Can you offer any advice on this Catch 22 on hiring website designers?

Avi, I am a web designer, and I agree with the people who say that there are good services out there that let you build your own.  I have seen good sites made with Wix, with Squarespace and with Weebly.  The trouble is that someone who has never made a web site before will not know how to design for search engines, and there are other kinds of mistakes you won't have the knowledge to know you are making.  So hiring someone with prior experience as a guide or consultant is a good idea.  Ask friends and acquaintances if they have had a good experience with a web designer, and get introductions to designers they recommend.

$149 for a website was your first mistake. That is way too low. You will not find a good designer who will provide you what you need for that price. As a web designer myself, I am significantly priced lower than many but provide the same quality and I would never be able to charge that rate. I too require a deposit and a contract but I will always make sure you are satisfied with the end result. If you would like to talk feel free to reach out and I can learn more about your needs. The best advice I could give anyone when it comes to web design is 1. If its less than $500 run 2. if they are using a site builder like Squarespace, Wix etc, don't waste your money.  3. Ask to see previous work. 4. Negotiate the number of allowed revisions before signing anything.  5. Communicate often and clearly. 6. A Mockup should be provided for you before you pay anything.  I always provide my prospective clients with a comprehensive proposal full of research, competitive analysis,  proposed outline, and proposed mockup before any payment is even discussed. I know many people charge an arm and a leg for websites but it doesn't have to be that way. I work with budgets, payment plans etc. Make sure they are flexible.  Ask for references. 
I would be happy to talk with anyone struggling with this issue, even if you don't want a quote from me, I will educate you on what to ask, look for, red flags, things to avoid, etc.. free of charge. Email me any time [email address]. 

Also, don't get a website from anyone who does not do marketing.  You will end up redesigning once you work with a marketer and it will be more expensive.  Make sure they take the time to learn about your business,  your goals, and your needs. 

Hi, I hope I can be of some help. Even though website design has been part of my portfolio of business services for nearly 15 years, I am not desperate in a way. I decided to learn website design myself about 16 - 17 years ago for the same reason. Lots of claims and standing over someone's shoulder telling them what I wanted, needed was annoying. Website design technology has changed so dramatically in the last 15 years and it does almost daily. The good news: Amazing software that you can do anything with website design these days. Bad news: There are literally over a thousand website software programs to choose from a probably a million website designers out there. That's why I don't even try to compete. For me, I let clients know that I also do website design, who already know me, trust me. First, If someone's telling you $149 for an actual website, sorry, that's just not realistic to me if you really want you business properly represented and it does what it's supposed to do in terms of tech & SEO. Meaning, getting your site seen and properly. Feel free to call me if you need help of just answer questions: Kellen (Business Solutions Agency) xxx-xxx-xxxx

www.BusinessSolutionsAgency.com

Let me see if this helps. Thursday I met with someone who spent 75k on web work and tried 17 different designers. Tuesday before that, i met with someone who was out 25k and has a broken website. I meet with people weekly like this. 

like you said, they talk the talk. You lost 150 bucks. How much is it worth hourly with your life to even argue to get your money back? I might be crazy, but i would say let it go and get away from that so called designer.

Also go meet a bunch of local 5 to 10 person web shops. They have teams of people and probably better processes than a one person freelancer.

I like doing my own site then I’m responsible and change things as needed. I went through a web designer before and had little control and always had to contact them to change. I use 1&1 web site and make my own. Easy to do easy to change easy to update myself 

Avi, you're both right. You want to have a good looking website and the person who worked on it wants to get paid for their time. Website design, if you're going to do it right is time consuming and not something people see the value of right away. The most important thing you need to know is WHAT YOU WANT. Yep, I know you're thinking "How do I know what I want? I'm not a website designer". That's where I can help. 

I've been through some of the same "hacks" you've probably been through. It gets to a point you don't want to trust anyone. So let me give you some tips:

1) Think about what you want your website to say. What do you want people to know about your company? What are you selling? In our case, we are a music, dance and acting school so, we want people to know we teach these things.

2) Think about what annoys you when you go to a website and what you like when you go to a website. Usually, the things that annoy you, will annoy your customers too. Ask the designer about whether they can resolve these issues and DON'T TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT! Ask to see live samples of their work. Compare that against your expectations. 

3) Know what kind of website designs are trending now and their cost. This is a big one. For example, we use Wordpress. Why? Because if you understand wordpress and have the time, it's user friendly. Remember, just having a website will not help. UPDATING THAT SITE is very important. REGULARLY. I suggest a wordpress designer who knows how to use Wordpress and it's plugins (you might have more questions, don't be afraid to ask-I'll gladly help you). Looking at popular wordpress Template designs and testing them will tell you a lot about the capabilities of the design and help you choose. 

There is so much more to cover, however, depending on the depth of your details, your website could cost you anywhere between $300.00-1500.00 to do right. You must make sure your designer understands how to use Search Engine Optimization so that people will see you site. 

A designer asking for a deposit up front is not unreasonable. Often, they may ask for half up front and then the remaining amount after completion. I want to show you our website. We kept everything as simple as possible and it ended up costing us only about $1000.00 . We update regularly (If you are not going to do this, you need to have someone in your company do it OR you will need to hire someone) and we have little downtime because of this. 

I hope this helps. Here's our website: https:www.prodigyny.com 

Hello Avi,

Respectfully, if you had done your homework you would have known that you could not procure a knowlageable web designer for $149.00. 

It seems as though you are misinformed of today’s marketing tools (YP is not one of them). To procure a decent web site designer, if it is re-design, $1,700.00 -$1,800.00...if a new web site ..more. It actually very easy to see the results of marketing..especially with your web site assuming that you’ve got your web site on Google search or another present search SEO platform.

I wish you the best. You Do get what you pay for.

First of all, you are correct.  No one can operate without a well designed, informative web site; it is your calling card.  However, hiring a competent web site designer is one of the trickiest, hair pulling, and overall frustrating thing to do.  One reason is that anyone with a computer and a little knowledge can sell themselves as a web designer.

First step you should always take BEFORE hiring a web designer is to sit down and decide what you want your web site to include...a homepage (and somewhat what you want it to look like), About us page, Services/product and pricing page, contact us page, blog page, etc.  To construct a list like this, visit other business' web sites and see what you like and don't like about them..from the physical look of the site to the information it includes, and even as you are going through the web site, how all of the pages flow one to the other.  Is the web site easy to navigate or does something feel like the flow is not quite right.  Then list these qualities under the 'information list' and now you're ready to begin to look for a web designer.

It is best when looking for a web designer, ask for references or look at 'yelp' ratings, FB ratings,etc.  Are the comments about the web designer result in a 5 star review or a 3 star review?  If someone else has a particular problem, like the web designer did not deliver a web site in the time agreed, then believe me, you are likely to have the same problem.  When I look for a web designer, I look for a designer that not only provides web design services, but also provides other marketing and branding services like promotional items (stationary, postcards, notepads, etc), web hosting, social media development and maintenance, and any other services that come under 'branding' your business.  That way, from the web site  to your business brochures, all looks like a complete branded package.

Once you find your web site candidates, then begin interviewing them.  Some questions you will want to ask are: cost (average cost per hour is $40.00 - 75.00), what is their estimate on the time it will take from conception to delivery for your web site, is there a fee to make changes after the web site is delivered (sometime minor changes will need to be made), is there a maintenance period included after delivery of your web site, and can you purchase a maintenance contract after delivery (this is the easiest way to keep your web site updated).  

Once you narrow down your candidates to the last one or two, request a meeting in person so that you can sit with your designer and talk in person about your 'list' of must haves or wants as well as look at web sites that you like and discuss in person the style, colors, etc while looking at the examples you provide.  Most great web site designers will also provide examples of their work along with references of those they have worked for.   The other thing a meeting in person will do for you is give you face to face interaction to evaluate your candidate (do they look organized, well groomed, anything else that gives you what you need to feel comfortable in your choice).

After your meeting, a great web designer would go back to his office and send you several web site templates that meet with your communicated desires along with color schemes.  In doing that, you know that you have a designer that is on point and wishes to give you the web site you desire.

As in any business venture, please make sure that you have a contract that details the expectations of both parties (costs, timing, changes, maintenance,etc) as well as directives of remedies of either party should the contract be breached.  

With going through all of these steps, you are on your way to having a good relationship with your designer and receive the web site that you desire, expect and pay for.

With the prior web designer, you may be able to take him/her to small claims court, but the burden of proof will be all yours.  That means that you will need to provide contracts or other forms of agreement made prior to the start of work.

Again, hiring a great web designer is one of the hardest things you will probably do in making sure your business is represented on the world wide web.  I wish you the best of luck.

First, I stopped using website because no one had time to keep it updated.

I find social media has worked great for marketing.  Post photos  regularly of shows to attract interest.  Also if I have shows with other partners like musicians and agents, I market through their website.

I totally understand where you're coming from!  My advice -  go to your young, educated and media savvy dance instructors - they understand your business and your passion -  and one of them will know how to put a website together!  Its SO easy these days, you don't need to spend a fortune, and if your target-market is like mine from 18 - 65+ - a youthful and inspirational approach is the way to go!