Choosing the right web designer can be a difficult decision, particularly for a small or medium-sized business where every investment needs to deliver value.
Your website is often the first proper introduction a potential customer has to your business. Before they pick up the phone, send an enquiry or visit you, they may have already formed an opinion based on your website.
So, if you’re looking for a web designer in Watford, Hertfordshire or the surrounding area, how do you know who to choose – and how can you make sure you’re getting genuine value for money?
Having worked with small businesses across Watford, Hertfordshire and North London for almost 10 years, I’ve seen that the cheapest website isn’t necessarily the best value – and the most expensive isn’t automatically the best either.
The important thing is understanding what you’re actually getting for your money.
Start by deciding what you need from your website
Before comparing web designers or asking for quotes, think about what you actually want your website to achieve.
For example, do you want to:
• Generate more enquiries?
• Attract customers searching locally?
• Sell products online?
• Showcase your services or previous work?
• Take bookings?
• Establish greater credibility?
• Replace an old website that no longer represents your business?
• Improve your visibility on Google?
A good web designer should want to understand your business, your customers and your objectives before talking about colours, layouts or technical features.
Your website should be designed around the people you want to attract and the action you want them to take.
That’s the difference between simply having a website and having a website designed to work for your business.
What should you look for in a web designer?
Good web design goes far beyond making a website look attractive.
A professional business website should be:
• Easy to navigate
• Mobile responsive
• Fast loading
• Secure
• Designed around your target customer
• Easy to update
• Search-engine friendly
• Built with clear calls to action
• Supported after it goes live
Take time to look through a web designer’s portfolio and examples of previous work.
Here is a link to our national portfolio
Don’t just ask yourself whether the websites look good. Look at them on your phone as well as your computer.
Can you immediately understand what the businesses do? Is it easy to find information? Can you quickly work out how to contact them?
Those are the things your own potential customers will be judging when they visit your website.Click on this text to edit it.
How much should a small business website cost?
This is understandably one of the first questions most business owners ask.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a single answer because website costs vary considerably depending on what you need from a few hundred to thousands.
Factors affecting the price can include:
• The size and number of pages
• Bespoke or template-based design
• Ecommerce functionality
• Booking systems and other integrations
• Copywriting
• Photography
• SEO
• Hosting and security
• Ongoing maintenance and support
Rather than asking only “How much does the website cost?”, a better question is:
“What exactly am I getting for my money?”
A cheap website that doesn’t generate enquiries, is difficult to update or needs replacing after a short period can prove considerably more expensive in the long run.
Equally, a small business shouldn’t be paying for unnecessary functionality it will never use.
The objective should be to find the right website for your business at a price that represents good long-term value.
What’s included in the web design price?
This is where website quotations can become confusing because you’re not always comparing like with like.
One quote may appear considerably cheaper but include little beyond the initial website build.
Another may include:
• Professional design and development
• Mobile optimisation
• Website hosting
• SSL/security
• Domain management
• Website editor or CMS
• Training
• Technical maintenance
• Ongoing support
• SEO setup
Ask your potential web designer to explain exactly what is – and isn’t – included.
You should also establish whether there are likely to be additional costs for making changes, maintaining the website, renewing services or getting help after the site has launched.
Value for money isn’t simply about the initial price. It’s about what you’re getting throughout the life of your website.
Freelancer or web design company – which is better?
There’s no universal answer.
A good freelance web designer can provide an excellent personal service and may be ideal for a business with straightforward requirements.
A web design company or team, meanwhile, may offer access to a wider range of skills, including design, development, technical support, copywriting and SEO.
The important consideration is what happens if you need help.
Ask:
• Who will actually design my website?
• Who deals with technical problems?
• Who can help with SEO?
• What happens if my main contact is unavailable?
• Who provides support once the website is live?
For many small businesses, having both a local point of contact and the backing of a wider professional team can offer the best of both worlds.
Should your web designer understand SEO?
If you want your website to attract visitors from Google, SEO should be considered while the website is being planned and built – not simply added as an afterthought.
A search-friendly website needs a clear structure, relevant page content and good technical performance.
Your web designer should understand the importance of:
• Keyword research
• Page titles and headings
• Logical website structure
• Useful, relevant content
• Internal linking
• Image optimisation
• Mobile usability
• Website speed
• Clear URLs
• Calls to action
For a local business, it’s also important that Google can understand what you do and where you do it.
For example, a business wanting to attract customers in Watford and Hertfordshire needs relevant content that demonstrates its services and geographic coverage naturally – rather than simply repeating location keywords throughout the site.
Web design and SEO should work together.
Why ongoing website support matters
One area that’s often overlooked when choosing a web designer is what happens after the website goes live.
Your business won’t stand still, so neither should your website.
You may want to change services, add team members, upload new photographs, publish blogs, change prices or create additional pages.
You may also need technical help occasionally.
That’s why I’d recommend asking a potential web designer:
“Who will help me six months or two years after my website goes live?”
Look for a provider that offers proper after-sales support, rather than simply building your website and moving on to the next project.
You should also find out whether you’ll be able to make straightforward changes yourself.
A good website editor or content management system (CMS) should allow you to keep your content fresh without having to pay a developer every time you want to change a paragraph or photograph.
Training and ongoing support can therefore be every bit as important as the initial website design.
Should I choose a local web designer?
Working with a local web designer isn’t essential, but there can be real advantages.
A local designer is more likely to understand your market and the areas you’re targeting. There’s also the reassurance of having someone nearby who you can speak to and, when appropriate, meet face-to-face.
For businesses in Watford, Abbots Langley, Rickmansworth, Bushey, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and elsewhere in Hertfordshire, a local website provider can combine digital expertise with knowledge of the local business community.
The key advantage, though, is accountability.
Rather than dealing anonymously with a large online platform, you know who you’re working with and who to contact when you need advice.
DIY website builder or professional web designer?
DIY platforms have made it easier than ever to create a basic website.
For a new business with a very limited budget and simple requirements, a DIY website builder can be a perfectly reasonable way to establish an initial online presence.
However, there comes a point where your time may be better spent running your business.
Professional web design becomes particularly valuable when you need:
• A bespoke design reflecting your brand
• Better user experience
• Professional mobile presentation
• Improved search visibility
• Faster performance
• More advanced functionality
• Ongoing technical support
• A website designed specifically to generate business
The question isn’t simply “Can I build a website myself?”
It’s “Will building it myself produce the website my business needs – and is that the best use of my time?”
For an established or growing business, a professionally designed website can be a valuable investment in credibility, marketing and future growth.
Ten questions to ask a web designer before you hire them
Before making your final decision, I’d recommend asking every potential website provider these ten questions:
1. Can I see examples of websites you’ve designed for other businesses?
2. Will my website be custom designed for my business and target customers?
3. What exactly is included in the quoted price?
4. Will my website work properly on mobiles, tablets and desktops?
5. How will SEO be considered during the website build?
6. Will I be able to update the website myself?
7. Are hosting, SSL and website security included?
8. What ongoing support will I receive after the website launches?
9. Are there additional charges I need to know about?
10. Who will be my point of contact if I need help?
The answers will tell you far more than simply comparing the headline price of each quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a good web designer?
Look for a web designer who takes time to understand your business and target audience, has a strong portfolio, explains costs clearly and provides ongoing support. Your website should be designed to achieve business objectives rather than simply look attractive.
How much should a small business website cost?
The cost of a small business website depends on its size, design, functionality and the services included. Rather than comparing headline prices alone, look at whether design, hosting, security, training, SEO and ongoing support are included. The best value comes from a website that supports your business over the long term.
Is it better to use a local web designer?
A local web designer can offer advantages including local market knowledge, a personal point of contact and the opportunity for face-to-face meetings. For small businesses, being able to speak directly to someone who understands your business can be particularly valuable.
Should SEO be included in website design?
SEO should certainly be considered during the design and build process. Website structure, content, headings, page speed, mobile usability and internal links can all affect how effectively search engines understand your website. More extensive ongoing SEO can then be used to increase organic visibility over time. Do please note that SEO can be self taught if you are that way inclined.
Is a bespoke website better than a template website?
It depends on your requirements. Templates can be suitable for simple websites and limited budgets. A bespoke website provides greater freedom to create the design, structure and user journey around your particular business, brand and customers.
Choosing the right web designer for your business
Choosing a web designer shouldn’t simply come down to finding the cheapest quote.
Look at the quality of their work, what’s included, their understanding of SEO, the support you’ll receive and whether they take the time to understand what your business actually needs.A well-designed website should represent your business professionally, make life easy for your customers and, most importantly, help you achieve your business goals.
At it’seeze Web Design Watford, I’ve spent almost 10 years helping businesses throughout Watford, Hertfordshire and North London improve their online presence.
We combine a local point of contact with professional website design, development and ongoing support, helping make the whole process as straightforward as possible.
Built on the new It’seeze Lightning platform: Faster | Safer | Easier
Our latest websites are built on the It’seeze Lightning platform, designed around three key principles: Faster, Safer and Easier.
Faster means improved website performance and quicker loading pages, helping to provide a better experience for visitors while supporting SEO
Safer means a modern, secure platform that is professionally managed and maintained, giving business owners greater peace of mind.
Easier means an intuitive website editor that makes updating your own content simple, backed by ongoing training and support whenever you need it.
Together, these three pillars help us provide small businesses with websites that aren't just designed to look good, but are built to perform effectively for the long term.
If you’re considering a new website, or you’re unsure whether your existing website is performing as well as it could, get in touch for an informal chat or request a free website audit. We’ll be happy to take a look and discuss where improvements could be made.
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