Why Your Website Designer’s Expertise Is Key (and How to Verify It)

Experience is what makes a website designer effective. Here’s why it matters and how to ensure you’re hiring someone who knows their stuff.

Choosing a website designer is a critical decision. You’re entrusting someone to create your business’s online face, often without fully understanding their process. A low price or a shiny portfolio might catch your eye, but a website needs to do more than look good—it needs to deliver results.

Experience is what makes a website designer effective. Here’s why it matters and how to ensure you’re hiring someone who knows their stuff.

Experience Means Versatility, Not Just Time

A website designer might claim years in the field, but that alone isn’t enough. Have they tackled a range of projects, or just repeated the same formula? True expertise comes from solving diverse problems for different industries and goals.

A website for a bakery differs from one for a consulting firm. Each requires a unique approach. A skilled website designer adapts to your needs, building with your audience and objectives in mind.

Ask these questions:

• How many websites have you designed in the past year?

• What types of clients were they for, and what were their goals?

Their answers reveal whether they prioritize your business or just their own designs.

Website Design Is About Function, Not Just Style

Good website design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about solving problems. Visitors arrive with questions: What do you do? Can I trust you? What’s next? An experienced website designer creates a site that answers these clearly and guides users to act.

If a designer focuses on colors or templates before understanding your business, that’s a red flag. Effective website design starts with strategy—knowing your goals and your audience’s needs. It’s about creating a path that leads to calls, purchases, or signups.

Technical Know-How Matters

Many website platforms, like Wix or WordPress, are easy to use, but a reliable site needs more than a drag-and-drop setup. Issues like slow load times, broken features, or poor search rankings often stem from technical errors.

A seasoned website designer builds sites that are fast, secure, and scalable. They optimize the backend, choose the right tools, and avoid mistakes like overloading with plugins. Even if they’re not coders, they know enough to keep your site running smoothly.

Experience Drives Performance

A stunning site won’t help if it’s slow, invisible on Google, or hard to navigate. Speed, SEO, and usability depend on a designer’s expertise.

A skilled website designer ensures:

• Fast load times with optimized images and code

• Clear, search-friendly content structure

• Seamless performance across all devices

• Intuitive navigation to keep visitors engaged

These elements, honed through experience, make a site work for your business.

How to Spot a Skilled Website Designer

You don’t need to be a tech expert to evaluate a website designer. Ask:

• “Can you show me recent website design projects?”

• “What did those clients want, and how did you deliver?”

• “How do you ensure a site works well on mobile?”

• “What’s your plan for post-launch support?”

Listen for answers that focus on results, not just visuals. Then, test their work. Visit their sample sites on your phone, check load speeds, and explore the flow. Ask: Would this site inspire trust in a business?

Post-Launch Support Is Crucial

Websites need ongoing care—updates, fixes, and tweaks to stay effective. An inexperienced website designer might deliver a site and vanish, leaving you to handle issues alone.

A professional plans for the long term. They’ll offer maintenance options, teach you simple updates, or ensure the site stays stable. This shows they care about your success beyond the launch.

The Risks of Inexperience

Hiring an untested website designer can lead to:

• A site that’s slow or crashes

• Poor visibility on search engines

• Layouts that fail on mobile

• Weak calls-to-action that don’t convert

• Extra costs to fix problems

Your website is often your business’s first impression. A poorly designed site can hurt your credibility. Experience minimizes these risks.

Final Thoughts: Choose a Pro Who Listens

Don’t fall for flashy portfolios or cheap quotes. A great website designer listens, understands your needs, and builds a site that performs. They’ve faced challenges, learned from mistakes, and know how to deliver.

When choosing a website designer, focus on expertise. Ask tough questions, test their work, and pick someone who sees website design as a tool for results, not just art. A well-built site is an asset that grows with your business. Make sure it’s in capable hands.