Choosing a web designer is one of the more important decisions a Welsh business owner will make. Get it right and you have an asset that brings in customers for years. Get it wrong and you are paying for a rebuild inside 18 months. The problem is that it is genuinely hard to tell good from bad before the work starts — so here are eight questions that will separate the professionals from the rest.
1. Can I See Examples of Live Websites You Have Built?
Not mockups, not screenshots — live URLs you can visit yourself. Load them on your phone. Are they fast? Do they look professional? Are they easy to navigate? Any decent designer will have a portfolio of real, working websites they are happy to show you. If they hesitate, that tells you something.
2. How Do You Handle SEO?
A website that no one can find on Google is not doing its job. A good designer will talk about on-page SEO as a standard part of the build — proper page titles, meta descriptions, heading structure, image alt text, page speed, and schema markup. If they look blank when you ask, or tell you SEO is a separate job they do not touch, walk away.
3. What Is Included in the Price?
Get it in writing. Does the quote include copywriting, or just the design? Does it include the first year of hosting? What about a domain name? Revisions — how many rounds are included before it costs extra? Professional designers give you a clear scope document so there are no arguments later.
4. Who Will Actually Do the Work?
Some agencies quote the work and then outsource it overseas. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but you deserve to know. If local knowledge and direct communication matter to you — and for a Welsh business they often should — ask explicitly who is building your site and where they are based.
5. What Happens After Launch?
A website needs ongoing maintenance — WordPress updates, security patches, backups, and eventual changes as your business grows. Does the designer offer a support or maintenance plan? Will they be available in three months when you need to update your opening hours, or will you be trying to track down someone who has moved on?
6. Will I Own the Website?
This matters more than most people realise. Some designers retain ownership of the code or host your site in a way that makes it impossible to move without starting again. You should own your domain name outright and be able to move your website to a different host if you choose to. Make sure this is explicit in any contract.
7. How Long Will It Take?
A realistic timeline for a professional small business website is four to eight weeks from briefing to launch. Shorter can mean corners are being cut. Longer — or a vague non-answer — suggests poor project management. Ask for a written schedule with milestones.
8. What Do Your Clients Say?
Ask for references or look for Google reviews from actual clients. A designer who has done good work will have happy clients who are willing to say so publicly. Read what people say about communication and the process, not just the end result — a difficult experience with a good-looking site is still a difficult experience.
What to Do Next
If you are looking for a web designer in South Wales or Mid Wales, we are happy to answer all of these questions directly. We build websites for Welsh businesses with a full written quote, a clear timeline, and honest advice at every stage. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation conversation.