Starting a new website design project can spark a mixture of excitement and anxiety. As the digital face of your business, your website needs to embody your brand, engage your audience, and drive conversions. Choosing the right designer is not just about skill; it’s about finding someone who aligns with your vision and business goals. Before you commit, make sure to ask these five critical questions to ensure your project is in good hands.

What to Ask Before Hiring a Designer

1. What is your experience with Squarespace design and small business websites?

Experience is more than just a number of years; it’s about relevance and depth. Ask for specific examples that showcase the designer's work with Squarespace, particularly with small businesses. This will give you a clearer idea of their understanding of both the platform's technical aspects and the unique needs of small businesses.

Why You Need to Know: A designer familiar with Squarespace’s capabilities can effectively leverage its features to enhance your site’s performance and aesthetics. Their experience with small businesses means they’re adept at maximising budgets and understanding audience engagement on a more personal level.

Why me: I bring years of experience specialising in Squarespace design for small businesses. My portfolio is filled with projects that emphasise not just beautiful design, but also functional, conversion-focused outcomes that suit each unique business. Check out my portfolio here.

2. Can you provide a detailed project timeline and milestones?

Timelines are essential for project management. Request a detailed plan that includes key milestones, such as development, initial design, revisions, and launch. This timeline should also outline what deliverables are expected at each stage and any dependencies, such as content you need to provide.

Why It’s Important: A structured timeline ensures that both you and your designer stay on track and address any issues promptly. It also helps in setting realistic expectations and provides a clear roadmap of the project’s progress.

My Process: At the beginning of each project, I provide a detailed timeline with milestones clearly marked. These include discovery phases, initial drafts, revision rounds, and the final deliverable dates, ensuring transparency and structured progress.

3. How do you handle revisions and feedback during the design process?

Design is rarely perfect on the first try. Understanding how revisions are handled will prepare you for the collaboration process. Ask how many revision rounds are included, how additional revisions are charged, and how they prefer to receive feedback.

Why You Need to Know: Clear communication about revisions and feedback can significantly enhance the efficiency of the design process. It ensures that your vision is being accurately translated into the design without endless back-and-forth or escalating costs.

My Process: Depending on the package you choose, I include 2 or 3 comprehensive rounds of revisions in every project to ensure that every aspect of the design meets your expectations. Feedback is welcomed via a software I use called Markup. I don’t accept feedback or revisions on video or phone calls or in emails as it can get very confusing when trying to find edits etc. Additional revisions are outlined upfront with clear terms.

4. What do you need from me to get started and throughout the project?

Knowing what your designer expects from you can speed up your project. This might include specific content, brand guidelines, access to existing digital assets, or feedback at certain stages. Clarifying these requirements upfront can prevent delays and misunderstandings.

Why This Helps: Being prepared allows you to organise resources and schedule your involvement without disrupting your life or business operations. It also ensures that the project moves forward smoothly and meets predetermined deadlines. It’s important that you are available during the design period, so choose a time when you are not planning a holiday etc.

My Process: Before we kick off, I’ll need access to any existing brand materials. Depending on where you are at with content i.e. you have hired a copywriter or you are providing content yourself, I will give you a clear outline of what content I need and where it will be on your site. I also ask that you send me inspiration websites as well as websites you don’t like (this can often be more helpful than sites you like). I provide a checklist to help you gather everything needed.

5. What are your payment terms?

Discuss all financial aspects including payment schedules, deposit requirements, and terms for additional services. Understanding these terms upfront will help you budget accordingly and avoid any surprises.

Why This Is Crucial: Financial clarity is essential for maintaining a good working relationship. Knowing when and how much you’re expected to pay helps in planning your cash flow and when you will need to make a payment.

My Process: I operate with clear and straightforward payment terms. A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your slot in my schedule, followed by progress payments aligned with major milestones. Final payment is due upon project completion before the final handover.

Conclusion

Selecting the right designer for your Squarespace website is a pivotal decision that can significantly influence your business’s trajectory. Armed with these essential questions, you’re better prepared to choose a designer who not only meets your aesthetic and functional needs but also respects your time and budget.

As a Squarespace web designer specialising in small business websites, I offer a few solutions to suit every budget

1) bespoke website designs that bridge the gap between your business's unique story and the clients you wish to serve.
2) VIP Days for those times where you just need some help with an existing site and
3) Premium templates that are affordable and perfect for when you’re just starting out, they come with video tutorials to guide you from start to finish.

Together, we can create a website that not only looks beautiful but also works tirelessly to meet your business goals.

If you need any help deciding what’s best for you, please feel free to reach out, would love to help where I can!