Top 4 qualities to look for in an online marketer and web designer

By: Chris Bauer

Let me begin by saying that all of the qualities in this list are not going to be that your new web designer’s name must be Chris Bauer. I’m in the business of helping people. I want to be sure that the services I provide and the way that I do so will help you and that your endeavors succeed. So let me get to the first point.

1. Make sure your web designer is in the business of helping people.

(Ha!) Seriously though, some business owners will be more interested in signing up clients before getting around to asking about needs. If somebody pressures you to sign on the dotted line before they know they can help, move on. A good designer will only be as satisfied as their client, so make sure that’s their goal.

2. A good designer makes beautiful websites on the outside.

Ok, this one is probably obvious. This is the most fun part of choosing a designer. Look at their portfolio and make sure their past projects look like something you want to put your name on. Your online presence defines a large part of your identity, it’s important to look professional and convey your own unique image.

3. A good designer makes beautiful websites on the inside.

Learning if a potential web designer writes good code may not be a simple task for someone without a lot of online experience. There are however a few important reasons to demand clean, what we call standards compliant code for your project.

The first is longevity. The web changes over time, and you don’t want to be stuck with a poorly coded site that looks jumbly. The web will move on, and standards code will last the longest. Code is also important is because bad code creates designer lock-in. You don’t know how long you’ll be working with your designer. If she moves to Budapest a month after the work is completed, you might need to bring in someone else and implement changes. If the code isn’t up to standards, a new designer may have a harder, and therefore more expensive job of interpreting and modifying it.

One quick way anyone can check a website (or a designer’s previous website) is to plug the web address into this W3C form. These are the guys who write the rules to the Internet, and the form will spit back how many errors, if any, are in the code. A handful of errors might have a good reason, but any more will generally throw up a red flag. When in doubt, ask.

4. Patience, people skills, and time.

You’re going to be working with your designer a lot, giving ideas, feed back, asking for changes, and so on. Being able to work well together will make the process much more pleasant. They’ll also need to have the time for you. Ask a designer about his or her policy on revisions. If they seem strict and you’re the kind of person who changes your mind about things, that might not be the best fit.

Conclusion

I hope having a list of important things to look for, written by a designer, helps in your search. Just make sure your designer, whoever they are, is working with you to determine your goals and help you meet them. Besides answering them, a good designer also asks lots of questions.

-Chris

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