How to choose a web designer or agency

The best way to choose a web design agency is to ask a few direct questions before you sign: who will do the work, which platform they recommend and why, what you will own at the end, how the process runs, and what happens after launch. Good studios and freelancers answer these easily, and their answers will tell you more about the fit than a portfolio alone.

Have you built something like mine?

Look for work that solved a similar problem, even if it sits in a different industry. Relevant experience shows up in how a designer talks about your customers, not only in how the portfolio looks.

Ask them to walk you through one project from start to finish. What was the goal, what did they decide early, and what changed along the way? A clear, specific story about someone else's project is a good preview of how yours will be handled.

It also helps to look at live sites rather than screenshots. Open a few on your phone, try the navigation and notice how quickly the pages load. The way a site behaves months after launch says a great deal about how carefully it was built.

Who will actually be working on my website?

Ask who you will speak with each week and who will design, write and build the site. Studios are set up in many ways, and each can work well, as long as you know who is responsible for what.

Some teams have account managers, designers and developers in separate roles. Smaller studios often keep strategy, design and build in the same hands. At BL3SSED, you talk to the person making the work, and trusted specialists join when a project genuinely calls for one. Whichever setup you choose, a named person answerable for the standard makes everything easier.

Which platform will you build on, and why?

A good answer ties the platform to how your team will run the site after launch. Webflow, WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, Framer and Wix each have real strengths, and the right one depends on your content, your budget and who will be making edits.

Ask how you would add a project, change a price or publish an article on the platform they suggest. Ask about hosting, plugins or apps, and any ongoing fees. If you sell online, ask about the store side specifically. The answer should make sense for an ordinary Tuesday afternoon in your business, not only for launch day.

Will I own the domain, the files and the accounts?

You should own your domain, your website, your design files and every account connected to them. Ask when ownership transfers and whether accounts are set up in your name from the start.

This keeps you in control whatever changes on either side. It also makes future work simpler, since any designer can pick up where the last one left off. We set up every file, account and domain in the client's name from day one, and full ownership transfers once the final payment clears.

A clear answer to a direct question is worth more than a polished pitch.

What does the process look like, week by week?

A good process has clear phases, a written plan you approve before design starts, and regular chances to see the work as it takes shape. Ask how often you will see progress and what will be needed from you.

Our own projects run through four phases: Discover, Define, Design and Deliver. The scope, timeline and investment are agreed in writing first, and you see work every week, so launch day holds no surprises. It is also worth asking who writes the words. Copy often takes longer than design, and knowing who owns it keeps the timeline realistic.

Ask, too, how feedback works. A shared document, a recorded walkthrough or a short weekly call keeps decisions moving, and it means small questions get answered in a day rather than waiting for the next meeting.

Are search and AI visibility part of the build?

They should be. Search foundations are easiest to get right while the site is being planned, so ask what is included before launch.

Useful foundations include a sensible page structure, clear titles and descriptions, fast loading on phones, structured data, and redirects from old pages if you are replacing an existing site. Ask as well how the site will be prepared for Google AI Overviews and tools like ChatGPT, which draw on clear, well structured answers. None of this needs to be complicated, and it is simplest when it is planned from the start.

What is included in the price, including after launch?

Ask for a written scope that lists what is included, how many revision rounds you get, the payment terms, and what support looks like once the site is live. Clear terms make it easy to compare quotes fairly.

• Is copywriting included, or will you supply the words?
• Who handles photography, or photography direction?
• Is training included, and is there a recorded handover you can return to?
• Is there a period of included care after launch?
• How are later changes billed?
• If you want ongoing care or search work, what does it include each month?

We publish our website prices, from $1,900 CAD for a starter site, and every website includes training, a recorded walkthrough and thirty days of care after launch. Whoever you choose, the goal is the same: clear expectations on both sides from the very first call.

Where to go from here.

You can see how we approach projects on our web design service page. For a clear view of what websites cost locally, read how much a website costs in Edmonton. And if you would like to ask us any of the questions above, send a short note. We reply within one business day.