| If you are new to ecommerce, and you need a | | | | have much design skill, and are often given many |
| website for your internet business, you probably have | | | | different jobs to do at once. As a result, they do |
| no idea how to go about hiring a web designer or a | | | | shoddy work and will throw your design together |
| programmer. Where do you start? How do you find a | | | | haphazardly. You will be very disappointed with the |
| web designer? Should you hire someone who works | | | | result. |
| for a design firm, or should you pay a freelancer who | | | | The best web designers to hire are professionals who |
| works alone? | | | | do web design as a career, and do only several |
| If you need someone to develop a simple website for | | | | projects at a time. You should hire either a sole |
| you, then a freelancer will charge a lot less than a | | | | proprietor who has a large portfolio of work to show |
| professional, but a freelancer might not do a good job. | | | | you, or a small firm of web designers who work |
| Make sure you request to see samples of web | | | | together and have extensive web design experience. |
| designs they have already done. I find it best to hire a | | | | Professionals charge more than anyone else, but they |
| professional, because even though a professional will | | | | have more experience. |
| charge more per hour, they can usually do much | | | | The only time you should use a freelancer is if you can |
| better work and get the job done more quickly. | | | | meet with that individual in person, explain exactly what |
| What are the differences between a freelancer, a | | | | you want, and if the project itself is very simple and |
| sole proprietor, someone who owns a small, reputable | | | | the design work necessary for the job is not too |
| web design business with a few employees, and a | | | | extravagant. Do not make the mistake of hiring a |
| designer who is part of a huge company that employs | | | | freelancer over the internet that lives too far to visit |
| up to one hundred web designers? (there are design | | | | and only accepts payments via PayPal or through |
| firms that employ hundreds of web designers under a | | | | some other electronic means. Make sure your |
| single company umbrella and also provide domain | | | | freelancer is someone who resides close by so that |
| name registration and web hosting services all in one | | | | you can monitor their progress and visit them if you |
| package). | | | | are not satisfied with their work. |
| A freelancer is usually someone for whom web | | | | Also, it is extremely important to hire a designer who |
| design is a hobby. This sort of a person has probably | | | | has a contract that you can sign that stipulates certain |
| taken a few courses in simple web design at a local | | | | terms and conditions. You should be able to pay the |
| institute or college, or might be self-taught, and dabbles | | | | designer 25% - 50% of the total quoted price up front, |
| in web design as a part-time job or a way to earn | | | | with the balance due upon completion. |
| extra cash. Some of these freelancers might be quite | | | | Follow all of these recommendations and be careful |
| talented, but their designs are not as professional. | | | | when hiring a web designer or programmer. Always |
| When the project is complete, the freelancer probably | | | | work with a professional if your project requires a |
| will not provide you the design you really wanted, and | | | | certain level of expertise and skill, and make sure they |
| will refuse to refund your money. | | | | show you some samples of work they have |
| A web designer who is part of a larger company that | | | | produced in the past. Make sure their previous work is |
| employs one hundred or more designers is just as bad | | | | up to your standards. |
| as a freelancer. These sorts of web designers do not | | | | |