Are you ready to elevate your website and hire a web designer? Whether you launch a new website or rebrand your current website, a web designer can help you design a beautiful, high-converting website.

Before you start booking those discovery calls and interviewing potential web designers, there are a few things you should already have in progress. This will help your web designer get going on your website without a hitch. You don’t want them to be waiting on you for the materials and information they need! So, let’s talk through ten things you need to do before you hire a web designer.

1. Have a Brand Photoshoot Scheduled

Or even better, have it done already! Web designers need a good catalog of brand photos to choose from while they design your website. Whether you’re the face of your brand or not, you need some headshots and custom stock photos. When I rebranded my website in 2024, I hired Maggie Exum Brands for my photoshoot. If you’re in the Louisville or surrounding area, I highly recommend her!

2. Get Your Branding Finalized

Branding is ALWAYS the essential first step before beginning your new website! If your web designer isn’t also creating your branding, make sure you have all this ready to go for them at the start of the project. This should include logos, font suite, color palette, and any brand illustrations and curated stock images you have.

3. Have a List of Pages You Want

It’s helpful for you to have an idea of the pages you want on your website. Most web designers will include certain pages (home, about, contact, etc.) in their packages. You’ll probably be paying a little more if you want anything beyond the basics (resources, podcast, shop, sales pages etc.). Think about if that’s worth the cost upfront or if it can wait. Then, when you meet with potential web designers, let them know the pages you decided you want them to design.

4. Know Who’s Writing Your Copy

Is it you? Are you hiring a copywriter? Are you purchasing website copy templates? A copywriter will also need to know the pages you want on your new website. Before you hire a web designer, start the process of writing your website copy, whether that’s having someone hired or starting it yourself. I hired Val Casola Writes to write my copy! I highly recommend having your website copy finished before you begin working with a web designer! The copy will greatly inform the structure of each page, so having it finalized before you begin on the web design will save you and the designer a lot of time on edits and revisions later!

5. Collect Testimonials and Images From Clients

I love showcasing testimonials from past or current clients on the websites I design! It provides social proof and shows you know what you’re doing! Collect a few of your best testimonials to include throughout your website. Bonus points if you also include their picture! It looks a little more personal and legit if you can include a picture of your client. Be sure to ask their permission first!

6. Prepare a Portfolio

Along the same lines of social proof, prepare your portfolio, gallery, or case studies of past projects you’ve worked on. Potential clients love to see what you’ve worked on before to know if it aligns with what they’re looking for. You don’t have to include every project you’ve ever done; collect a few you’re extra proud of to feature on your website. Grab screenshots, data, and testimonials to include.

7. Purchase Legal Templates

It’s legally required to have a terms and conditions page and privacy policy on your website. Legal templates make this super easy (because the average person isn’t a legal professional!) I purchased mine from the Contract Club (for legal and all other contracts) XXX and simply filled out my business information. This isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a need-to-have.

8. Establish a CRM and Inquiry Form

I assume you want an inquiry form on your website so potential clients can contact you regarding your services! In that case, you will also need a customer relationship management (CRM) tool to collect their contact information. I use Dubsado and highly recommend it! The inquiry forms are easy to design and embed on a website, and you can implement automation to reduce some of the manual work on your end! 

9. Set up Your Email Marketing Software

If you plan to do email marketing, you will also need to have that software set up. That way, when you collect contact information via your inquiry form, freebies, or general forms, the contact will automatically be added to your newsletter list. I use Kit for my email marketing! When you hire a web designer, they will set that whole process up. You just need to pick an email marketing platform and create an account.

10. Write a Few Blogs

This tip is a bonus but very helpful when you hire a web designer! Having a few blogs ready to publish kickstarts your SEO and allows you to publish your blog page right away instead of having to go back later once you’ve finally written some content. Search engines love to see websites that consistently publish new, valuable content. Blogs and podcasts are the best way to do that! 

If you have a few ready to go before you launch a website, you show Google that you’re an authority in your industry. Plus, you can schedule them at whatever frequency you decide (weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.), so you don’t have to worry about new content for a while. Then, when you have a good backlog of blogs, you can start marketing your business on Pinterest, too 😉

If you need help with SEO blog writing or strategy, check out my friend Eden – she’ll help you kickstart your blog the right way!

Are You Prepared to Hire a Web Designer?

Whew! I know that feels like a lot to do before you hire a web designer. I promise that collecting all this information beforehand will make your life (and your web designer’s life) much easier! When you’re ready to outsource your web design, let’s chat! I love designing Showit websites for creative business owners. Will your website be featured in my portfolio next? I sure hope so! Schedule a discovery call to get started.