Hiring someone to build your website is a bigger decision than it looks. You're choosing how your business will be judged online for years. These are the ten questions we'd ask, and we're happy to answer every one of them ourselves.
Before you talk to anyone
Write down three things: what the site needs to do (calls, bookings, sales?), who it's for, and two or three sites you like and why. You'll get better proposals and spot weak ones faster.
The ten questions
- Who will actually design and build it? The person who sells you the site isn't always the person who makes it. Ask to meet them.
- Can I see live sites you've built? Not just screenshots. Open them on your phone. Are they fast? Do they still work?
- What's included, exactly? Pages, copywriting, photos, search setup, forms, analytics. Get it in writing.
- Who writes the words? Copy makes or breaks a site. Know whether it's you, them, or a mix, and budget time for it.
- How will people find it? Ask what they do for search: speed, structure, service pages and your Google Business Profile.
- What do I own at the end? Your domain, your content and access to your accounts should be clear before you start.
- Can I make small updates myself? Or will every change mean a new invoice? Either can be fine; just know which.
- What happens after launch? Hosting, security updates, backups and support. Who handles them, and what does it cost?
- How long will it take, and what do you need from me? Most delays come from content. A good partner tells you up front.
- Why are you the right fit for my business? Listen for specifics about your industry and customers, not a generic pitch.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign today, or a "special price" that expires tomorrow.
- No live examples, or examples that are slow and broken on a phone.
- Vague answers about ownership, hosting or what's included.
- Promises of "page one on Google" by a date. Nobody can honestly guarantee rankings.
About price
Prices for websites range enormously, and higher isn't always better. Much of what you pay at a big agency covers layers: account managers, offices and sales teams. Ask what you're paying for. At WiseGai, the two people who design and build your site are the people you talk to, which is how we keep premium work within reach.
See for yourselfLook through our recent work, then tell us about your project. We'll answer all ten questions on the first call.