15 Questions to Ask Your Web Designer Before Hiring

1. What kind of research will you do on our business?

A professional web designer should always begin with research. This includes understanding your business model, services, products, ideal customers, and competitors.

A great website starts just before design begins. Logic Web Media takes the time to understand your:

• Industry
• Target audience
• Local competition (especially on Long Island)
• Brand message
• Services and products
• Long-term business goals

This research ensures your site is built with strategy in mind — not just aesthetics.

We study your local competitors on Long Island to understand what works in your industry. This allows us to create a website that not only fits modern design standards, but also gives you a competitive edge. Every business is unique, and your website should reflect that. Without proper research and planning, websites fail to meet user expectations or generate real results.

2. Will I own the site after launch?

This question protects you from a major problem many business owners don’t expect. Some freelancers or agencies retain ownership of your:

• Website files
• Design assets
• Domain
• Hosting account

That means if you ever leave them, you might lose your website.

You should always own your site 100%.

Logic Web Media gives clients full ownership of their website, files, logins, content, and domain (if we secure it for you). You will never be locked into a proprietary platform or dependent on us for future changes unless you choose to continue working with us.

Never work with a designer who holds your site hostage to keep you paying them.

This is one of the most important questions, and many business owners don’t realize ownership can be complicated. At Logic Web Media, our clients own everything: the website files, the content, the design, and the domain (if we secure it for you). Additionally, you should have your own hosting account where your website lives. Should you choose to have a hosting account through our sister company LightSpace Technologies, then you will have your own account. This account is the same as having a GoDaddy or Host Gator account. It is yours to do whatever you want with. Never allow your website to be on another person’s or web design agency’s hosting account.

Always clarify this before signing a contract. True ownership means freedom and long-term security—both of which you get when you partner with Logic Web Media.

3. Do you build custom sites or will my site be a template?

Many “web design agencies” simply install a pre-made template and change the colors and logo. While templates can be quick, they often limit functionality, slow down performance, and make your website look like everyone else’s.

This is one of the biggest differentiators between professional agencies and quick-turnaround template designers.

Template sites are:

• Fast to build
• Cheap upfront
• Limited in design
• Bad for SEO
• Very similar to sites your competitors may already have

Custom websites are:

• Tailored to your branding
• Built with custom functionality
• Structured for SEO success
• Visually unique
• Adaptable as your business grows

Logic Web Media specializes in custom design and development — no cookie-cutter themes. We specialize in fully custom WordPress, Shopify, and Magento websites. Every website is designed from scratch based on your brand and business goals. If you want your business to stand out in Long Island’s market, custom is the way to go.

4. Will I be able to edit my site after it is live?

You should never be locked out of updating your website. A professional agency should give you an easy-to-use content management system (CMS) such as WordPress, along with training on how to:

• Edit text
• Add images
• Add blog posts
• Update service pages
• Make minor layout adjustments

Logic Web Media builds all custom sites with user-friendly tools so clients can manage their content in-house if they choose.

If an agency tells you they must handle every change — and you must pay every time — that’s a red flag.

If you prefer a hands-off approach, we also offer ongoing maintenance plans where we handle updates, backups, security, and edits. For most of our Long Island clients like plumbers, painters, healthcare providers, and others, they choose a maintenance plan. They do not have the capability-or the time-to worry about maintaining a website.

Whether you want control, support, or a combination of both, we provide a solution that fits your workflow.

5. Do you offer other services besides building websites?

Yes. Logic Web Media of Long Island is a full-service digital agency that provides web development, SEO, website hosting, branding, logo design, ADA accessibility, online marketing strategies, and more. Many business owners prefer working with one agency that can handle everything online rather than juggling multiple vendors.

Some web designers strictly design and develop. Others — like Logic Web Media — offer additional digital services such as:

• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Google Ads and PPC campaigns
• Social media marketing
• Local SEO for Long Island businesses
• Branding and logo design
• Ecommerce development (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce)
• Accessibility improvements
• Ongoing website maintenance

Furthermore, your web design agency should do all these things well. Asking a person who only knows design to handle your marketing is like asking your doctor to change your oil. Could they do it? Maybe. Should they do it? Absolutely not.

If you want one agency to handle everything, look for a company with a full in-house team, not a solo freelancer juggling multiple roles.

6. What if I don’t have pictures for the site?

No problem at all. Most clients come to us without original photos. We offer several solutions, including professional stock photography and custom graphics. Additionally, we can refer you to a talented photographer should you want unique and professional photography.

Site images is a common concern for small businesses. You have a few options:

• Professional photography (ideal for branding)
• Stock photography (high-quality options available)
• Videos and graphics created by your designer
• Lifestyle or team photos taken at your location

Strong visuals are essential for creating trust and engagement on your website. Regardless of your needs, we’ll help you choose or create the right assets.

A good designer should guide you — not make you feel stuck if you don’t have visuals ready.

7. Do you have portfolio examples of similar businesses?

Experience matters. If you’re a Long Island restaurant, medical practice, contractor, attorney, or ecommerce store, you want a designer who has built websites in your industry.

Seeing portfolio work helps you evaluate:

• Quality and style
• Functionality
• Mobile responsiveness
• Navigation and layout approach
• Writing and SEO quality

Reviewing past work is one of the best ways to gauge expertise, visual style, and technical ability. Any reputable agency should be eager to share its portfolio with you.

Logic Web Media has built hundreds of websites across nearly every industry on Long Island. We will be able to show you relevant examples.

8. Do you design the website in your Bay Shore office or do you outsource overseas?

This is a crucial question — especially for Long Island businesses who want personalized, hands-on service.

Many companies that appear local actually send work to:

• Overseas developers
• Overseas designers
• Overseas support teams

This leads to:

• Poor communication
• Delays
• Inconsistent quality
• Security concerns
• Limited accountability

Many low-cost design companies outsource everything, which often creates delays, communication issues, mismatched quality, and unstable code. Working with a local, in-house team means accountability and craftsmanship—all of which directly impact the success of your website.

Logic Web Media proudly designs and develops all client websites in-house at our Bay Shore, Long Island office. Visit us, and you can meet the real team working on your site. We never outsource overseas, and we do not hire temporary contractors for core deliverables. This ensures consistent communication, higher-quality work, and complete control over the design and development process.

9. Do I need to have an existing site to redesign?

Not at all. You can start fresh, even if you have nothing online yet. A quality web designer can work with either situation:

• Redesigning an outdated or underperforming website
• Building a brand-new site from scratch

Whether you’re starting a new business or rebranding an existing one, a professional agency should help guide you through the process.

Logic Web Media handles both new and existing websites. If you do have an existing site, we can perform an audit to see what content or branding can be repurposed. Sometimes a complete rebuild is necessary; other times, strategic improvements can transform your current site into something modern and high-performing. Both approaches are valid depending on your situation.

10. Can you write the website content or do I need to write it?

Most business owners feel overwhelmed when it comes to writing website content. You shouldn’t be expected to write everything yourself unless you want to.

Professional agencies typically offer:

• Full copywriting
• SEO-optimized content writing
• Brand voice development
• Messaging strategy
• Product descriptions
• Blog writing

If you prefer to write your own content, we can provide a structured outline and editing support. Most clients choose a hybrid approach—you provide the basics, and we polish the rest. Strong content is essential for conversions and SEO, so professional writing is always a smart investment.

Logic Web Media has in-house copywriters who specialize in SEO-driven content for Long Island businesses.

If an agency expects you to write everything, you may end up with content that doesn’t convert — or worse, content that doesn’t help your Google rankings.

11. Will my website work on phones?

Mobile responsiveness is non-negotiable. Over half of all website traffic on Long Island comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you will lose customers, credibility, and search rankings.

A professional designer should ensure your site:

• Loads fast on phones
• Adjusts layouts for different screen sizes
• Has readable text
• Maintains functionality across devices
• Passes Google’s mobile performance standards

Logic Web Media builds all websites mobile-first — meaning we design with phone users in mind from the start.

12. Will my site show up in Google search?

This is one of the most important questions for any business.

Showing up in Google requires more than just launching a website. Logic Web Media builds every website with foundational SEO best practices, including clean code, fast performance, mobile responsiveness, structured content, and keyword-focused pages. These elements give your site a strong foundation for organic rankings.

While no agency can promise the #1 spot on Google, your web designer should build your site to be SEO ready with:

• Keyword placement (for Long Island towns like Bay Shore, Islip, Babylon, Smithtown, and others)
• Fast loading times
• Clean coding
• Structured data markup
• High-quality content
• Proper URL structure

If a designer does not consider SEO, your site may look good — but won’t rank.

However, ongoing SEO services ensures Google ranking. Once your site is launched, we recommend SEO services for most websites.

Our SEO services includes keyword research, content creation, link building, technical audits, and monthly reporting. SEO is a long-term strategy, but when done correctly, it can become your strongest source of leads and traffic. With our SEO expertise, your site will be positioned for long-term search success.

13. Can you get me the domain that I want?

Yes. We can secure a domain name for you as long as it is available. If your preferred name is already taken, we can help you find alternatives or variations that maintain your branding. We also handle domain transfers, DNS configuration, and hosting setup.

Your domain is part of your brand identity. A professional web designer should help you:

• Search for available domains
• Secure and register the domain
• Choose the best top-level domain (TLD), such as .com
• Avoid trademark issues
• Manage domain renewals
• Transfer an existing domain if needed

Logic Web Media handles all aspects of domain registration and management for clients who need assistance.

14. How many pages can I have on my website?

Your website should have as many pages as you need — not a limited number based on your designer’s package.

You can have as many pages as your business needs. Some websites are 5 pages; others are 50 or more. During the planning stage, we help you determine the ideal structure for your site based on your unique services and content.

Important standard page types include:

• Home (the most important!)
• About Us
• Contact
• Services (with individual service pages for SEO)
• Products / Shop
• FAQ
• Testimonials
• Portfolio

Logic Web Media does not limit page count. We help you determine the right structure for your business and build a scalable site that can grow with you.

A well-organized site with clear navigation improves user engagement, conversions, and search visibility. Whether you need a small informational website or a massive e-commerce store, we build scalable solutions that grow with your business.

15. How much does a website cost?

This is usually the first question business owners have — but the answer depends on what you need.

Website prices vary based on complexity, number of pages, design requirements, custom features, and platform. At Logic Web Media, every project is tailored to your business, so pricing is determined after our initial meeting. We provide clear, transparent proposals with no hidden fees.

Website costs vary based on:

• Design complexity
• Custom development
• Ecommerce functionality
• Number of pages
• Content writing
• SEO work
• Integrations
• Industry requirements
• Branding needs

For professional, custom-designed websites built locally on Long Island, costs typically range from a few thousand dollars to more complex builds costing more.

While template-based websites can be cheaper, a fully custom website is a long-term investment that improves branding, credibility, and conversions. Most clients recoup their investment through increased leads and website traffic. Additionally, we offer flexible payment options to help businesses of all sizes access high-quality web design.

Logic Web Media provides transparent pricing based on your goals, not generic packages.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Web Designer on Long Island

Hiring a web designer is an investment in your business’s long-term growth. The right designer will:

• Understand your business
• Build a custom, mobile-friendly, SEO-ready site
• Communicate clearly
• Work locally
• Support you before, during, and after launch

At Logic Web Media in Bay Shore, NY, we pride ourselves on transparency, custom development, and long-term client relationships. Whether you’re a local contractor, medical practice, ecommerce store, startup, or service business, we can help you build a website that actually delivers results.

If you’re looking for a website that reflects your brand, supports your goals, and ranks on Google, these questions will ensure you hire the right team.