What questions should you ask a Squarespace web designer before hiring them? (and what NOT to ask)
Ok, so you have this Squarespace Web Designer that you'd like to work with. You've thoroughly stalked their entire website, looked through their FAQ - so next step is having a consultation call to see if you'd be a good fit!
If you're interested in how to choose the right Squarespace Designer to have a consult call with, then I think you'll find this article super helpful:
How to find the right Squarespace Web Designer for you and your personality?
In this blog post, I'll be going through some important topics and questions you should touch on with your potential web designer BEFORE committing to anything. More specifically, I go into the WHY behind these questions.
CONTENT
Squarespace SEO and Mobile Optimisation
Communication and Giving Edit Requests
Design and Post Launch Support
Money, Currency and Payment Process
What NOT to ask your Web Designer
1. Squarespace SEO and Mobile Optimisation
These are two of THE most important factors of a successful website these days. Notice I didn't say beautiful - but successful. And by successful, I mean a website that actually gets seen, that converts, and that Google LOVES.
"You can have the most beautiful website, but that means nothing if nobody's even coming to look at it!"
So, while having beautiful design is easy to tell in a web designer - you either love their design style or not.
The REAL question you should be asking (which you won't find on their website), is HOW they intend to optimise the website for SEO and Mobile? What are some of the things they focus on?
You might also find it helpful to ask if they can give you some SEO tips or a checklist for SEO blogging good practices. This shows that they know their SEO stuff so much so, that they're confident to pass on their knowledge to you.
2. Communication and Giving Edit Requests
If you have important questions or edit requests, how easily will you be able to get hold of your designer? How quickly will your queries be answered? The number of clients your designer works with at any one time will definitely influence this.
While I cannot answer for other designers, I usually respond within a few hours to 12hrs max. And because I work with only one client at a time, I'm able to implement the edit requests within one to two business days.
3. Website Design and Post Launch Support
You're probably already familiar with their services from reading their website, but if it wasn't super clear, then use this time to ask them about their process and all the nitty gritty details.
I also think it pays to ask them how many clients they work with at one time? I find that working one-to-one has proven to give the best results and experience to my clients (you guys).
What kind of post launch support do they offer? Will they keep you on a retainer where you have to pay $xx amount every month and the designer sets aside x amount of hours just for you?
Do they teach you how to DIY small tweaks and how to run the website yourself? This is what I offer my clients as part of the full website package - and they love feeling empowered to make these changes themselves!
4. Money, Currency and Payment Process
If your web designer is comfortable talking about money, then that's a good sign!
If the price was not stated on their website, then be sure to ask how much the total price of the project will be (including Squarespace membership and all). Good to know all related costs.
Also ask about the payment process, is there a deposit? If so, how much? Usually it will be 50% deposit to secure spot and begin design work. Then 50% at the end - before the website gets transferred over. This way works best for both you and your designer
If your designer doesn't work in the same currency as you, ask how they accept foreign currencies. Otherwise, suggest Transferwise - this is what I use (and it's fantastic!)
Lastly, ask them to give you a run down of all the most important dates! Such as when the start and finish dates are, when they need your content prepared by, what day you intend to officially launch, when they need your deposit and final payment by.
All super important to ensure you're both on the same page and that your website is delayed because little details weren't communicated effectively from the start.
5. What NOT to ask your Web Designer
I decided to include these three questions because I want to help bridge the gap between client and designer’s perspective surrounding money.
Here are three questions which Designers really don't appreciate (and you probably wouldn't too if the situation was reversed?)
Can you do a discount or lower your prices coz I don’t need or want this, this and this?
Can you also add in XYZ as a favour to me for free? Since I’m already paying you so much?
Would you be interested in exchanging services? I can give you XYZ for free in return for a discounted rate?
Yep... all three relate to asking the designer to lower their prices or to do more stuff for free. In essence, all three questions are devaluing the services of the designer.
As a small business owner myself, I understand that a few thousand dollars is a lot - and that even a $500 discount would be great! But instead of asking someone to lower their money energy, why not raise yours to meet their level?
This small mindset shift from scarcity to abundance will do wonders for you and your business.
“Just because what you’re paying for is intangible in value, does not mean that it has less value.” - emily peilan
When you barter or ask for a designer to lower their prices, you are basically saying: I don’t value you at this price or I value your work to be significantly less. And this hurts both the designer and the client, because you devaluing their work will bring negative energy to the project.
Many of the ‘good designers’ take these questions as red flags and actually turn you away as a potential client. Which would be an absolute miss for you if you really wanted to work with them.
Nobody wants to work with someone who devalues them and their work - even if no hard feelings was meant by it.
“Remember - money is energy.
Let it flow abundantly and in alignment with your vision and Inner Knowing. And it will flow back to you in greater abundance.”
Let me know if you found this post valuable! And if you have any other questions you'd like to share, pop them in the comments below! You can also message me here @arohavisuals.