There are a lot of web designers in this corner of the country, from one-person operations to bigger agencies. They're not all the same, and the cheapest quote rarely turns out to be the best value. Here's how to tell them apart.
Ask to see real, recent work
Look for live sites you can actually visit, not just screenshots. Open them on your phone. Are they fast? Easy to use? Do they look bespoke, or like the same template with a different logo? A good studio will happily point you at real projects.
Check the site speed
Run a designer's own site — and their portfolio sites — through Google PageSpeed Insights. Speed affects both your Google ranking and how many visitors stay. If a web professional's own site is slow, that tells you something.
Questions worth asking
- Is the design bespoke, or based on a theme?
- Will the site be mobile-first and meet accessibility standards?
- What's included for SEO — and what isn't?
- Who owns the site and the domain when it's done? (You should.)
- Can I edit content myself, and how?
- What happens after launch — support, updates, hosting?
- Is the price fixed, and what would change it?
Local knowledge counts
A designer who understands your market — whether that's Chester's competitive, image-conscious scene or the close-knit business community around Wrexham — will make better decisions about your messaging and your local SEO. It's not essential, but it helps.
Trust your gut on communication
You'll be working closely with this person or team. If they explain things clearly, listen properly and don't bury you in jargon during the sales conversation, that usually continues through the project. If they don't, that continues too.