Website design in Cairns: 8 questions to ask before you hire

A new website is a big decision for a small business. It's money, time and usually a fair bit of stress. I've seen plenty of Cairns owners end up with a site that looks fine but does nothing, or one they can't change without paying someone every time. Most of that is avoidable if you ask the right questions up front.

Here are the eight I'd ask any website designer, including me.

1. Will I own the website and the domain?

You should own your domain name, your content and ideally the website itself. Make sure the domain is registered to you or your business, not the designer. If you ever part ways, you want to be able to take everything with you.

2. What are the ongoing costs?

Ask about hosting, domain renewal, maintenance, updates and support. Some designers bundle these into a monthly fee, others charge separately. Neither is wrong, but you should know exactly what you're paying for after launch and what happens if you stop.

3. How will the site help me show up on Google?

A good-looking site that Google can't understand won't bring in much. Ask how they handle page titles, service pages, location pages, page speed and the technical setup. If you serve Cairns, the Tablelands or Townsville, ask how the site will reflect those areas. A website and SEO work best when they're planned together, which is how I approach SEO in Cairns.

4. Will it work properly on a phone?

Most of your customers will find you on their phone, often in a car park or on a job. The site needs to load quickly, read easily and make calling or booking one tap away. Ask to see examples on your own phone, not just on a big screen in their office.

5. How will enquiries come through, and how will I know?

This is the question most people forget. Ask how calls, forms and bookings will be tracked, and whether you'll be able to see which pages and sources are bringing in work. A website should be measured on enquiries, not on how nice it looks. I've written more on that in what makes a website actually convert.

6. Who writes the content?

The words do a lot of the selling. Ask whether they write the copy, help you write it, or expect you to supply it. Good copy explains what you do, who it's for and why someone should choose you, in the language your customers actually use.

7. Can I make simple changes myself?

You should be able to update your hours, a price or a photo without waiting a week. Ask what you can edit yourself, how easy it is, and whether they'll show you how.

8. What happens after launch?

A website isn't finished on launch day. Ask who fixes things if they break, who keeps it secure and up to date, and whether they'll help you improve it over time based on what's working.

Red flags to watch for

Be careful with anyone who can't show you real work, won't give you a clear written quote, wants to keep your domain in their name, or only ever talks about design and never about enquiries. Be wary of cheap templates with no thought given to your actual customers, too. Cheap can turn out expensive if the site never earns its keep.

What a good outcome looks like

The goal is a site that clearly says what you do and where, loads fast, makes it easy to get in touch and shows proof, like reviews and real work, at every step. You can see a website built to turn interest into enquiries for a Townsville drone business in the UAScend Aerial Solutions case study.

Business is personal. Your website is often the first conversation someone has with you, so it should sound like you and make the next step easy. If you want to talk yours through, have a look at my web design in Cairns or book a strategy session.