7 Questions a Professional Website Designer will Ask YOU!

Experienced Designers vs. Beginners: Knowing the Difference

Every website designer can make a site look good. Only a professional knows how to make it work well. The easiest way to tell the difference? Listen to what they ask before they start.

A skilled designer will ask questions that show curiosity and strategy. A cheap or inexperienced one will talk about colors and logos before learning anything about your goals. Their lack of questions is your first red flag. Not all website designers are equal.

Written by Dotty Scott
Founder of Premium Websites, Inc.
Empowering small businesses to go from Invisible to Invincible.

The Questions a Professional Web Designer Will Ask

1. What Does Your Business Do, and Who Is It For?

Professionals know that good design starts with purpose. They’ll dig into how your business operates and who you serve. These questions guide structure, layout, and messaging.

An inexperienced designer? They’ll skip straight to “What color do you want?” without learning what problem your business solves.

2. What Are Your Goals for the Website?

Pros build to achieve measurable results. They’ll ask:

• What do you want visitors to do?
• What is your call to action? (phone call, set an appointment, download information, purchase, etc.)
• What does success look like to you?
• What isn’t working with your current site?

Inexperienced designers rarely talk about conversions, user flow, or ROI. They’re focused on finishing the job fast, not ensuring it meets your business goals.

3. Who Is Your Audience?

Professionals tailor sites for users, not themselves. They’ll want to know:

• Who are your customers?
• How do they browse—mobile, desktop, or both?
• What frustrates them on other sites?

Inexperienced designers assume everyone behaves the same way online. That assumption often leads to confusing layouts and missed opportunities.

4. What Content and Functionality Do You Need?

Experienced designers plan before they build. They’ll ask about content creation, features, and integrations:

• What type of content do you already have?
• Do you need e-commerce, booking, or CRM tools?
• Who will handle updates or changes after launch?

Cheap designers jump in without structure. That’s how deadlines slip and features break later.

5. How Will the Site Grow With You?

Good designers think beyond the first launch. They’ll ask how your business might evolve and how the site can scale. That forward-thinking approach prevents expensive rebuilds later.

Inexperienced designers focus only on the immediate deliverable. Once the site is live, they’re gone. You’re left rebuilding when growth happens.

6. How Will SEO Be Handled?

An experienced designer knows SEO isn’t an add-on. It’s part of the foundation. They’ll ask how you plan to attract traffic and how your content strategy connects with keywords and search intent.

Expect questions like:

• Do you already have an SEO strategy in place?
• Which keywords or topics matter most for your business?
• How will the site structure support search visibility?
• Who will handle ongoing optimization after launch?

Inexperienced designers might never mention SEO at all. That’s a warning sign. They’re building for looks, not results.

7. What Is Your Budget and Timeline?

Professionals understand that clear expectations prevent frustration later. They’ll want to know your financial range, deadlines, and priorities. Open discussion ensures they can deliver what you need without surprises.

Inexperienced designers often agree to unrealistic timelines or underprice their work, leading to rushed jobs and poor quality.

Did you know: Businesses that update their websites quarterly generate 30% more leads on average. Long-term planning pays off.

How to Spot a Non-Professional Fast

A non-professional designer often:

• Asks few or no questions.
• Focuses on price or speed over quality.
• Promises instant results.
• Avoids talking about goals or maintenance.
• Uses templates instead of custom layouts.

If your designer’s first question is, “What color do you want?” run.

Why These Questions Matter

When a designer asks about business goals, audience behavior, and long-term plans, it shows they’re thinking like a partner, not a vendor. They’re aligning your website with your strategy, not just your style.

A real professional doesn’t just design websites. They design results.

Remember

The questions a designer asks tell you everything you need to know about their experience. Professionals dig deep to understand your business. Inexperienced ones skip the discovery process altogether. Choose the designer who listens first and builds second. The right questions lead to the right website.

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FAQ

What questions should I ask before hiring?

Ask about strategy, audience, SEO, timeline, budget, maintenance, and ownership.

What should a designer ask me first?

They should ask about goals, customers, content, and success metrics.

How do I spot red flags fast?

No discovery, instant quotes, vague deliverables, or talk of instant results and ranking.

Should SEO be included from day one?

Yes. Site structure and content should align with search intent from the outset.

Who owns the website after launch?

You should own code, content, and accounts. Confirm this in writing.

How long should discovery take?

Small sites: a few hours. Larger builds: several focused sessions.

What content should I prepare?

Brand messaging, pages list, product info, images, and key offers.

How is accessibility handled?

Ask about WCAG targets, alt text, keyboard use, and color contrast.

How are revisions managed?

Agree on rounds, timelines, and what counts as a scope change.

What analytics should be set up?

Tracking for goals, events, conversions, and call or form sources.

What about hosting and maintenance?

Clarify uptime, backups, security updates, and who handles fixes.

Which CMS is right for me?

Choose based on content needs, team skills, and future growth.

What if my budget is tight?

Prioritize goals. Launch core features, then phase enhancements.

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