Phase #3, Choosing a Website Designer

Before I start on this subject, I am a website designer. I am therefore biased, also informed.  I will try to be as objective here as possible.

Choosing a website designer is easier than you think.  Just look at the designer's websites and those of the customers:

• Are the websites attractive to you?  Although many of us use templates and you get to pick your template, everyone has a style and your style may not be compatible with a particular website designer's style.
• Can you find the website(s) of the designer in Google, Yahoo and Bing?  Do a website search in all 3 of these search engines.  For example, search on website design in CT if the designer is in CT.  Then search in the designer's city for example website design in Enfield CT.  Finally, choose a few cities near the designer, in my case Somers, Stafford, and Windsor CT and Longmeadow MA.  A website is seldom valuable if no one can find it. If you are dealing with an amateur that is exactly what is going to happen, no one is going to be able to find your website unless they already know about it.  When searching the entire State, keep in mind that there are thousands of website designers in CT, so don't expect to find me or your designer on page #1. On the first 10 pages is reasonable, though.
• Does the website load in a reasonable amount of time?  Anything over 2 seconds is too long, assuming that you have DSL or Cable Internet service.  There are tools that will tell you how long it really takes.  Unfortunately you cannot easily tell without these tools as all browsers cache. 
• Are there syntax errors in the designer's website?  If there are, beware.  The website may look perfectly fine in Internet Explorer Version 8 but may look horrible in Firefox, Safari, Chrome or Internet Explorer 7.  Don't appear unprofessional to half your website visitors.  You can check the syntax by going to the W3C Syntax Checker and entering the entire URL, for example http://www.cit-services.com .
• Finally there is price.  An average website page takes about 4 hours to create.  If you are buying a 5 page website, you are buying about 20 hours of someone's time.  Don't expect your website designer to work at minimum wage.  If you want shoddy work or spyware, go ahead and pay $200 for that website. There has to be a reason why someone would work for $5.00 an hour and you may be in for an unpleasant surprise when you find the reason.  Even in India, no one works for that little. 

In general, try to use a local designer, within 100 miles of your business.  You are investing a lot of trust in your designer; it is better to trust a neighbor than someone you will never meet.