So you know you want a website designed. Now you just need a website designer. Easy, right? With approximately 125,000 web design-related businesses in the US, you’ve got a lot of options! How do you even begin to narrow down your search? There are plenty of qualities to look for in those who design websites. But I want to tell you the No. 1 quality you should look for in a designer.

Focusing on the wrong quality in a designer can be bad news

Now, there are many things to look for in a designer that would be beneficial for your website. This includes everything from designing with CMS in mind to having a strong portfolio of live websites to browse through. Yes, these are great, but these requirements won’t guarantee your vision or goals for your business will be perfectly emulated through your website.

Have you ever started to work with someone and you just weren’t vibing together? Maybe you couldn’t see eye to eye, like, at all – or maybe they just weren’t listening to what you were saying. Imagine if you give them your vision, your hopes and dreams for your business. And they come back with a website that is completely unaligned with your branding. This is an awful situation. But you can avoid it! How? By looking for this No. 1 quality in your next website designer.

What quality should you look for in your designer?

By far and away – communication is the No. 1 quality to look for in a website designer. As they always say, communication is key to developing a relationship, and this holds true for a relationship between a client and web designer. Being able to respond to clients thoughts and visions through communication is so effective when it comes to design.

Now, I strongly believe communication goes hand in hand with listening. I know! I cheated a little and bundled up two qualities in one. But I believe you can not have one without the other when it comes to designing a website.

Having a designer who listens to your ideas and implements them, but also gives input and feedback where it’s valuable is the absolute key to a great designer. Nothing is worse than telling your designer your ideas, how you envision your business, your goals, just to have them come back at you with something completely wrong and not at all envisaging who are and what you and your brand represents. Communication through feedback can help these situations from happening.

Don’t forget that feedback from the client (you) is just as important! You can read all about it in my post on How to Provide Feedback to Your Designer. It may seem awkward, but a strong designer will welcome it and most importantly, listen to you.

Website designers will set themselves apart by their ability to listen to the needs of you, your project and your business. And by listening they can better communicate who you are by understanding, visualizing, and meeting the goals you are aiming to achieve for your business through your website. Being able to do this effectively is so powerful! And I promise these communicative designers are out there! One is only a click away.

Conclusion

Lastly, something that is important to remember is that a great designer is someone that sees design in everything they do. Being able to embrace design – no matter what challenges they face – is fantastic. What is even more fantastic? Having a designer that has design in mind, plus communication and listening qualities – provides an ideal combination for your next website design.

What are you waiting for?

If you have any questions for me on the design process or if you are ready for me to help you custom design your new website with you, your brand, and your business in mind, then let’s schedule a discovery call so I can learn more about you! I can’t wait to learn about you and your business!