Most people who contact me have already been burned once. They hired someone, things started fine, and then the designer stopped answering their messages. Or the site went live and nothing worked properly. Or the price crept up after the work had started and there was not much they could do about it.
It is a more common story than you would think. And it makes the next decision harder, because now there is a reason to be cautious.
So here is what I would actually look for if I were choosing a web designer for my business, based on what has mattered most to the clients who have come to me.
Do they work with businesses like yours?
Not every web designer is set up for every kind of client. Some focus on large ecommerce builds. Some work mostly with agencies. Some only take on projects above a certain budget. None of that is wrong. But it does mean you need to check. If you run a small business in Harrogate and you need a straightforward WordPress site, you want someone who does that regularly and enjoys it – not someone who is fitting you in around bigger work.
Look at their portfolio. Do the sites look like the kind of thing you need? Do they mention businesses of a similar size to yours? A few named examples beat a gallery of anonymous screenshots every time.
Can you see their prices?
Pricing that is hidden behind a contact form is not a sign of flexibility. It is usually a sign that the price changes depending on how much they think you can afford. A designer who publishes their prices is telling you something. They are confident enough in what they charge to say it upfront. That tends to go hand in hand with being straightforward about everything else.
I publish mine. Starter websites begin at £650. Maintenance plans start at £45 a month. Those numbers are on my prices page and they do not change based on who is asking.
How fast do they respond?
This is the one that catches people out most often. A designer who is slow to respond before you have paid them is very likely to be slower once you have. If it takes a week to get a reply to an enquiry, think about what that means when something goes wrong with the site six months after launch.
Screen Yorkshire came to me after waiting three to four weeks for replies from their previous designer. That is not a one-off. I hear versions of that story regularly. I reply the same day, because I know how much that matters.
Will they still be around after the site goes live?
A lot of businesses worry about this, and they are right to. A website is not a one-off job. Things need updating. Plugins need checking. Something breaks and you need someone to call. Ask any designer you are considering what happens after launch. Do they offer maintenance? Is hosting included? What does a typical support request look like and how long does it take? If the answer is vague, that is worth knowing before you commit.
Can they explain things in plain English?
Web design has a lot of jargon and some designers hide behind it. If you leave a conversation feeling more confused than when you started, that is a problem. The best web designers are also good communicators. They can explain what they are doing and why, in terms that make sense to someone who is not in the industry.
Jackie Burton, a writer I built a site for, told me she was not great with tech. We went through everything step by step. She knows how to update her own pages now and uses the site to promote her work to funders and producers. That only works if the communication is right from the start.
Is there any independent proof?
Testimonials on a designer’s own website are useful, but they are also easy to cherry-pick. Look for proof you can check independently. Three Best Rated rankings. Membership of a professional body like the Chartered Society of Designers. Local awards. A Google Business profile with reviews you can read in full. Not because credentials are everything, but because they give you something to hold onto when you are making a decision about someone you have only just met.
The short version
You are looking for someone who is easy to reach, honest about cost, and still around once the job is done. Someone who has worked with businesses like yours before and can show you the results. That is not a long list. But it does cut through a lot of noise.
If you are looking for a web designer in Harrogate or North Yorkshire and want to have a straightforward conversation about what you need, get in touch. No pitch. Just a chat.
