How do I find a good web designer?
Most people start by going to the Google machine and typing in “web design San Francisco” or fill in the blank for whatever city you are in – which brings me to my first point.
Do you really need a local web designer?
If I was getting my air conditioner fixed, I would look for a local contractor. But when it comes to web designers, it’s a bit counter-intuitive to limit your search to only local web designers. After all, it is the internet – the massive network that connects everyone around the world. So why limit yourself to only the few web designers in your local area. You can read more in this post which is entirely devoted to the topic.
Get lots of web design prices on Elance
One of the most frustrating parts about finding a web designer is contacting them one by one and then waiting for them to get back to you. Many of them are so busy, they never do get back to you. There is a great way to get in touch with many qualified providers at once and get prices on your web design project. I recommend using a freelance site called Elance. You can post your project right now and within a couple hours you’ll have a number of bids on your project from providers all over the world. This is a great way to determine the price of your web design project and you’ll probably find a great provider to complete it for you. Check out my post and video on posting your project on Elance.
Get a reference
It’s always good to find someone who has already done what you’re looking to do and get a reference from them. If you know someone who recently completed a website, talk to them and ask them how the process was and if they would recommend the web designer they used. Even if the site looks good, they may have had a horrible time working with their web designer so you can’t go by the look of the site alone.
If you come across websites online that you really like, search the footer for a link to the web designer. You will usually find them there. But make sure to email that website owner and ask them if they had a good experience with the web designer.
Ask the right questions
If you’ve never purchased the services of a website designer, you may not know the right questions to ask. Asking the right questions will help you to evaluate the potential web designers and find the right one. As a web designer myself, I know what questions are important for you to ask so I put together this list that will help you. Ask each one of your candidates these questions and you’ll easily be able to find the right web designer for your project.