Getting a new website built is one of those decisions that feels simple on the surface and then turns complicated the moment you start looking at options. There are one-person freelancers, large agencies, template builders, and everything in between. Prices range from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands. And the proposals all start to sound the same after a while.
Here’s how to cut through it and find someone who’ll actually deliver what your business needs.
Start With What You Actually Need
Before you talk to anyone, get clear on what the website has to do. Is it primarily there to generate enquiries? Sell products? Build credibility with people who already know you? House content and resources for existing clients?
Different goals call for different approaches. A website that needs to rank well in Google and bring in cold leads requires a different kind of thinking than a portfolio site for an established business. Knowing your goal helps you ask better questions and spot proposals that don’t quite fit.
Look at Their Work, Not Just Their Website
Every designer has a portfolio. Look at the sites they’ve actually built, not just the screenshots. Visit the live websites, test them on your phone, and see how fast they load. Click around. Does the content make sense? Are they easy to navigate?
If you can’t find live examples of their work, that’s worth noting. Ask directly. Good designers are proud of what they’ve built and happy to show you.
Ask These Questions Before You Commit
The quality of the questions you ask before signing anything will determine how smoothly the project goes. Here are the ones that matter:
Who actually builds the site? Some studios outsource the build to freelancers overseas or use contractors you’ll never speak to. Know who you’re actually working with.
What platform will it be built on? WordPress is the most flexible and widely supported option for small businesses. Be cautious about bespoke systems or lesser-known platforms that make it difficult to move or get support elsewhere later.
What happens when it goes live? A website needs ongoing maintenance, updates, and hosting. Is that included, or does it end the moment the project closes? Ask specifically about website care plans and what support looks like after launch.
Will it be optimised for search engines from the start? SEO shouldn’t be an afterthought. Page titles, meta descriptions, site speed, mobile performance, and structured content are all things that should be built in, not bolted on later.
Will I be able to edit it myself? You shouldn’t need to call your designer every time you want to update a paragraph or add a new page. A well-built WordPress site gives you full edit access without technical knowledge.
Watch Out for These Red Flags
Unusually low prices. A properly built, well-performing website takes time and skill. A quote that’s significantly cheaper than everyone else usually reflects corners being cut somewhere, whether that’s in the quality of the build, the hosting, or the support after launch.
No clear process. A professional designer should be able to walk you through how the project works: discovery, design, build, testing, launch. If the answer to “how does this work?” is vague, that’s a warning sign.
No ongoing support. A website that gets handed over with no plan for maintenance is a liability waiting to happen. Security patches, plugin updates, and backups are not optional extras. They’re what keeps your site working properly.
Proposals that skip the questions. If a designer sends you a price before asking what you actually need, they’re selling a product, not solving a problem.
Local vs Remote
You don’t need to use someone local, but there are real advantages to working with someone who understands your market. For businesses in Hull and the surrounding area, a local provider knows the local business landscape, can meet you face to face if needed, and has a stake in the relationship in a way that a distant agency might not.
That said, what matters most is fit. The right partner is someone who asks good questions, communicates clearly, delivers on what they promise, and is still around to help you after the site goes live.
A Website Is a Long-Term Investment
The businesses that get the most from their websites treat them as ongoing assets rather than one-off projects. That means choosing a designer you trust to be a long-term partner, not just someone to tick a box.
At Matthew Temple Consulting, we build websites that are fast, secure, and designed to perform, and we look after them properly once they’re live. If you’re thinking about a new site or a rebuild and want to have a straight conversation about what’s involved, we’d be happy to talk.
