Questions for Website Design: What to Ask Before You Hire a Designer in 2026

Jan 5

Hiring a website designer is a big decision, especially for a small business that’s ready to take marketing more seriously. Your website is often the first real impression someone has of your brand, and if it’s unclear, outdated, or not built with purpose, it can quietly hold your business back.

That’s why asking the right questions matters. The best projects don’t start with colors or layouts. They start with clarity. These questions for website design will help you understand how a designer thinks, how they work, and whether they’re truly equipped to build a site that supports your business goals, not just one that looks nice.

  
  1. How will you learn about my business, customers, and goals before designing anything?

This is one of the most important questions to ask. A thoughtful designer should want to understand what you do, who you serve, and what success looks like for your business before opening a design file.

If the answer jumps straight to visuals or templates, that’s a red flag. Strong website design is rooted in strategy. Your site should reflect your positioning, speak to your ideal customer, and support your broader marketing efforts, not just showcase someone else’s aesthetic preferences.

2. What does your website design process look like from start to finish?

A clear website design process signals experience. You want to hear about defined phases, such as discovery, strategy, design, development, feedback, and launch.

This question helps you understand what to expect, how involved you’ll need to be, and how decisions will be made along the way. For small business owners wearing many hats, a structured process provides reassurance that nothing critical will be missed.

3. How do you define success for a website like mine?

This question shifts the conversation away from opinions and toward outcomes. A good answer might include metrics like qualified leads, inquiries, bookings, or engagement, depending on your business.

If success is described only in terms of visual appeal, it may mean performance and results aren’t a priority. Your website should work as a business tool, not just a digital brochure.

4. Who will I be working with day to day?

It’s important to know whether you’ll be communicating directly with the person designing your site or if work is being handed off to someone else behind the scenes. It may also be important to you that you work with someone based in the USA or in the time zone where you live.

Clear communication builds trust and keeps projects moving. For small teams especially, knowing who your point of contact is helps avoid confusion and delays. Our small but agile team are all located in the US.

My name is Seth Hoffman and I’m the owner of Known Creative. I oversee the creative strategy and execution for all our projects and you can learn more about me here!

5. Will you help with website copy, or is that my responsibility?

Many small business owners get stuck here. They know their current copy isn’t working, but they’re not sure how to fix it.

This question clarifies whether content is part of the service or something you’ll need to source separately. Since copy and design work hand in hand, alignment between the two can make a significant difference in how effective your site is once it launches.

We leverage the Storybrand approach to your messaging to make sure you are communicating in a way that connects with your ideal clients.

6. How do you approach SEO during the design process?

Search engine optimization shouldn’t be bolted on after the site is built. Design decisions impact SEO in ways many people don’t realize, from page structure to load speed to content hierarchy.

A thoughtful designer should be able to explain how SEO considerations are baked into the process, even if ongoing SEO is a separate service. This includes optimizing for LLMs like ChatGPT and Gemini.

7. How much input will I have on the design?

You want a balance here. Collaboration is important, but unlimited revisions without guidance can slow a project down and lead to frustration.

This question helps set expectations around feedback, decision-making, and how your ideas will be incorporated. The best designers know how to guide clients while still making space for meaningful input.

8. Will I be able to update content myself after launch?

For small businesses, flexibility matters. You shouldn’t need to call a developer every time you want to update text, add a new service, or publish a blog post.

This question ensures your site will be built in a way that supports growth and independence, not long-term dependency.

9. What’s included in your pricing, and what’s not?

Transparency here is essential. You want to understand what you’re paying for, what’s considered out of scope, and what might cost extra down the line.

Asking this upfront protects your budget and helps prevent surprises later in the project.

10. What happens after the site launches?

Your website isn’t “done” once it goes live. You may need support, updates, or guidance as your business evolves. We actually call the launch of your site “the starting line” because now we need to get people to GO to your website. We have a lot of ways to do this with our search engine optimization (SEO) strategies.

This question helps you understand whether the designer sees the relationship as a one-time project or an ongoing partnership. For many growing businesses, that distinction matters.

Final Thoughts: Questions for Website Design

Choosing the right partner is about more than ticking boxes. These questions for website design are meant to help you feel confident, informed, and empowered as you invest in a site that supports where your business is going next.

Book a no-strings discovery call with Known Creative to see if we’re the right fit for your next website project.

1. How will you learn about my business, customers, and goals before designing anything?