How to Choose the Right Web Designer in Florence, AL: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business — and if it’s outdated, confusing, or hard to use, it could be costing you sales. But here’s the tricky part: not all web designers are created equal.
If you’re a business owner in Florence, AL or Jackson, TN, you’ve probably seen everything from $300 “quick sites” to $10,000 agency packages. So how do you choose the right web designer without wasting time or money?
At Lime Group, we’ve met dozens of business owners who felt burned by past designers — slow timelines, poor communication, or websites that didn’t deliver results. To help you avoid that frustration, here are five questions to ask before you hire a web designer (and how to spot red flags before it’s too late).
1. “Can You Show Me Recent Work — and Explain the Strategy Behind It?”
A good designer should proudly show you examples of past projects. But don’t just look at how the sites look — ask why they were built that way.
✅ Did the site improve traffic or conversions?
✅ Was it designed for a specific audience or goal?
✅ How does it perform on mobile?
A professional web designer can explain the “why” behind every design decision. If someone can’t tell you how their work helped a business grow, you might just be paying for a pretty layout — not a strategy.
Pro Tip: Check whether their examples actually load fast and look good on mobile. If they don’t, that’s your first clue to keep looking.
2. “Who Will Own My Website When It’s Done?”
You’d be surprised how many small businesses discover — too late — that they don’t actually own their own website. Some designers build your site on a proprietary platform and hold your domain or files hostage if you ever try to leave.
At Lime Group, we believe in 100% ownership. Your website, domain, and content belong to you. We’ll even help transfer it to your own hosting account so you’re never locked in.
Before signing a contract, make sure it states clearly that you own:
Your domain name
All website content, images, and design
Access to hosting and login credentials
You’re paying for an asset — make sure it’s yours.
3. “Do You Handle SEO and Mobile Optimization, or Just Design?”
A beautiful website doesn’t mean anything if no one can find it. Many low-cost designers skip SEO (search engine optimization) completely, leaving you with a nice-looking site that never shows up in Google search results.
Ask your designer if they:
✅ Research and use local keywords (like “web design Florence AL”)
✅ Optimize titles, headings, and alt tags
✅ Set up your Google Business Profile and local citations
✅ Test performance and mobile responsiveness
At Lime Group, SEO isn’t an upsell — it’s built into every site we design. Because your website should work as hard as you do.
4. “What Kind of Ongoing Support Do You Offer?”
A website isn’t a “set it and forget it” tool. You’ll eventually need updates, backups, or new pages — and if your designer disappears after launch, you’re on your own.
Ask how they handle:
Regular maintenance and security updates
Hosting and uptime monitoring
Adding new features as your business grows
Content edits or design tweaks
You don’t need a massive retainer plan — but you do need someone who answers the phone when you call. At Lime Group, every client gets direct access and fast turnaround for updates. No tickets, no waiting weeks.
5. “Can You Explain Pricing and Timeline Clearly?”
Transparent pricing is one of the easiest ways to separate a professional designer from a freelancer figuring it out as they go.
Look for clear answers to:
How long the project will take
What’s included (design, SEO, hosting, training, etc.)
How revisions are handled
What happens if you need to add something later
A great designer helps you plan for the future — not trap you with surprise fees or vague timelines.
At Lime Group, most small business sites are completed in 3–5 weeks depending on size and content. We provide flat-rate quotes upfront so you can budget confidently.
Bonus: Watch Out for These Red Flags 🚩
They won’t give you admin access to your site.
They promise “page one on Google” overnight.
They use jargon to avoid answering simple questions.
They can’t explain their process clearly.
A trustworthy designer will educate you, not confuse you.
Choosing the Right Fit
The best web designer isn’t necessarily the cheapest — it’s the one who listens to your goals, understands your audience, and treats your website like a business tool, not a side project.
At Lime Group, we build websites that look good, load fast, and help small businesses in Florence and Jackson grow online. No gimmicks — just results.
📞 (256) 443-2714 | (731) 215-5449
Lime Group, LLC
Web Design • SEO • Online Marketing
Serving Florence, AL & Jackson, TN