Website Design Experience:

Ask how much website design experience they have and what they can do. Is some of their work outsourced? If they will be outsourcing some of the work, what is the reason they are doing so? Is this a valid reason to you? Decide if you think their level of experience can get the job done. Ask to see their portfolio.

Marketing Experience:

Look at the websites from the web designer's portfolio. Are you satisfied with the way the websites of these companies display their marketing messages?

Availability, Job Timeline and Customer Service Orientation:

Will they be available to assist you during regular business hours? Do you feel confident that they will promptly respond to your telephone calls and/or emails during their regular business hours? Can they accomodate designing your website in the time frame that you expect them to? Will they treat your website as one of their priorities?

If this website designer will outsource some of the work done on your website, how much time will the outsourcing add to the job timeline?

Ask the website designer for their references and contact those references to find out if they were happy with the services their website designer provided to them.

Creativity:

Is this website designer creative? Do they have a way with color and page layout? Are they receptive to your own creative ideas? If you are not quite sure what you would like to have your website look like, is this website designer able to provide you with creative ideas and a website that will match the marketing message you would like your potential customers to see on your website?

Communication:

How well does this website designer communicate with you? Does this person speak to you in language that you understand? Do you think you will be able to communicate clearly with this person during the time that your website is being designed and developed. Are the two of you on the same page regarding what you are looking for, or do you feel this person is attempting to enforce their own will upon you? Is there a balance between what you want and what the website designer is recommending to you that you should do?

Cost:

Do you know what the going rate is for the type of website you are looking for? Is the price being quoted to you in-line with the current market? Are you clear about exactly what you are going to receive for the price quoted? Have add-on prices been discussed in the event that your website ends up having an extra page or two added to it because of content or layout considerations. If you decide to add animation, video or sound files, or a customer response form, do you know how much these add-ons will cost you, before the work commences on your website?