Ten questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same list and compare the answers side by side:
- Is the design custom, or based on a template?
- Who owns the domain, hosting, and accounts when we're done?
- Is on-page SEO included, or billed separately?
- What exactly is my total price, and what triggers extra cost?
- How many rounds of revisions are included?
- Who writes the copy?
- Can I edit the site myself afterward? Show me how.
- What happens if something breaks a month after launch?
- Can I speak to a past client?
- What's your launch checklist?
Red flags
Any one of these is worth walking away over:
- They hold your domain or hosting in their own account
- Guaranteed #1 rankings
- No written scope or timeline
- A portfolio of sites that are all the same layout
- No mention of mobile, speed, or accessibility
- Pressure to sign a long retainer before any work is defined
Freelancer, agency, or DIY builder?
A DIY builder is right when the site is a placeholder and your time is free. An agency makes sense when you need multiple specialists and have the budget for coordination. A single experienced freelancer is usually the best value for a small business: one person who does the design, the build, and the search work, with no account-manager telephone game.
How to read a portfolio properly
Open the live sites on your phone. Are they fast? Is the phone number tappable? Do you immediately know what the business does? A portfolio screenshot hides all three answers.
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