10 Questions Every Small Business Owner Should Ask Their Web Designer
*and WHY
In 2024, a website can do far more than act as an online business card. This "10 Essential Questions to Ask Your Web Designer for Small Business Success" guide explores essential questions to ask a web designer, ensuring your website serves as a powerful tool for growth.
1. What Goals Will My Website Help Achieve?
Your website should be designed with clear objectives in mind. Whether you’re focused on lead generation, client engagement, or establishing authority, a website aligned with your business goals will be more effective than a simple online presence.
Pro Tip: Define three key goals before meeting with a designer. Ask yourself if you want to acquire clients, boost brand authority, or facilitate client communication.
2. How Will You Structure the Website to Support My Services?
A well-structured website improves SEO and user experience. Discussing site structure ensures clients can easily find the information they need.
Quick Tip: Structure your site to keep important information accessible, ensuring users can reach any major section within a few clicks.
3. How Will My Website Engage Clients on Mobile?
With more than half of web traffic coming from mobile devices, a mobile-friendly website is non-negotiable. Ensuring seamless accessibility across devices improves both user experience and search engine ranking.
Pro Tip: Ask your designer about optimizing for mobile to ensure your website is accessible and intuitive on any device.
4. How Will You Measure the Success of My Website?
Measuring a website’s success is essential to ensure it’s meeting your business goals. Your web designer should establish key performance indicators (KPIs) like traffic growth, conversion rates, and user engagement metrics.
Pro Tip: Discuss setting up analytics and reporting tools with your designer. Regularly reviewing these metrics will help you refine your strategy.
5. What Security Measures Will Be in Place to Protect My Website?
In today’s digital environment, security is paramount. Your web designer should outline a robust plan to protect your site, including SSL certificates, secure hosting, regular updates, and protection against threats like malware and DDoS attacks.
Pro Tip: Ask about automatic backups and two-factor authentication (2FA) to enhance site security, preventing unauthorized access and data loss.
6. How Will My Website Be Optimized for Search Engines (SEO)?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for visibility. Discuss strategies like keyword research, on-page SEO elements (meta tags, headings), and a well-structured site. A well-optimized website can significantly improve traffic and attract the right audience.
Pro Tip: Ask about tools to monitor and improve SEO over time, such as Google Search Console or regular SEO audits, to stay competitive.
7. Will My Website Be Accessible and ADA Compliant?
Ensuring your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is essential. ADA compliance includes alt text for images, keyboard navigation, and color contrast considerations, serving a broader audience and avoiding legal issues.
Pro Tip: Ask about regular accessibility audits to ensure ongoing compliance and a positive experience for all users, regardless of ability.
8. How Will My Website Be Scalable as My Business Grows?
Your website should be designed to grow with your business. Scalability features allow you to add new pages, products, or functionalities as needed, ensuring your site evolves alongside your business.
Pro Tip: Discuss content management systems (CMS) with your designer. CMS platforms like WordPress offer modular functionality, making it easy to scale without overhauls.
9. What Kind of Support and Maintenance Will Be Provided?
After your website launches, ongoing support and maintenance are essential to keep it secure, up-to-date, and running smoothly. Regular maintenance includes updates to software, plugins, security patches, and troubleshooting support.
Pro Tip: Confirm whether your designer offers ongoing maintenance packages or on-call support options to address issues as they arise.
10. What Features Will Enhance Client Engagement on My Website?
Engagement features like live chat, appointment booking, and interactive forms can make your website more valuable to clients. These tools encourage interaction and make it easier for potential clients to reach out, schedule services, or access resources directly from your site.
Pro Tip: Discuss engagement tools with your designer. Integrating tools like chatbots or booking software can improve user experience and boost conversions.
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