5 Important Questions to Ask before Hiring A Website Designer or Social Media Manager.
- peggjennae
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Hiring the right website designer or social media manager can make or break your online presence. To help you find the perfect fit for your small business or nonprofit, here are five essential questions to ask during your search.
1. Do You Have Experience in My Industry?
Before hiring, ask about their background with businesses or nonprofits like yours. Industry-specific experience means they’ll understand your unique challenges and create tailored solutions.
Why it matters: A designer familiar with your field can anticipate needs (like donation integrations for nonprofits or e-commerce features for retail) without a steep learning curve.
2. Can You Show Examples of Previous Work?
Always review their portfolio or case studies before committing. This gives you insight into their:
Design style
Technical skills
Problem-solving approach
Pro Tip: Look for projects similar to yours—if you need a membership site, for example, ensure they’ve built one successfully.
3. How Do You Handle SEO and Mobile Responsiveness?
Your website needs to do two big jobs really well:
Get found - like showing up first when someone Googles what you offer (that's SEO magic)
Work beautifully - whether someone's browsing on a phone, tablet, or desktop (no pinching or squinting allowed!)
Great questions to ask:
"How will you help my site get noticed by search engines?"
"Can I see how my site will look on different devices?"
Big warning sign: If they shrug and say "SEO doesn't matter" or "mobile isn't a priority" - run! Those are must-haves, not maybes.
4. How Do You Measure Success?
Goals vary—some businesses want more sales, others need brand awareness. Ensure their definition of success matches yours by asking:
“What metrics do you track?” (e.g., traffic, conversions, engagement)
“What reports will I receive?”
Example: A social media manager should provide analytics on follower growth and post performance.
5. What’s Your Process for Communication and Revisions?
Let’s avoid those "Wait, what?!" moments.
Clear communication keeps projects moving smoothly. Before you start, get on the same page about:
How do you want to chat – email-only? text-friendly? Available for quick calls?
When to expect replies – 24-hour turnaround? Longer for feedback on big deliverables? The redo policy – How many revisions are included? Any extra costs for major changes?
The golden rule: Find someone whose work style vibes with yours. If you’re a "need updates daily" person and they’re a "check-in weekly" type, that frustration will show in your final result.
Final Thoughts
Hiring the right creative partner shouldn’t feel overwhelming—it should feel exciting! These five questions are your secret weapon to finding someone who truly gets your vision and can bring it to life.
Think of it like hiring a new teammate: you want someone who speaks your language, celebrates your wins, and helps solve problems before they even arise. That’s the magic of a great designer or social media manager.
Still feeling unsure? I’m happy to help! Whether you’re looking for design work or just need advice on what to ask other designers, reach out anytime. Let’s make your online presence as awesome as your business deserves.
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