We also subscribe to licensed stock image services for generic visuals.

How Many Revisions Are Included?

A reputable designer should be willing to revise until you’re happy.

You should never feel rushed or boxed in by revision limits during the design phase.

At Traverse Web, we want you to love your website. Most of our business comes from referrals, and we’ll work with you until your site feels right.

How Will We Communicate During the Process?

Clear, consistent communication keeps projects moving.

Ask how updates, approvals, and questions are handled.

Traverse Web communicates in the way you’re most comfortable with—typically email or phone. Office visits are welcome, though most edits are handled outside of meetings.

Are Your Websites Responsive?

Responsive design is non-negotiable.

A responsive website automatically adjusts for desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile screens using one URL and one codebase.

Quick test:

  • Resize your browser window
  • If content moves and adjusts, it’s responsive

All Traverse Web websites are fully responsive across all devices.

Is SEO Built Into the Website?

SEO should start on day one—not after launch.

Foundational SEO includes:

  • Clean navigation
  • Logical page structure
  • Proper headings
  • Optimized images
  • Meta titles and descriptions
  • Mobile-friendliness

We build websites with SEO best practices baked in from the start, giving your content the best chance to be found.

How Much Will My Website Cost?

Website pricing varies based on:

  • Experience level
  • Number of pages
  • Functionality
  • Design complexity
  • Team size

Because many firms don’t publish pricing, it can be hard to compare. Trust your budget—and your instincts.

Traverse Web websites start at $1,000 for an Essential Website (3–5 pages in WordPress or HTML).
More pricing details are available at traverseweb.com.

Most small service-based businesses start with:

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials or Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Can You Build an E-Commerce Website?

Not all designers do e-commerce—and it’s a different beast than a brochure site.

Ask about:

  • CMS limitations
  • Payment processors
  • Online vs. in-person POS
  • Inventory management
  • Taxes, shipping, and policies

Traverse Web has years of experience building e-commerce sites on WordPress, and we can add an online store later if you’re not ready now.

Is My Website Secure? Will It Have an SSL Certificate?

Security is essential.

At Traverse Web:

  • All hosted websites include SSL certificates
  • Regular backups
  • Software and plugin updates
  • Server-level security monitoring

What Training and Support Do You Offer After Launch?

You should feel confident managing your site—or know help is available.

Traverse Web offers:

  • A 1-hour training session after launch
  • A $25/month hosting plan that includes up to one hour of basic updates
  • Ongoing maintenance and security updates

If you host elsewhere, updates are available at $125/hour.

Do I Own My Website After It Goes Live?

You should.

Traverse Web websites are 100% owned by you—content, files, and domain. You can move hosting or registrars at any time. Any licensed plugins we provide would simply need to be transferred or replaced.

Can I Work With You in the Future?

Your website should evolve as your business grows.

We offer long-term support through:

  • Monthly hosting and update plans
  • Hourly services for larger changes
  • Redesigns and feature expansions

We’re here for the long haul.

Transparency and clear communication equals great websites

 Hiring a web designer doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Asking the right questions upfront helps you avoid costly mistakes and ensures you’re partnering with a team that understands your goals.

At Traverse Web, we believe in transparency, clear communication, and building websites that truly support your business—today and in the future. If you’re ready to start the conversation, we’d love to help.