Choosing somebody to build your website is a bigger decision than choosing a colour scheme. The person or company you hire will influence how your business looks online, how easy the site is to use and how straightforward future changes are.
If you are comparing a Blackpool web designer, these questions will help you compare the actual service rather than just the price at the bottom of a quote.
1. Can I see websites you have actually built?
Look beyond screenshots. Open the websites, try them on your phone and click through the important pages. Good portfolio work should feel appropriate for each client rather than every site looking identical.
2. Who will I deal with during the project?
Some agencies have separate sales, account and development teams. Others let you speak directly to the person building the site. Neither model is automatically wrong, but it is useful to know who will answer questions and handle feedback.
3. Is the website designed around my business?
Templates can be useful starting points, but your website should still reflect your services, customers and priorities. A hotel, roofer and accountant do not need the same structure simply because they all want a professional website.
4. What exactly is included in the quote?
Ask about page count, forms, copy support, image preparation, mobile layouts, analytics, SEO foundations, hosting and launch support. Two quotes can look similar while including very different amounts of work.
5. Who owns the domain and finished website?
You should understand who controls your domain name and what happens if you decide to move provider later. Ask this before paying a deposit, not after a disagreement.
6. Is SEO considered during the build?
A new site should be planned with clear page structure, titles, headings, internal links, mobile usability and useful content. That is different from promising instant rankings. Our professional web design service treats search foundations as part of the build rather than an afterthought.
7. Will the website work properly on mobile?
Do not settle for “it is responsive”. Ask to see previous work on a real phone. Check menus, forms, buttons, text sizes and image cropping.
8. What happens after the website goes live?
Find out who handles updates, security, backups and technical problems. If you want ongoing help, make sure there is a clear route for website maintenance rather than discovering support ended on launch day.
9. Are there ongoing costs?
Ask for the annual picture. Hosting, domains, premium software and maintenance may renew separately. A low starting price can look very different once recurring charges are included.
10. Can the website grow with the business?
You may only need five pages today, but next year you might add another service, booking system, customer area or location. A good foundation should not make every future addition difficult.
11. How will we measure whether the website is working?
At a minimum, you should know whether people are visiting important pages and submitting enquiries. Analytics cannot fix a weak website by itself, but it gives you evidence instead of guesswork.
12. Do I feel comfortable asking questions?
You do not need to understand technical jargon. A good designer should be able to explain options in plain English and tell you when something is unnecessary as well as when it is worth investing in.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a local Blackpool web designer?
Local knowledge can be useful, particularly when your customers are also local. It should still be backed by good work, clear communication and a sensible process.
Is the cheapest web designer usually a bad choice?
No. A simple project may genuinely be inexpensive. Compare scope and support rather than assuming either the cheapest or most expensive quote must be best.
How many revisions should be included?
That varies by provider. Ask how feedback works and what happens if the direction needs changing. HeyJames can provide a visual website preview so you can review the direction before the full build.
Can I keep my existing domain?
Usually, yes. A redesign normally keeps the existing domain while replacing the website itself.
Where can I see HeyJames prices?
Current starting prices are published on the HeyJames pricing page.
Compare the relationship as well as the website
A website project works best when communication is straightforward. If you want to discuss web design in Blackpool, you can review our local service page, browse the portfolio or tell James what you are planning.