Start with what the website needs to do
Before comparing designers, write down what you want the website to achieve. More phone calls, more quote requests, online sales or simply a credible place to send people after they meet you. A good Sussex web designer will ask about these goals in the first conversation, not just about colours and fonts.
If a designer jumps straight to templates without understanding your customers, that is usually a sign the site will look nice but do very little.
Look closely at the portfolio
A portfolio tells you more than any sales pitch. Open the live websites, not just the screenshots. Check them on your phone, see how quickly they load and try to find the contact details as a customer would.
- Are the sites live and still maintained?
- Do they work well on mobile?
- Are they for businesses similar to yours?
- Does each site look different, or are they all the same template?
Ask who owns the website
Make sure you will own your domain name, your content and, ideally, the website itself. Some providers rent sites on a monthly basis and keep everything if you leave. There is nothing wrong with a monthly support plan, but you should know exactly what happens if you stop paying.
Check the SEO foundations are included
A new website should launch with the basics already in place: unique page titles and descriptions, a sitemap, sensible headings, fast loading images and redirects from any old addresses. These are not extras. Without them, a new site can lose the search visibility the old one had.
Local makes a difference
Working with a designer based in Sussex means you can meet in person, they understand the local market and they know the towns your customers search for. That local knowledge helps when writing pages that target searches such as web design in Haywards Heath or a plumber in Burgess Hill.
Read genuine reviews
Google reviews from real clients are one of the best signals you can find. Look for reviews that mention communication, deadlines and support after launch, as these are the things that matter most once the site is live.
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