Choosing a web design company is a decision whose effects last for years: the website you build today is what your customers will see and judge your company by. Because proposals often sound alike but deliver very different results, here are ten simple questions to help you compare companies before you sign, whether you choose us or someone else.
1. Can I see real websites you have built?
A portfolio is the most honest proof. Ask for links to live websites and try them yourself on your phone: do they load quickly, is the design clear, can you find the contact options easily? Beautiful screenshots are not enough; what matters is how the site works in real life.
2. Is the design custom or a ready-made template?
A template can be cheaper and faster, but it looks like many other sites and often carries plugins you don’t need that slow the site down. A custom design is built around your brand and content. Ask clearly: will you design an interface for us, or adapt an existing template?
3. Will I be able to edit the content myself?
If you need a developer to change a photo, a price or a paragraph, the website becomes a burden. Make sure the site comes with an easy dashboard and that the company will show you how to use it.
4. Is the website fast and mobile-friendly?
Most visitors browse on their phones today, and a slow website loses them before they see your services. Ask how the company improves speed, such as compressing images and loading them only when needed, and ask to see its work on a phone.
5. Do you support more than one language?
If your customers are both Arabic-speaking and international, you need a site in two or more languages, with proper right-to-left support for Arabic and a separate URL for each language so each version can appear in search in its own language. Not every company gets these details right.
6. Is the site built for search engines from the start?
Many issues that keep a website out of Google start with how it was built: unclear URLs, pages without titles and descriptions, no sitemap. Ask whether this basic setup is part of the project, and what needs extra work in SEO after launch.
7. What are the steps and the expected timeline?
An organised company can explain the project stages clearly: understanding the project, planning, design, development, testing and launch, and when you will review each stage. Ask for an estimated timeline based on your project size, and be careful with very fast promises that come without details.
8. Who owns the website, hosting and domain?
Your website should be yours: the domain in your name, and the dashboard and hosting logins with you. Ask directly: will the site be published on my hosting, and will I receive all the login details?
9. What happens after launch?
A website needs updates, maintenance and perhaps new features as your business grows. Ask about technical support after delivery, how you will reach the company if something goes wrong, and whether there are guides or videos to help you manage the site.
10. What exactly determines the price?
Instead of comparing numbers alone, compare what each proposal includes: the number of pages, languages, special features, content preparation and support after launch. The cheapest offer can become the most expensive if you have to rebuild the site a year later.
Before you decide
Put each company’s answers side by side, try their websites yourself, and choose the company that understands your business and answers clearly, not the loudest one. If you want to see how we answer these questions, we explain it in detail on our website design and development page. You can also browse our work or read how we designed the Wabel website. When you are ready, send us your project details on the start your project page.
Read also: a store that sells from the first visit: the Blackton case, and how we designed a clear service platform for Al Manar.
