Whew! You're done! Your new website is live, and you're ready to focus on running your business. But before you wrap up with your web designer, here are some questions you should ask:
1. How can I maintain my brand consistency?
Consistency is key in establishing a strong brand identity. Ask your designer for guidelines that should be used in future design endeavors. These could include hex color codes, font choices or specific design elements that should be used across various platforms.
2. Are there any licensing or usage restrictions?
Make sure you are aware of any licensing restrictions or agreements regarding the usage of the design elements on your site. For example, custom fonts that are used for commercial purposes have specific licensing terms that must be followed. Some font licenses have rules about the number of page views the site gets and some font licenses must require an annual renewal.
Stock photography may also have licenses. While there are plenty of copyright-free stock photo sources like Unsplash or Pexels that don't require licenses, purchased stock photography should be licensed specifically for your website.
3. How do I edit my website?
Nothing is worse than have a beautiful new site that you don't know what to do with. At the very minimum your designer should help make sure that you know how to:
Make text changes
Swap out images
Change hyperlinks
Maintain domain registration
Maintain annual hosting
I personally include a tutorial for my clients at the end of every project where we go over the website as a whole so that they feel comfortable maintaining their site moving forward.
4. Do you provide ongoing maintenance or support?
Some designers offer ongoing maintenance or support services. Inquire about these options and discuss the terms if you are interested in having the designer assist with updates, troubleshooting or any other post-project needs.
Congratulations on crossing the finish line of your design project! Be sure to take a moment to connect with your designer and ask these essential questions. By doing so, you'll not only understand your site better, but you'll also lay the groundwork for a positive, enduring relationship!