Choosing a web design company is choosing a partner for something your customers will judge you by. Portfolios all look good, so ask questions that reveal how a studio actually works. These eight will tell you most of what you need to know.
1. Can you show work similar to ours?
Ask for projects in your sector or of similar size and complexity, and open the live sites on your phone. Check that they load quickly and are easy to use, not just that the screenshots look good.
2. How do you handle Arabic and English?
A bilingual site needs proper right-to-left layouts, Arabic typography and separate pages for each language so both can rank on Google. Ask to see an Arabic site they built, and check the Arabic version on a phone.
3. Who owns the website and the domain?
The domain should be registered in your company's name, and you should own the design, the code and the content at the end of the project. Get this in writing.
4. Can we edit the site ourselves?
Ask for a demonstration of the content management system. Your team should be able to change text, images and projects without paying for every small update.
5. What do you do for search engines?
At minimum: unique page titles and descriptions, a sitemap, fast loading, mobile-friendly pages and connecting the site to Google Search Console. Be careful with anyone who guarantees first place on Google: nobody can promise that.
6. What is the timeline, and what do you need from us?
A clear plan shows each stage, when you review designs, and when content is due. Delays often come from waiting on content, so agree early on who writes the text and provides the photos.
7. What happens after launch?
Ask about hosting, security updates, backups and how quickly they respond to problems, and what that costs per month or per year.
8. How will we communicate?
Find out who your contact is, how often you will get updates, and in which language. A studio that answers clearly before you sign usually communicates well during the project.