Three Things That Will Send a Web Designer Running

Just because you’re a paying customer doesn’t give you the right to treat your web designer poorly. It is just as incumbent upon you the client to communicate fairly and effectively as it is your designer. There are many unspoken cliches about bad clients among web design circles. Now there are even outlets like webpagesthatsuck.com and clientsfromhell.com to give designers their soapbox.

Don’t end up on one of these sites. Don’t be this person.

Can you give us some spec designs for free?

A web design project isn’t sample day at the grocery store. Spec designs are intended to interpret client needs and desires into the foundation of the final design. They are typically included in the project scope, and should not be expected up front and at no charge.

You should rely on portfolios, interviews, and responses to requests for proposals rather than asking for free work.

My daughter/son knows about computers, and they could do this job cheaper or free.

If your mindset going into a web design project is hiring amateur talent for amateur money, then by all means go for it. Meanwhile your competition will work with professionals who will help them eat your lunch.

A professional web design company has experience in search optimization, information architecture, usability and so on that your high school child lacks. Plus, it’s demeaning to tell someone who probably went to school for a number of years to learn their craft that they’re not worth it.

I’d like to manage every step of the design process.

There is a big difference between attention to detail and micromanaging. Know the difference. You may be asked to evaluate certain elements of your site at various stages of completion, so you should be paying attention to the big picture and focus on exactly what the designer is asking from you.

You may be tempted to throw in new ideas far along in the process, changing the scope of the project. You might want to talk with your web designer at 3:00 am on a Sunday. Don’t and don’t.