How to Hire a Freelance WordPress Web Designer: The Complete Checklist

Just like any other profession, web designers come with a range of talents & specialties. Here are 5 tips to find the best freelance WordPress web designer for you.

1. Consider Web Design Costs and Get Estimates from a Range of Web Designers

You should be wary of scams that involve designing a website for you without your input. As with anything shop around.

The end result may basically look the same but web designers will make tweaks here and there to make them unique. A web designers style of project management, included services, and anything else varies - it's a personal journey.

When creating a website, it is important to take into account the cost of hiring a professional designer. You should shop around for a designer and ask them for an estimate of what they will charge. You will find web designers offering a complete WordPress website for under £200. Don’t expect anything more than an off the shelf theme. You will find web designers offering a complete website for over £2,000.

Remember that the estimate you receive from a web designer is a reflection of how they value their time and expertise. Their pricing also gives an indication of what they have charged previous clients so check their testimonials and pricing page for examples.

2. Find Someone Who Understands Your Needs

Do you have a tight deadline? A WordPress web designer might be able to quickly turn around an off the shelf website for your business. If you're looking for someone to take the time to get to know your company, needs and goals, then they might not be the best option. Their price list will give a clear indication of how long they plan to spend working with you on your website.

When you first contact an experienced WordPress web designer they will be able to show you examples of their client onboarding process. This can help you understand how they would go about designing your website and may even offer a free consultation.

3. Check Their References and Review their Past Work

References are important in the world of web design. They can provide insight on how well a web designer can perform, if they are knowledgeable about the topic, and if they have collaborated with other clients in the past.

References should not be taken as a means to validate that this is a good person to hire. References should be used as an indicator for what kind of work you're getting into.

4. How to Judge a WordPress Web Designer's Quality of Work?

There are a number of ways to judge a WordPress web designer. These include the number of years that they have been in the industry, the kind of websites that have launched and their level of expertise.

Professionalism is one way to judge the quality of work. Websites should look professional and follow design trends. They should also be easy to navigate and should not slow down your PC or phone when you visit them.

5. Be Aware of Red Flags like Unprofessionalism, Aggressive Marketing, or Lack of Experience

Be aware of red flags when hiring a digital marketing company.

Be wary about companies who promise to rank you on the first page of Google in just a few months, as this is not realistic. When hiring digital agencies, it is important to look at their experience and portfolio so that you know what you are getting into. Always remember that reputable companies will not charge more for SEO or design work than the quoted price. It is always better to hire an agency with a strong reputation and years of experience over one that has recently come out.

Bonus: Checklist of Questions for Interviewing your freelance web designers - How will you know who does it best?

Before you start looking for web designers, you need to know what you want from them. Here are some questions that you should ask them before hiring them.

Are you able to provide us with a portfolio of your work?
Do you have any references?
What is your process for handling projects?
How much do we need to pay upfront and how often will we be billed as the project progresses?
What is your process for managing expectations and deadlines?

years of web design

Websites launched

20+

Websites hosted & maintained

Client's Feedback

I’d like to thank you for getting me through the whole process of setting up a new website which I had been dreading and putting off for months. You interpreted my ideas perfectly and you have produced a very professional looking and user friendly website which is exactly what I asked for. Getting the tone right with a business like mine is not easy but you have done exactly that. I honestly wouldn’t change a thing and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you!
Susan Nathan
Family Mediator
The appearance of the new website looks current and modern thanks to Matt's flair as a web designer and with his expert command of WordPress. Matt's attentive and intuitive nature is reflected through his customer focus and aftercare and I'm confident that our professional relationship will continue well into the future.
Mark Sadler
Global chauffeuring services
Matt is a professional and talented web designer who is able to take your ideas and interpret them into a web site. I would highly recommend Matt and we are very pleased with the two websites he developed and is running for us.
Nick Hill
Church leader
Very efficient and professional with a good sense of what was required and was helpful in suggesting changes and in keeping the website up to date. Very good artistic sense with an eye catching home page with easy access to tabs.
Michael Stubbs
Charity Chair
Matt and I go back a long way. He from the start embraced the challenge of supporting me when I built with his help two websites for two very different avenues of work, and neither had he done before. He was professional, understanding and very supportive from the get-go and certainly showed his expertise in his field. I am very happy he is on my team.
Booney
Birthing Doula
I am very pleased to have chosen designaway to design my website. The website is original, clean and intuitive. Matt has been enthusiastic and professional throughout. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge with WordPress which saved a huge amount of time. He has the answers to every question, contributed great ideas and is able to quickly and effectively implement my vision for the website. Highly recommended.
Alex Clarke
Owner of Music Academy
Matt is a highly accomplished website designer who I fully endorse. To date he has designed 2 websites for me which have proved highly successful and have led to a significant increase in my client base. Matt is friendly, personable and really easy to work with. He listened to my specific needs and used his wealth of experience to deliver packages that not only work but which are also intuitive and easy-to-use. Matt comes highly recommended by me and I will certainly be using his services again in the future.
James Jagger
Photographer & tutor