Finding a web designer feels overwhelming when you're not sure what questions to ask or what to look for. This guide cuts through the noise so you can make a confident decision.
What does a web designer actually do?
A web designer handles the look, feel, and structure of your website. A good one also thinks about how users move through it, how fast it loads, and how it ranks on Google. The best ones combine design with enough technical understanding to build something that actually works — not just something that looks good in a mockup.
1. Look at their portfolio with a critical eye
Portfolio pieces should go beyond "it looks nice." Ask yourself:
- Does the site load quickly on mobile?
- Is it easy to find what you're looking for?
- Does it have a clear call to action?
Run any portfolio site through Google PageSpeed Insights — a slow result tells you everything you need to know about how seriously they take performance.
2. Ask about SEO from the start
A lot of designers treat SEO as someone else's problem. The result is a beautiful site that nobody finds. Any designer worth hiring should be able to tell you how they handle:
- Page titles and meta descriptions
- Image compression and alt text
- Semantic HTML structure
- Core Web Vitals (the performance metrics Google uses for ranking)
If they look blank when you mention Core Web Vitals, that's a red flag.
3. Understand what's included after launch
The website going live is not the end — it's the beginning. Before signing anything, find out:
- Who handles hosting, and what does it cost?
- What happens if something breaks?
- Can you update the content yourself, or do you need to pay for every change?
- Is there ongoing support available?
Some designers hand over a finished site and disappear. Others — like us — offer ongoing hosting, maintenance, and support so you always have someone to call.
4. Check they communicate clearly
You'll be working with this person for weeks. If early communications are slow, vague, or full of unexplained jargon, that's unlikely to improve. Good designers ask good questions upfront about your goals, your customers, and your brand — not just "what colours do you like?"
5. Be wary of prices that seem too good
A £99 website is almost always a template with your logo slapped on it. That's not a website — it's a liability. Thin, duplicate content, no technical SEO, and often shared hosting with zero performance tuning.
You don't need to spend tens of thousands, but budget for quality. A properly built small business website from an experienced UK designer typically starts around £500–£1,500 depending on scope.
Questions to ask before you hire
Use these in your first conversation:
- Can I see examples of sites you've built that are similar to what I need?
- How do you handle performance and SEO?
- What platform will my site be built on, and can I take it elsewhere if I need to?
- What does your process look like from start to launch?
- What's included after the site goes live?
Ready to talk about your project?
At CloudLaunch, we build fast, modern websites for small businesses across the UK — with SEO built in from day one and honest, plain-English support. Get in touch and tell us what you need.