If you built your first website with an AI builder and you are ready for something better — or you have realized the current site is not doing what you need — hiring a professional designer is a reasonable next step. Here is a practical checklist for evaluating designers, what to ask, and how to share your existing site as a useful starting point rather than a complication.
Be Clear About What You Need Before You Start Looking
Before you contact anyone, spend a few minutes writing down what you actually need the website to do — not just “look better,” but specifically what is not working. Are you getting traffic but no leads? Is the site missing important services? Does the mobile experience feel broken? Are forms not working?
A clear problem statement helps you evaluate whether a designer’s proposal actually addresses your situation — and it gives the designer the information they need to give you a realistic scope and price. Vague briefs produce vague proposals.
What to Look for in a Designer’s Portfolio
A portfolio tells you what kind of work the designer does and whether their aesthetic and approach fit your business. When reviewing portfolios:
- Look for examples in or near your industry — not identical, but relevant enough that you can evaluate fit
- Check how portfolio sites look on a phone, not just on desktop
- Look at whether calls to action are clear and prominent, not just whether the design is attractive
- Notice whether the content on portfolio sites seems specific and real, or generic and placeholder-like
- If the portfolio includes local service businesses, that is a strong indicator the designer understands your audience
A designer who has done work you genuinely admire, for businesses similar to yours, is a better starting point than one with an impressive-looking portfolio of work that has nothing to do with what you do.
Questions to Ask During the Discovery Conversation
A first conversation with a designer is as much about how they approach the work as it is about price. Ask these questions and pay attention to the quality of the answers:
About the project process
- What does your process look like from start to launch?
- How do you handle content — do you write it, guide me through it, or work from what I provide?
- What do you need from me to get started, and at what stages will you need my input?
- How many rounds of revisions are included?
About scope and deliverables
- What exactly is included in this project?
- What is specifically not included?
- Will you set up forms, booking tools, or integrations I am already using?
- Will you configure and test the contact process before launch?
About SEO
- What SEO work is included in the project?
- Will you set up page titles, meta descriptions, and heading structure for each page?
- Do you set up Google Analytics and Search Console as part of the project?
- What is your approach to local SEO for a service business like mine?
About ownership and access
- Who owns the domain?
- Who holds the hosting account?
- Will I have admin access to the website after launch?
- If I ever need to move to a different designer or host, what does that involve?
About post-launch support
- What happens if something breaks after launch?
- Is there a support period included?
- Do you offer ongoing maintenance, and what does that cover?
- What is your typical response time for urgent issues?
A designer who answers these questions specifically and honestly is demonstrating the same transparency you should expect from the working relationship. Vague answers — “we handle everything,” “don’t worry about that” — are a reason to ask follow-up questions, not a reason to relax.
How to Share Your Existing AI-Built Site as a Starting Point
Your existing site is useful information for a designer, even if you are planning to rebuild. It shows them what you have tried, what content exists, what the brand currently looks like, and what needs to change.
When you share the site:
- Send the live URL and any staging or draft URLs if they are different
- Explain which platform it was built on
- List any integrations or tools currently connected (forms, booking, analytics)
- Note which content you want to keep and what needs to be written from scratch
- Identify any specific pages or URLs that appear in search results — a designer handling a rebuild should implement redirects from old URLs to new ones
If you are staying on the same platform and asking the designer to improve the existing site, you will need to provide collaborator access — not transfer ownership. Check your platform’s documentation for how to add a collaborator or agency account.
Understanding the Proposal
When you receive a proposal, compare scope before comparing price. Two quotes at different price points are often covering different scopes. A cheaper quote that excludes content writing, SEO setup, form configuration, and post-launch support may end up costing more than a higher quote that includes them — once you account for what you have to handle or pay for separately.
See the website pricing articles already published on this site for context on what different budgets typically cover: How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Michigan? and $1,000 vs. $2,500 vs. $5,000 Websites: What’s the Difference?
A Quick Checklist Before You Sign
- Have you seen portfolio examples relevant to your type of business?
- Is the scope of the project written down clearly — what is included and what is not?
- Do you know who owns the domain, hosting, and site files after launch?
- Have you confirmed you will have admin access to the CMS?
- Do you understand how revisions are handled and how many are included?
- Have you asked specifically about SEO deliverables — what is set up and what is not?
- Have you asked what happens if something breaks after launch?
- Do you know how to contact the designer if you have a question or problem?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a web designer is right for my business?
Look for relevant portfolio examples, clear answers to your process questions, and a proposal that specifically addresses what you need — not a generic package. A designer who asks good questions about your business before making recommendations is a better sign than one who sends a price list before listening.
What should I ask about website ownership and account access?
Ask who owns the domain, who holds the hosting account, and whether you will have admin access to the website after launch. All three should be in your name or under your control by the time the project closes.
Can a designer work with my existing AI-built site?
Often yes. Whether that means improving the current site or rebuilding on a different platform depends on what needs to change and what the current platform supports. See Can a Web Designer Fix or Redesign an AI-Generated Website? for a detailed look at how this works.
What SEO should be included in a new website project?
At minimum: page titles and meta descriptions for every page, descriptive heading structure, image alt text, a submitted sitemap, and Google Analytics and Search Console setup. Ask specifically what the designer includes and what falls outside the project scope.
How long does a professionally built website take?
A typical small business website takes four to eight weeks from kickoff to launch, depending on how quickly content is gathered, how many revisions are needed, and the designer’s current workload. Ask for a realistic timeline at the start — and ask what your responsibilities are for keeping the project on track.
Who handles updates and problems after launch?
This depends on the agreement. Some designers include a support period after launch; others charge for post-launch changes. Ask before you sign, and make sure the answer is in writing. Knowing who to call if something breaks is part of what you are paying for.
Talk to DH Digital Design
DH Digital Design is a family-owned web design and digital marketing business based in Pontiac, Michigan. We work with local service businesses across Oakland County and Metro Detroit who are ready for a website that actually works. If you have an AI-built site you want to improve — or you are starting from scratch — we are happy to walk through your options and give you a straight answer about what makes sense for your business. Request a free quote and tell us what you need.