5 Tips for Hiring a Blog Designer

Posted on Aug 16th, 2012 | 59 comments home title

Guest Blogger: Jean Huffman @huffman_jean

I recently decided it was time to invest in a professionally-designed blogsite. So I hired someone I thought was a reputable designer. But I ended up with a half-finished, unusable site and recouped only half of my original investment.

The second time through the process, I’ve done things differently. Here are some tips that may save you both heartache and money.

1) Count the cost.

At the least, moving from a free site (such as Blogger or WordPress.com) requires the purchase of hosting from a host server and a domain name. (I would delay buying these items until a designer tells you which host server they prefer.)

The cost of a designer’s services is actually optional. I have a quote from Linda Leigh Hargrove, writer and former web designer: “In my opinion, anyone can use the WordPress.org version template and set up your site yourself with no HTML knowledge. It helps to be good at following step-by-step directions (click this and then click that) and be very patient. If you can set up your email through MS outlook or install cell phone apps, then you can install WordPress plugins. If you have some special layout, your own logo, or other branding (like artwork in the header or specific colors) then you’d need to get really handy with coding or hire a designer.”

Not being handy, I opted for a designer.

2) Compile a wishlist.

So I began researching other blogsites. I only thought I knew what a great website was until I began exploring the tons of them out there! You can discover what’s fresh, what’s hip, what matches your vision, and what doesn’t. This opened my mind to so many new possibilities!

Keep a running list of sites (and their respective designers) that appeal to you, specifically focusing on the what and why.

What color palette does it use?
Does it take a minimalist approach or is it crowded with images and text?
Where does the blog’s creator wish you to focus your attention and how does he/she achieve that purpose?
Are there special plug-ins or widgets that might be useful on your own site?

3) Compare designers.

In addition, below are a couple of web lists, chock-full of designers, for you to peruse. Pay attention to each designer’s specialties, general aesthetic appeal, and testimonials of former clients.

http://designerblogs.com

http://www.puglypixel.com/blog-design-directory/

4) Construct safeguards.

As in any business, know that there are unscrupulous operators out there. In hindsight, I should have insisted on more safeguards up front to protect myself.

For easy reference, keep all correspondence in one handy email folder. This makes it easy to keep up with details of the designer’s work and is handy for any disagreements that may crop up. Keep your PayPal email receipts here. Also keep emails of all usernames and passwords that are sent to you (from the host server, the blogsite-in-progress where your designer may invite you to visit, etc.)

Find a designer who understands the absolute importance of prompt business communication. VERY IMPORTANT!

Also when choosing a designer, find one who is not overcommitted on other projects and will deliver a speedy but totally satisfactory product.

The delivery deadline to which you agree is especially important in light of how you pay for services. For example, if you pay through PayPal (as I did), you have the right to contest all charges made within a 45-day interval. (For details, see PayPal’s Dispute Resolution Process Page.) Most credit cards provide consumer protection services and will refund for a product when it is not delivered on time or is unsatisfactory. (Check your credit card agreement documents for details.)

5) Contract for services.

OR, Get everything in writing. This is a business arrangement. Treat it as such.

Get a signed contract that spells out all specifics for both parties including:

Amounts of money and dates to be paid
How many rounds of design changes allowed
Copyright details
Deadline dates for work done, etc.

If something ever feels fishy or unreasonable to you while still hammering out the details, trust your instincts and find yourself another designer. Believe me, you deserve to be assured and comfortable every step of the way.

What advice or feedback can you add from your own experience?

***

Jean Huffman (@huffman_jean) is a pastor’s wife from Durham, NC, who writes secular mystery fiction. She has a soon-to-be published short story included in FishNets: The Guppy Anthology and is presently editing her novel with the same main characters. She also writes Christian women’s fiction, blogging under the pen name of Sislyn Stewart at http://sislynstewart.com.

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http://cherionethingivelearned.blogspot.com/ Cheri Gregory

REALLY good advice, all of it. I’m in the midst of blog designer misery. It’s been too many months for me to legally get my money back. But I’m so unhappy with the communication I’ve gotten that I just can’t move forward.

My questions go un-answered. When I’ve asked for examples (of how and why to use a “slider,” for example) I’ve gotten nothing. I feel like every communication from their end is about money. I was very upfront about being a completely non-visual person who understands nothing about blog design. I said I’d need lots of coaching, hand-holding, and explaining. Instead, I’ve been given deadlines by which I need to provide information…information I can’t provide until I understand what I’m trying to do and why!

Sorry to vent. Part of me says I need to be a big girl, do a ton of research, and do my best to provide what they need to complete my website. But part of me says I should just walk away, chalk it up to “tuition in the school of hard knocks,” and start over with someone I feel I can communicate with.
- http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
  
  Sounds to me like you’ve been victimized by an unprofessional organization that hides its own lack of technical and artistic expertise through arrogance, intimidation by jargon, and non-communication.
  
  It’s their job to adjust their service delivery and communications to match the level of the client’s experience. It’s not ‘handholding’; it’s professional ethics.
  
  If it were me, I would not invest any more time or money into this company. I suspect that no matter what you provide them, the finished product will be a lash-up produced as quickly as possible. The functions won’t work well, the design will be amateurish, and visitors will be impressed mainly by the website;s poor functionality.
  
  And when you confront the designers with this, they’ll blame it on you.
  - http://cherionethingivelearned.blogspot.com/ Cheri Gregory
    
    Andrew –
    
    Thank you for taking the time to respond. Your re-frame of “hand-holding” to “professional ethics” is exactly what I needed.
    
    If I learn my lessons, the money I “wasted” will end up being a good investment in the long run.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  I totally understand, Cheri. It’s hard not to feel betrayed when you’ve invested your trust (and money) in someone. . . it’s very easy to put yourself in that situation.
  
  And yes, when you gather enough courage to undertake it second time, you’ll build in those safeguards.
  
  Praying your future experiences will produce the product you’re wishing for!
  - http://cherionethingivelearned.blogspot.com/ Cheri Gregory
    
    Thanks for understanding, Jean! What makes me more stressed is that I had a very functional iWeb site that I’d built myself five years ago…until it disappeared on July 1st! So now I feel like I need something, ANYthing!
    
    But I’m in the process of discovering my niche and don’t want to pour a ton of money into a design/brand that I’ll want to change in 3 months. I attended She Speaks this summer and will go to the SCORRE Conference in October…hopefully by the end of the year I will find someone who can truly work with me to develop a website/blog that reflects my ministry.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com Andrew Budek-Schmeisser

When I was in the process of setting up my blog (and soon, my website), finances prevented hiring a professional.

So, I did it myself. What follow are the steps/key points in the process.

I started the process by writing down, longhand, what I wanted the site to be, and to do. Handwriting is a good method for clarifying ideas – the eye-hand coordination required brings both focus and a feeling of reality.

Next, I looked at sites that had broadly similar aims, and compiling a list of the features that I liked…and those for which I did not care.

Choosing a template was easy – I picked one I liked. It’s my website, after all, and I trust that my taste isn’t too far off the wall for it to be attractive to others, as well.

Then I went over my ‘like’ list and incorporated those features, where appropriate. This list consisted of things like layout (where the buttons are), font, character size…for the blog, the way archiving is handled…for the soon-to-be website, how sales are handled.

One guiding principle was ‘leanness’. If I could live without a feature, it went away, or was drastically limited. One example – pictures of me. I try to avoid having recognizable pictures available anyway, so this was not a great loss. (My blog’s profile picture features one of my service dogs…the other service dog is now jealous.)

Finally, I did a lot of beta views and function tests before I published. I would have asked someone else to be a beta tester, but I didn’t really know anyone I could approach. Another eye, or group of eyes, is valuable!

Finally, with the site running, I visit it often, and make sure it’s doing what I want it to do, and that no glitches have crept in. (Recently I was told that it can be hard for comments to become visible…I’m trying to figure that out.)

I avoided having to write HTML wherever possible. I was an engineer, but not that kind of engineer. I have a cell phone with no apps, and a very basic computer, because I really don’t have the background to take advantage of the higher levels of computer/internet technology…and since I can function well enough at my present level, no desire to learn it.

I know this has strayed from the topic of hiring a blog/website designer, but I hope it will help someone.
- Jeanne
  
  You gave some great tips. Thanks, Andrew!
- Else
  
  It does help, Andrew. Thanks. I’m being told by my agent to set up a website, and I neither have the time nor the energy… but I’m also the kind of person that hates to pay someone else to do what I could conceivably do myself.
  
  Is there a particular program that you used for designing your website?
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Thanks for the additional insights, Andrew. It isn’t an easy road to design and manage your own sites, but one well worth it if you have control over the end products.
- http://talesfromtheredhead@blogspot.com Jennifer Major @Jjumping
  
  I’ve been giving this alot of thought, even thought I only have 10 blog subscribers and 25 followers on Twitter.
  Ahem.
  My current website does fine for now, I think. Maybe I need to jazz it up? Thoughts?
  
  I have a friend at church who I plan to ask to design my website, once I need a professionally designed one. He does websites for a side job and is very good at it. I’ve known him for 15 years and trust him completely. I’m looking forward to the day when I launch my fancypants website, but for right now, I have other things to worry about.
  - http://talesfromtheredhead@blogspot.com Jennifer Major @Jjumping
    
    Oops, sorry Andrew, this was meant to be a stand alone comment.
    Time for another cup of tea.
  - http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
    
    Jennifer,
    
    Maybe your designer friend could give you a professional opinion on your site and suggest things to do now. Or other writers you trust. It doesn’t hurt to ask for a second opinion–
    
    Building an email and Twitter following is a hard road to how, I know. Just keep at it! I think asking for the second opinion on your blogsite is a good start.
- KarenM
  
  Thanks, Andrew, for your thoughts as well. I do not yet have a blog-have been focusing on my novels. But I hear/read over and over how important a web presence is nowadays. Probably time to bite the bullet. And with a little html experience, I really have no excuse not to try. Except that now I’ll have a blog to keep up.
- http://pjcasselman.wordpress.com/ P. J. Casselman
  
  Good stuff, Maynard!
  
  (for those who didn’t understand the ancient pop culture reference– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoAJNn6SETs )
  - http://talesfromtheredhead@blogspot.com Jennifer Major @Jjumping
    
    Wow, I have no memory of this commercial…you and Budek-Schmeisser are total geezers!
    - http://pjcasselman.wordpress.com/ P. J. Casselman
      
      It came out in 1983. Canadians didn’t have electricity yet.
      - http://talesfromtheredhead@blogspot.com Jennifer Major @Jjumping
        
        Yes we did. It’s just that certain Navy brats were scammed into thinking Canadians were in the dark. When all the while, we refined Western Civilization. Eh.
http://livingthebodyofchrist.blogspot.com/ Connie Almony

Great advice, Jean! Gonna store this information for when the time comes to upgrade. Thanks!!!
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Thanks, Connie! Praying it helps you avoid the mistakes I made the first time. . .
http://www.josephjpote.com Joe Pote

I agree with your Linda Leigh Hargrove quote.

Thus far, my only real limitations have been the amount of time I can spend working on the blog.

I have learned a tremendous amount by doing it myself, and feel I know my way around the site.

On the other hand, I would love to have a pro look at my site, my suggestions, and show me how to tweak it.

In the end, though, for me, right now, the blog is still a hobby, not a profession. And the whole point of a hobby is the joy of learning to do it myself.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  I was so glad the Lord brought Linda Leigh Hargrove across my path and she offered her advice, since she’s straddled both sides of the issue as a writer and web designer. People need to know they have many options in site design. . . and it doesn’t always involve a ton of money, if they’re willing to work at it.
http://ibischild.blogspot.com marion

A friend of mine also had a bad experience with a website designer/administrator.
She’s now using weebly.com. She found the website pretty easy to set up, and she’s not a geek. There are one or two limitations. [She's running a business website.]
But she’s so happy not to have to fight with the “Professional” all the time. And she’s saving lots of money! And getting exactly (more or less) the website she wants.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  I’m glad your friend found what works for her–it’s so important to really take your time and look at EVERYTHING out there, from pre-fab to start-from-scratch designs. If you are patient and willing to look at the options, you can find what will work best for you. You can’t be in a hurry!
http://www.kathleenbasi.com/blog Kathleen Basi

I’m holding on to this until the time comes to make the switch from free to the Big Time. Thanks!
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  You’re welcome, Kathleen. Take at look at Andrew’s additional comments above, if you decide to go the self-designed route!
http://www.atlasmediank.com Adam Porter (@AtlasProWriter)

One piece of advice I would add is content preparation. When you decide to develop a blog you need to keep a rolling number of blogs “scheduled to post.” That way, if “something comes up” you don’t get behind on your blog schedule. My general rule is about two weeks “in the can” and scheduled to post.

That mean, if you are developing a blog, decide how many times per week you wish to post and then have at least that many blog posts (times two) set to post.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Great additional point, Adam. I was not prepared for the unexpected time delay in my first site, did not meet my usual quota of posts, and probably lost a few of my readers.
  
  It’s always good to have those extra posts written and tucked away. . . just in case!
- http://pjcasselman.wordpress.com/ P. J. Casselman
  
  Adam, how’d you know I write my blog in the can?
  - http://www.atlasmediank.com Adam Porter (@AtlasProWriter)
    
    PJ…
    
    Isn’t that where we all do our best thinkin’?
Jeanne

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge, Jean. I’m still figuring out how to set up a free blog, but I think some of your suggestions will help even at the stage I’m at. Thanks!
BTW, I like your name.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Hope this helps you, Jeanne. A free blog is a great first education to what comes next. I think it’s all about CONTROL–if you can understand the workings of up a blog or website, can implement your present vision (even on a limited basis), you gain a lot of innate understanding about what constitutes a useful and beautiful site. Invaluable down the road!
http://www.atlasmediank.com Adam Porter (@AtlasProWriter)

Something else…

Routinely check your blog on other web browsers. I use Safari and Firefox at home and check IE on a friend’s machine. I recently learned that, if folks are still using IE7 and earlier, some of the images on my blog don’t load. Because of continually advancing technology that not everyone will immediately adopt, this will remain an issue. Bloggers just need to be aware of this and decide, when the time comes, if a change is needed.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Thanks, Adam. Something of which I was unaware–will have to check it out!
- http://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.com Kristin Laughtin
  
  Chrome is gaining a lot of popularity, so it’s a good idea to look at your site with that one, too!
http://www.crystalwarrenmiller.com Crystal Laine Miller

I would grab my domain name right away, and not wait. Unfortunately, I have a really common name and someone had already purchased my name, so I had to start looking for alternatives.But you can hold onto that domain name for years before you start working on anything and then the designer merely needs to point the domain to your blog. It’s easy.

But a great post with lots of good advice. I’m just now going back and trying to redo what I didn’t know years ago.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Yep, that happens, Crystal. Especially if, like you said, your name tends be a common one. Also, I’ve found buying your domain name is not all that expensive–it’s a smart move. Thanks for the comment!
http://www.theblogdecorator.com Tiana Smith

This is such good advice. As a blog/website designer myself, I often tell my clients to look at other sites they like and tell me what they like, but they don’t always know how to point out what elements are catching their eye.

My two cents would be this: Don’t be afraid of purchasing a premade template and then altering it to fit your needs. This can often be cheaper than commissioning a full-on custom design. (Even if you have the designer customize it for you). I know I do this all the time for my clients, and then they get the free hosting of Blogger, but they can do unique things with it (like having a separate “Home” page and “Blog” tab). So really, it’s pretty cost-effective as they’re only paying for the template and a few customizations.

Also, the more specific you are with your designer, the more you will like the results. I really have a hard time when clients tell me to just “design something blue, I know I’ll love it,” because usually they have something in mind, and they don’t like what I’ve come up with unless they’re more specific So provide specific examples and ask for everything you’re thinking of – you won’t be annoying the designer, you’ll be helping them out!
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Great additional insights, Tiana! I love what you said about making sure the designer is given detailed specifics on what’s to be included in the design. . .
  
  It can’t be stressed enough–the investment of looking at the sites out there, understanding the WHAT and WHY of what works, is invaluable information. A client must be able to explain his/her likes/dislikes to the designer. This homework sure saves time and headaches, on both ends!
http://tommfranklin.blogspot.com Tom M Franklin

One piece of advice: don’t mistake a beautiful layout as the thing that will bring people to your blog. People like me don’t have time to go to each blog’s URL to read what’s been posted. We use RSS feeds that give us all of the blogs we follow in one, easy to use window. So, while you may be willing to spend lots of money to get that blog template just the way you want it, people like me aren’t going to see it — unless we’re inclined to leave a comment.

(Case in point: I have read Rachelle’s blog now for years. This is the first time I’ve been to her site in months.)

Content, not a pretty template, is king in the blogosphere.

– Tom
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  You’re right, Tom. In the end, content on a site will always trump aesthetics.
  
  Looking at it from a beginning writer’s perspective, a site’s professional appearance should contribute to his/her online credibility. Especially in those beginning stages when one has to try so hard to get noticed and established. . . . Hopefully, it will help in the process of publication, but then again, it may not. Thanks for your comment!
http://www.kristaphillips.com Krista Phillips

At the moment, I’m just using my blog for my website. I bought kristaphillips.com a long time ago (I DO recommend buying your domain name asap if it’s still available so you can have it “reserved”…)

I have a brother in law how is a web guru guy so he “hosts” my website on his own server and set it up to automatically forward it to my blog when people go to the website. It works for me for now, anyway!
- http://talesfromtheredhead@blogspot.com Jennifer Major @Jjumping
  
  where does one go to buy/reserve their own domain name?
  - http://pjcasselman.wordpress.com/ P. J. Casselman
    
    Godaddy dot com sells them. JJumping dot com, for example, would be 12.99.
    
    There is also namecheap dot com and name dot com .
    
    I’m not advocating them, but they are the largest domain name seller.
    - http://talesfromtheredhead@blogspot.com Jennifer Major @Jjumping
      
      Thank you Reverend Casselman. And in other news, did you know there is a WHOLE TOWN named after you? In Eastern Ontario. Kewl, huh?
      - http://pjcasselman.wordpress.com/ P. J. Casselman
        
        I didn’t know that. Thanks for the heads up, Jennifer!
        
        I looked at pictures. Yep, it’s just the kind of blue collar small town that our family gravitates to.
    - http://www.theblogdecorator.com Tiana Smith
      
      Also, if your blog is hosted through Blogger, you can buy your domain right through them and the settings tab in your Blogger profile – that way you won’t have to worry about all the redirects stuff if you’re not too techy.
      - http://talesfromtheredhead@blogspot.com Jennifer Major @Jjumping
        
        I didn’t know that.Thanks for the advice.
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http://marlataviano.com Marla Taviano

My tip? Marry a web designer. I can’t even imagine how much $ he’s saved me over the years.

I like to share, if you’re interested. He also hosts websites/blogs for $5/month. He works almost exclusively with WordPress these days, and you can easily move your current site over.

http://gabetaviano.com

End of commercial.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Maria, thanks for sharing your husband’s hosting site with us. Another resource to add to the list!
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http://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.com Kristin Laughtin

Looking at other websites for things you want is a great idea, of course, but it also might be a good idea to check out websites with terrible design issues so you can learn what you DON’T want as well. Even if you’re not building your own site or blog, this could be useful when talking to the designer (or a warning if they’re enthusiastic about a bad feature). Vincent Flanders has some good videos on his YouTube channel where he dissects websites with poor design: http://www.youtube.com/user/vincentflanders.

It’s definitely a good idea to learn a little bit about how web sites and blogs are built if you can. Even if you do none of the building or maintenance, it’ll put you that much more in the know when you communicate with the people who do.
- http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman
  
  Kristin, I didn’t know about these videos before, but the “mystery meat navigation” Mr. Flanders uses to describe some of these websites is pretty funny. His videos do showcase some spectacularly bad websites out there. . . I’m glad you brought these to our attention!
  
  And you’re right about the importance of being educated in the nuts and bolts of one’s site in order to communicate intelligently about it–agreed.
http://www.authorpeterdehaan.com/ Peter DeHaan

Jean, you shared some great advice here. I, too, learned the hard way on website design, having had a couple of expensive disasters a few years ago.

I recently had my author website redone and am most pleased with the results. It took a while, but as is oft said, “Good things take time.”

The next step is to integrate my blogs into it instead of having them reside elsewhere. Your post has encouraged me to do that sooner, rather than later. Thanks!
http://sislynstewart.com Jean Huffman

I’m glad my post was encouraging, Peter. Happy writing!
Rachel Muller

This is some great advice, thank you!! I have been tossing back and forth the idea of starting up a blog for several weeks. I will be keeping this info handy for sure!!
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http://www.joneshousecreative.com Emily Scifres

This topic always carries so much personal weight behind it. I get so heart-sick for clients that come to us burned from previous web managers/designers. Unfortunately, those horror stories happen all too often.

I love Jean’s tips on doing it yourself. One commitment we really try to uphold at Jones House is equipping our people. We love visual tutorials and teleconferences where we can walk step-by-step through each process. It’s almost like trying to work ourselves out of a job, if we can empower others to know how to battle the world of the internet and come out victorious.

My tips when it comes to picking a designer…find someone that sees you as more than a client, someone that seeks to be on your team and in your corner, a designer that isn’t afraid to send you to a company that could serve you better, and someone who will protect your name and God’s gifting in you.

http://www.JonesHouseCreative.com
@JonesHouseCre8v
http://girlseeksplace.wordpress.com Brianna

Excellent tips here. I am definitely on the path to switching from wordpress.com to wordpress.org and will need a blog designer. I am HTML & code inept.
Georgecallum

Clients, when they post projects to the freelancing sites failed to realize the factor “the selling cycle”. These job posting sties have long selling cycle and on an average project is taking 20 days from the time it is originally posted to the final selection of a freelancer. Recently I visited http://www.hireprogrammers.in and completed my work in lesser time and money. Thanks to the hire programmers team
http://www.aileenbarker.com/design/ aileenbarker

Thanks for your valuable knowelde about the how to hire a blog designer.I have just started the work and your questions will really help me in finding a best designer for my website.
flor nike

These things are important when looking for a blog designer.Check the backgrounds and look for the portfolio. http://fearlessflyer.com/2013/05/check-out-these-5-websites-that-make-logos-for-free/