Michael Groff

3 warning signs to look for when hiring a web designer 👇

1.) No contract

If a designer wants to get started on your website and doesn't have you sign a contract first, this is a huge warning sign that a.) the person doesn't know what they're doing or b.) they're trying to scam you.

2.) No initial strategy/discovery session

Every freelancer/agency's process will look entirely different, but nonetheless, they should always have some sort of process in place to map out your new website.

Basically, this can be a simple 30-60min video call laying out a sitemap for your website, identifying necessary features, and discovering goals for your website based on goals that you have for your business.

3.) A separate process for "web design" & "web development"

This is one of the factors that usually separates premium web design from lower end web design.

The design phase is where the design of your website comes to life. Your website isn't being "built" yet, just designed. Designers usually use a tool such as Adobe XD, Figma, or Sketch to craft these designs.

This allows for a faster revision process since design changes are easier to make in design software than on a website.

Once the design is finalized, the designer will move into development. This is where your website is built for the web. Each developer's tech stack for this phase is different.

For me, I use Webflow.

If they did a strategy session with you in the beginning and have already successfully completed the design phase, you now know exactly how your website will look/function before it's even built—giving yourself some peace of mind (because let's be honest, purchasing a website can be scary).
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