Questions About Web Design – FAQs
In the fast-paced digital world, a killer website is a must for any business wanting to make waves online. But with so many web design options, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of choices. Whether you’re giving your current site a makeover or starting fresh, the right questions can make all the difference in finding the perfect web design agency.
In this post, we’ve rounded up the top 25 questions we get asked about web design before getting hired. From understanding their research approach to nailing down post-launch support, these questions will give you the lowdown on how the agency works and what to expect. By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to make a smart choice and kick off a web design project that will boost your online game.
1. What kind of research will you do on our business?
We conduct thorough research to gain a deep understanding of your business, industry landscape, and specific goals. This begins with an analysis of your business model, values, and core offerings to ensure your website accurately reflects your brand identity. We delve into your target market to identify key audience demographics, behaviours, and preferences, allowing us to create a user experience that speaks directly to their needs.
We also perform competitor analysis to benchmark your current position within the market, identifying areas where you can differentiate yourself and gain a competitive edge. This includes studying their website structure, design elements, and marketing strategies, so we can position your site to outperform them in terms of usability, content, and search engine rankings.
Additionally, we consider your industry trends and the latest technological advancements, ensuring your website is future-proof, scalable, and relevant in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. This comprehensive approach helps us tailor a website that not only meets immediate needs but also supports long-term growth and business objectives. We also work closely with you during this phase, gathering insights from your team to align our research with your vision and business strategy.
Ultimately, this research ensures that your new website not only looks professional but also functions as a powerful tool for achieving your marketing goals, attracting and engaging the right customers, and driving conversions.
2. Will you review my existing website before building my new website?
Absolutely. Before embarking on a redesign, we conduct a comprehensive audit of your current website to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. This includes assessing the site’s overall performance, user experience (UX), SEO effectiveness, loading times, and mobile responsiveness. We’ll also examine key metrics such as bounce rates, user engagement, and conversion rates to understand how well your existing site is meeting your business goals. Based on this thorough analysis, we create a bespoke redesign strategy that enhances your website’s performance, optimises UX, and aligns the design with your business objectives. Additionally, we’ll ensure that any positive elements of your current site, like established SEO rankings or content that resonates with your audience, are preserved and improved in the new design.
3. Do you offer services other than web design?
Yes, at WebKandy, we offer a full suite of digital marketing and web development services that extend far beyond just web design. Our expertise includes SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to boost your visibility on search engines, PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising to drive targeted traffic, and social media strategy to engage your audience across platforms. We also provide content creation services, crafting everything from blog posts to product descriptions that not only resonate with your target market but are also optimised for search engines. Additionally, we offer branding services to help refine or establish a unique brand identity that sets you apart from competitors. By integrating these digital marketing services with web design, we ensure your website not only looks great but also works hard to attract, engage, and convert visitors into loyal customers. This holistic approach allows us to support your long-term growth and maximise the ROI from your digital presence.
4. Can you design a website that fits my budget?
Yes, we can design a website that fits your budget without compromising on quality. We understand that businesses come in all shapes and sizes, and we offer flexible pricing options to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re a small business just starting out or a larger company seeking a full-scale redesign, we tailor our services accordingly. We’ll discuss your goals and priorities upfront to develop a plan that aligns with your financial constraints, while still delivering a professional, high-performing website. We are transparent about costs from the beginning, so you’ll know exactly what you’re investing in and how it will contribute to your business growth. This approach ensures you receive a website that not only fits your budget but also offers great value for your long-term digital presence.
5. Do you work in-house or outsource your projects?
All of our work is done in-house by our experienced team of designers, developers, and digital marketing specialists. This approach allows us to maintain complete control over the quality of our work and ensure every element of your website meets our high standards. In-house development also guarantees that we can manage your project efficiently, provide clear and consistent communication, and adapt quickly to any changes or challenges that may arise. By keeping everything under one roof, we can offer a more cohesive and streamlined process, from initial concept to final delivery. This direct control means that we can build your website with precision, accountability, and a focus on your specific business goals.
6. Will I have a project manager or one central contact?
Yes, you will have a dedicated project manager who serves as your primary point of contact throughout the entire project. This person will oversee all aspects of your website’s development, ensuring that the project stays on schedule and meets your expectations at every stage. Your project manager will keep you updated with regular progress reports, coordinate feedback, and ensure that any questions or concerns are addressed promptly. By having one central contact, you’ll avoid the confusion that can come with dealing with multiple people, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing there’s someone responsible for keeping everything on track. This personalised approach ensures that your vision is fully realised while making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
7. What is your design and project management process?
We follow a structured, phased approach to ensure every project is completed to the highest standards. Our process typically includes the following stages:
- Discovery and Research: We begin by understanding your business, target audience, and competitors. This helps us define the key objectives for your website and set the foundation for the design.
- Wireframing and Prototyping: Next, we create wireframes or prototypes that map out the website’s structure, layout, and user journey. This gives you a visual representation of how the site will function and look.
- Design: Based on the wireframes and feedback, our designers craft a visually appealing design that reflects your brand identity and engages your target audience.
- Development: Once the design is approved, we move on to development, where we build the website using clean, efficient code. Our developers focus on performance, security, and functionality to ensure your website runs smoothly.
- Testing: Before launch, we thoroughly test the site to ensure it works flawlessly across all devices and browsers. We also check for bugs, broken links, and optimisation issues.
- Launch: After everything is approved, we launch the website. We monitor its performance and are on hand to make any necessary adjustments.
Throughout the entire process, you’ll be involved in key decisions, and we’ll seek your input at each phase. This ensures your website aligns with your vision and business goals.
8. How long will my website design and development take?
The time it takes to design and develop a website depends on various factors, such as the complexity of the project, the number of features required, and the content provided. On average, most websites are completed within 8-12 weeks. This timeline includes all stages, from initial discovery and wireframing to design, development, testing, and launch. For more complex websites, such as e-commerce platforms or custom integrations, the timeline may be extended, but we’ll provide a clear and detailed schedule based on your specific needs at the outset. We believe in maintaining open communication throughout the project, so if any changes or delays occur, we’ll inform you immediately and adjust the timeline accordingly. Our goal is to deliver a high-quality website that meets your requirements within an agreed-upon timeframe, ensuring minimal disruption to your business.
9. What do you need from me before the project starts?
Before we can begin, we’ll need several key inputs from you to ensure the project is aligned with your business goals and vision. This includes:
- Business Overview: A detailed understanding of your business, its products or services, and your target audience. The more we know, the better we can tailor the site to your unique needs.
- Website Goals: Clarity on what you want the website to achieve. Whether it’s increasing sales, generating leads, improving brand awareness, or providing information, your goals will shape the website’s design and functionality.
- Branding Guidelines: If you have branding assets such as logos, colour schemes, typography, and any other visual guidelines, we’ll need access to these. Consistency is key, so aligning the website with your brand identity is essential.
- Content: Any written content, images, videos, or other assets you wish to use on the site. While we can assist with content creation (such as copywriting and sourcing images), providing assets upfront ensures a smoother process.
- Technical Preferences: If you have preferences for platforms, integrations, or specific functionality (such as CRM, booking systems, etc.), it’s helpful to know in advance so we can plan accordingly.
- Competitor Insights: Any insights into your competitors’ websites that you either admire or wish to avoid can help guide the creative process.
By gathering this information, we can hit the ground running and ensure the final product meets your expectations.
10. Should I provide the written copy for the website?
You’re welcome to provide the written copy if you already have content prepared, but we understand that not everyone has the time or expertise to craft effective website content. This is why we offer professional copywriting services tailored to your business.
Our team specialises in creating SEO-optimised, engaging copy that not only appeals to your audience but also improves your site’s visibility on search engines. We write with your target audience in mind, ensuring the tone, language, and messaging align with your brand voice. Additionally, we focus on conversion-driven content that encourages users to take action, whether that’s making a purchase, filling out a contact form, or subscribing to a newsletter.
If you choose to provide your own content, we’re happy to collaborate and fine-tune it as needed to ensure it aligns with best practices for web content.
11. Should I provide the images for the website?
Providing images can add a personal touch to your website, especially if they showcase your products, team, or facilities. If you have high-quality images that align with your brand, we’d be happy to incorporate them into the design.
However, we understand that not all businesses have access to professional photography, which is why we also offer the following options:
- Royalty-Free Images: We can source high-quality, royalty-free images from stock libraries that complement your brand and website content.
- Custom Photography: If you’re looking for a more bespoke approach, we can arrange for professional photographers to capture custom visuals for your site. This is a great option if you want to showcase your products, services, or team in the most authentic way.
- Image Optimisation: Whether you provide your own images or we source them, we ensure all visuals are optimised for the web, improving load times and maintaining high quality without compromising on performance.
Using the right imagery is crucial to creating a visually appealing site that resonates with your audience, so we’re here to help guide the selection process.
12. Do you have a portfolio I can see?
Yes, we’d be happy to share our portfolio. We take pride in the variety and quality of websites we’ve built across different industries, ranging from e-commerce and professional services to education and hospitality. Our portfolio showcases not only the design aesthetic but also the diverse functionality we’ve integrated into different projects, tailored to meet our clients’ unique goals.
By reviewing our portfolio, you can get a sense of:
- Design Variety: We customise each site to match the client’s branding, ensuring a unique and bespoke look for every project.
- Technical Capabilities: From simple brochure sites to complex e-commerce platforms, you’ll see examples of the range of features and integrations we’ve implemented.
- Client Results: Many of the projects in our portfolio have led to significant improvements for our clients, including increased traffic, higher conversions, and enhanced user engagement.
We’re confident our portfolio will give you a better understanding of our expertise and creativity, and we look forward to discussing how we can bring your vision to life.
13. Which content management system (CMS) do you use?
We primarily use WordPress due to its flexibility, scalability, and user-friendly interface, making it an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes. WordPress is highly customisable, allowing us to design unique websites that align perfectly with your brand and specific requirements. Its robust ecosystem of plugins and integrations means we can easily add advanced functionalities like e-commerce, membership systems, and complex forms, without compromising performance or security.
However, we also understand that WordPress may not be the perfect fit for every project. Depending on your needs, we are experienced with other CMS platforms such as Joomla, Drupal, and Shopify. For example, if you need a highly complex or enterprise-level site, we may recommend Drupal for its ability to handle large-scale content management. For e-commerce, we can utilise Shopify or WooCommerce for WordPress, both of which offer excellent features for managing products, payments, and shipping.
Ultimately, we choose the CMS that best suits your project’s goals, ensuring a seamless user experience for both you and your customers, while providing you with a platform that is easy to manage post-launch.
14. Do you build custom sites or use pre-bought templates?
We offer both options to suit different needs and budgets. For clients seeking a completely unique, tailor-made experience, we specialise in creating custom website designs from the ground up. These sites are built with your specific business goals, audience, and branding in mind, allowing for full creative freedom and the inclusion of bespoke features or functionality. This approach is ideal for businesses with more complex requirements or those looking to stand out from competitors with a one-of-a-kind digital presence.
For clients working with a tighter budget or those with simpler needs, we can customise pre-designed templates to align with your brand. These templates are a more cost-effective option but can still be highly effective with the right customisation. We adjust the layout, colours, fonts, and content to reflect your brand identity, ensuring the end result is polished and professional. Whether you opt for a custom build or a template-based design, both approaches are responsive, SEO-friendly, and tailored to deliver a positive user experience. Our goal is to ensure that no matter your budget, your website looks and functions beautifully.
15. Are your web designs responsive?
Yes, all of our websites are fully responsive, meaning they are designed to adapt seamlessly to any device, whether it’s a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. This ensures that your users enjoy a smooth and consistent experience, regardless of the screen size or device they’re using. A responsive design isn’t just about aesthetics; it plays a crucial role in usability and accessibility. Google also favours mobile-friendly sites, so having a responsive website can significantly improve your SEO rankings. We rigorously test each site across multiple devices and browsers to guarantee that it performs optimally, providing fast loading times, easy navigation, and flawless functionality on every platform.
16. Do you follow SEO best practices when building the site?
Absolutely. SEO is an integral part of our web development process. We implement SEO best practices from the ground up, including clean code, fast loading speeds, mobile optimisation, and structured data that helps search engines understand your content. We also ensure that your site’s architecture is designed to be easily crawlable, meaning search engines can index your pages efficiently. Key elements like meta tags, alt text for images, header tags, and keyword-rich content are all part of our on-page SEO strategy. In addition, we focus on creating a user-friendly design that improves dwell time and reduces bounce rates, two factors that search engines take into account when ranking sites. After launch, we can provide ongoing SEO audits and adjustments to ensure your site continues to perform well in search results.
17. Will you develop or integrate marketing strategies?
Yes, we can integrate comprehensive digital marketing strategies directly into your website design, aligning it with your broader business goals. From the outset, we focus on creating a site that not only looks great but is also built to drive traffic and convert visitors into leads or customers. Whether it’s SEO to improve your site’s visibility on search engines, email marketing to nurture leads, or social media integration to engage your audience, we ensure that every element of your website works together to support your overall marketing strategy.
We can also integrate advanced analytics and tracking tools such as Google Analytics, Tag Manager, and CRM systems like HubSpot, allowing you to monitor user behaviour, track key metrics, and refine your marketing efforts over time. Additionally, we can incorporate lead generation forms, call-to-actions (CTAs), and e-commerce functionality, ensuring your website becomes a powerful tool in your sales funnel.
By strategically weaving marketing elements into your website’s design and structure, we help you maximise ROI, strengthen your brand presence, and achieve long-term business growth.
18. How many pages will my new website have?
The number of pages your website will need depends on the structure and purpose of your business. Most small to medium-sized business websites typically range from 5-15 pages, which might include standard sections such as a homepage, about us, services, contact page, and blog. However, if your website requires more detailed or complex information—like an extensive product catalogue, multiple service areas, or unique landing pages for marketing campaigns—we can create larger sites to accommodate your specific needs. Whether you require a few core pages or a multi-level site with dozens of subpages, we’ll work with you to determine the best structure for your goals, ensuring a smooth user experience and clear navigation.
19. Can you build an e-commerce site?
Absolutely. We specialise in creating powerful, scalable e-commerce websites designed to boost online sales and streamline your business processes. Whether you need to sell a few products or manage a large catalogue, we build secure, user-friendly platforms tailored to your business. We often use industry-leading e-commerce solutions like WooCommerce for WordPress or Shopify, depending on your preferences. Our e-commerce sites feature easy-to-use shopping carts, secure payment gateways, and comprehensive inventory management systems. Additionally, we’ll implement strategies to optimise your site for search engines and mobile devices, ensuring customers can find and purchase your products quickly and easily. If needed, we can integrate third-party apps and software to enhance functionality, from marketing automation to customer relationship management (CRM) tools.
20. How many rounds of edits and revisions are included?
We understand how important it is for your website to match your vision perfectly. That’s why we include two rounds of revisions during the design phase to fine-tune the look and feel of the website. During this process, you’ll have the opportunity to provide feedback on key aspects such as layout, colours, images, and overall functionality. Our goal is to make sure you’re fully satisfied with the design before we move forward to development. If further revisions are necessary, we can accommodate additional rounds depending on the project’s scope and complexity. We’ll ensure a clear feedback loop throughout the entire process so that there’s no confusion and your website achieves the desired results.
21. Is my website secure? Will my domain have an SSL certificate?
Yes, your website’s security is a top priority. We build all websites with the latest security measures to protect against online threats, including the installation of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates. An SSL certificate not only encrypts data between your site and visitors but also provides your users with peace of mind by displaying the secure padlock icon in the browser. This is particularly important for e-commerce sites or any website that collects sensitive customer data. In addition to SSL, we implement other security best practices such as regular updates, strong password protocols, firewalls, and malware scanning, to safeguard your site from vulnerabilities and attacks. We will also advise you on ongoing security measures post-launch to keep your site protected in the future.
22. What training and support do you offer after launching the site?
We believe in empowering you to manage your website effectively after launch. Once your website goes live, we offer a hands-on training session to familiarise you with the content management system (CMS) so that you can easily update content, add new pages, or make minor changes as needed. Our training is tailored to your level of technical expertise, ensuring you feel confident managing your site independently. Beyond initial training, we offer ongoing support and maintenance packages. This includes regular updates, security checks, performance monitoring, and technical troubleshooting to keep your site running smoothly. We are also available for any future modifications or enhancements, such as adding new features or integrating additional marketing tools as your business grows.
23. Do I own the site and its contents after it goes live?
Yes, once your website is live and all project payments have been finalised, you will have full ownership of the website and its contents. This includes all design elements, written content, images (if provided by you or sourced for your project), and any custom code we develop. You’ll also have full access to the CMS, allowing you to make changes as you see fit without any ongoing restrictions. We believe in providing complete transparency and control to our clients, so there are no hidden fees or restrictions once the project is completed. Whether you want to manage your site independently or have us handle ongoing updates and maintenance, the decision is entirely yours.
24. Is my website ADA-accessible?
We ensure our websites are accessible by adhering to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards, which improve usability for individuals with disabilities. This includes designing for a wide range of needs, such as visual impairments, hearing difficulties, mobility challenges, and cognitive disabilities. Our accessibility features cover:
- Keyboard navigation for users who can’t use a mouse.
- Text alternatives for images, enabling screen readers to describe content.
- Proper colour contrast to assist users with visual impairments or colour blindness.
- Captioning or transcripts for video and audio content, ensuring inclusivity for users with hearing impairments.
- Accessible forms with clear labels and easy-to-use fields.
We perform rigorous testing to ensure your website is compliant with both international standards and legal requirements. Additionally, making your website accessible not only fosters inclusivity but also improves SEO and broadens your reach to a wider audience. This approach enhances the overall user experience and helps avoid potential legal risks associated with non-compliance.
25. One last question for YOU…
Ready to elevate your online presence? Get in touch with WebKandy, and let’s make it happen!