What to Do Before Hiring a Web Designer: 5 Things That’ll Save You Time (and Money)
Hiring a web designer is a big step - emotionally, financially, and energetically.
For many women, it’s the moment their business starts to feel real. Less side hustle and more credibility and authority. And while you absolutely don’t need to have everything figured out before working with a designer, there is a difference between being curious about a new website and being truly ready for one.
After designing 90+ websites for women in wellness, I’ve noticed a clear pattern. The smoothest, most aligned projects don’t come from clients who “have it all together.” They come from women who have done a bit of foundational thinking - enough to give the design direction, meaning, and momentum.
If you’re considering hiring a web designer (or wondering if now is the right time), these five things will save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.
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What to Do Before Hiring a Web Designer: 5 Things That’ll Save You Time (and Money)
1. You Know Who You Help (Even If It’s Not Perfectly Polished)
You don’t need a fully articulated brand statement or a hyper-specific niche. But you do need a general sense of who your work is for.
When clients come into a project knowing who they help - and who they don’t - everything moves more smoothly. Design decisions become clearer. Copywriting gets easier. The website actually speaks to the right people instead of trying to appeal to everyone.
This doesn’t mean you need to sound fancy or “official.” It simply means you can answer questions like:
Who is this work for?
What stage of life or business are they in?
What kind of support are they actively seeking?
I can help you refine and articulate this. But I can’t create clarity out of thin air. If you truly don’t know who you’re serving yet, you’ll want to spend a bit more time hashing out your brand strategy.
2. Your Services or Offers Are Mapped Out
Again - this doesn’t mean your offers can’t evolve. They almost always do.
What is important is that you know what you’re offering right now and how it works. Whether that’s 1:1 sessions, a program, a package, or a combination of services, your website needs something concrete to organize around.
If you’re still in the phase of “I help people feel better, but I’m not sure how,” it may be worth slowing down before hiring a designer. Clarity here makes every part of the website more effective.
When clients come in with their offers mapped, even loosely, we can build a site that actually supports their business instead of guessing at structure.
3. You’ve Thought (A Little) About How People Will Find Your Website
You don’t need a full marketing plan. You don’t need to be everywhere. And you definitely don’t need to love social media.
But it is important to understand that a website doesn’t work in isolation.
The clients who get the most out of their website investment have at least one traffic channel in mind - maybe SEO, Pinterest, or social media marketing. They’ve thought about how people will land on their site and what they want them to do once they arrive.
This doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s simply about awareness. Knowing that your website is part of a larger ecosystem, not a magic solution on its own.
4. You Have Some Visual Direction
You don’t need a complete brand identity to book a webs designer. You don’t even need finalized colors or fonts or a logo.
If you do have a pre-existing professionally designed brand that you love- great! We can absolutely use that. Otherwise, we can explore don-for-you brand kit options to set you up with a visual aesthetic that feels deeply aligned.
What does help is having a sense of what you’re drawn to.
This might look like:
a Pinterest board
a few bookmarked websites you love
notes on how you want your brand to feel
This gives us something to react to and build from. It turns design into a collaborative process instead of a guessing game.
Part of my job is guiding you through these decisions - not expecting you to be a designer. But having a starting point helps us move with intention instead of overwhelm.
5. You’re Ready for Support (Not Just a Pretty Website)
This is the biggest shift I see between women who are almost ready and women who truly are.
Hiring a web designer isn’t just about getting something that looks nice. It’s about being open to strategy, structure, and guidance. It’s about trusting the process and being willing to make decisions - even imperfect ones - with support.
My role is to guide you through branding, copywriting, SEO, and web strategy in a way that feels supportive, not overwhelming. You don’t have to know everything. But you do have to be willing to engage in the process.
When that willingness is there, everything changes.
A Note on Timelines, Budget, and Readiness
My website process allows us to design a five-page website in as little as two weeks - and those projects feel both spacious and efficient. That’s the result of refining my process across 90+ custom builds, not rushing clients through decisions.
That said, timelines can extend depending on the level of support needed, additional pages, or the scope of branding and SEO work. The goal is never speed for the sake of speed. It’s alignment.
Budget-wise, investing in a website is a big decision. A healthy amount of excitement (and nerves) is normal. What matters most is that the investment feels good in your body and sustainable for your business. I never encourage clients to move forward if they’re financially uncomfortable.
Templates vs. Custom Design: Choosing the Right Path
Squarespace templates are a great option if:
you’re newer in business and are comfortable with DIY solutions OR your a bit more established in business and feel comfortable and confident working with Squarespace
you have the time and flexibility to DIY
your website doesn’t need to carry heavy results yet
you’re comfortable learning as you go
Templates allow you to build something solid and credible without overextending yourself - and DIY results are completely appropriate for DIY efforts.
Hiring a web designer makes sense when:
your website needs to actively support your income
you want strategy, not just aesthetics
you’re ready for expert guidance and custom execution
you want a site that works for your business, not just represents it
Both paths are valid. The key is choosing the one that actually supports where you are right now.
Not Sure If You’re Ready Yet? Start Here.
If you’re somewhere in between - excited but unsure, inspired but overwhelmed - that’s okay.
I created the Website Inspiration Workbook to help women get clarity on their website vision before committing to a designer. It walks you through defining your style, structure, and priorities so you can move forward with confidence (whether you DIY or hire support).
→ Download the Website Inspiration Workbook here.
And if you’re feeling clear and ready to explore working together, you can learn more about my services below.
If you liked this post, you may also like:
→ How to Plan a Brand Photoshoot for Your Website
→ Template vs. Designer: How to Choose the Right Website Path for Your Business
→ 9 Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring a Web Designer
→ 6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer
→ 6 Things Your Wellness Business Needs Before Hiring a Web Designer
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Hey I'm Jamie | Squarespace Web Designer and Certified Health Coach
I specialize in building strategic, elevated Squarespace websites for wellness professionals who are ready to grow their business with more clarity, confidence, and ease.
After designing over 90+ websites and supporting dozens of women-owned wellness entrepreneurs, I’ve seen firsthand how intentional design and smart strategy can completely shift the way you show up, and how you sell.
This blog is where I share the real stuff: design tips, marketing strategies, and behind-the-scenes insights to help you build a brand online that actually works for you.
Disclaimer: My policy is to only share products and resources that have brought value to me and/or I believe will bring value to my audience. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you make a purchase using them.
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