7 questions to ask before you commission a website
Choosing the right agency isn't about technical knowledge — it's about asking the right questions. Here's a list to bring to your first call.
For most businesses, commissioning a website is a decision made only once every few years. That's exactly why the wrong choice is expensive. The good news: you don't need to understand code to pick the right agency — you just need to ask the right questions.
1. "Will I be able to update the site myself?"
You don't want to pay the agency for every text change. Ask upfront whether you'll get an admin panel where you can update text, images and pages yourself.
2. "How fast will the site load?"
A slow site loses visitors, and Google pushes slow sites down. Ask whether they set a concrete target for speed.
3. "Will it look right on a phone?"
Most of your visitors will arrive on a phone. Make sure the design is thought through for phones first.
Quick tip
Open the agency's previous sites on your own phone. Test the loading speed and the look for yourself, first-hand.
4. "What do you do to help me show up on Google?"
A beautiful site is useless if no one can find it. Ask whether the basic search settings (titles, sitemap, speed) are part of the package.
5. "What's the timeline, and what's included?"
Ask for a clear schedule and a list of what is and isn't included. Surprises usually come from a missing list.
6. "What happens after launch?"
Is there support once the site is live? How are small changes, updates and possible bugs handled? Agree on this from the start.
7. "Who will own the site and the content?"
Will the domain, the site files and the content belong to you? The answer should be a clear "yes, all of it is yours."
Ask these seven questions and — even without any technical background — you'll quickly tell whether the person across the table takes their work seriously. The right agency will be happy to hear them.