If you’re looking to start earning some money online, you might want to think about making a blog that will make you a solid side income. With that, a factor which is often overlooked at it how you design your blog for optimal viewing, ad placement and reading. So, how much do you know about blog design?
If it’s not enough to help you design your new blog, then you might want to know what it takes to hire a designer that will leave you happy and satisfied about the investment.
But first, let me say that it’s absolutely possible to learn about the process and design your own blog; find that you like it and make it your new passion; and probably make money off it.
However, while it’s doable, there are many benefits to hiring a professional web designer – someone who’s done that a hundred times over. Besides, there are a lot of other factors that come into play – even when you’re not a complete rookie. For instance, do you have the time for it? Can you keep up with trends to make sure your blog is up to date, at any point down the line? Do you have the tools and – if not – is it feasible for you to spend money on them?
If you ask yourself enough questions and determine that you need a professional, then read on. This post is for you.
And knowing the following 5 important things will help you hire the most suitable blog designer for your site:
- The Difference between a Designer and a Developer
This seems like child’s play but you have to be certain that what you’re looking for is a blog designer and not a developer.
While a developer specializes in your website’s code, a designer’s job lies in enhancing your blog’s visual aspects. Meaning, the blog designer will help you choose features such as fonts, colors, page layouts, header, and any other visual features of your blog. Anything that could change the working of your WordPress site will require a developer.
Some designers can also do a little PHP and CSS coding. However, it’s very unlikely that you’ll find a developer that can do design. Thus, whenever hiring a developer, they’ll need you to have first hired a designer.
You might be lucky enough to find someone who can do both design and web development exceptionally well. These are known as unicorns. Unicorns are rare to catch. And just because it’s white, doesn’t mean it’s a unicorn.
It’s advisable that you hire an expert for each job. Besides, if you know a developer, there’s a great chance that they know a great designer they can recommend and vice versa. So, it shouldn’t be such a hassle.
- Work Experience
So, you have a designer – or list of designers.
Whom have they worked with before?
Check their portfolio to see the kind of results they have produced in the past. Does the work impress you? Even more specifically, look to see if the designer has worked on projects that had similar goals to yours. Talk to their previous clients to understand them (the designer) better. Note that it doesn’t necessarily have to be a deal breaker if the designer hasn’t worked in your market before.
But do they tell you about it up-front? What ideas do they have on how they’d work to make your site stunning? And what kind of challenges would they anticipate? How would they handled those challenges?
Either way, the designer should have previous work examples and most importantly, they should ask about and base their answers on your goals.
The place to start when you don’t know any good designers is at the footer of blogs that appeal to you. There’s usually a link to the designer’s website.
- Payment Basis
This isn’t about how much the designer wants – although that’s a great point. This is about how the designer wants to receive the payment. Do they want it per project, per item or per hour?
What about the edits? How many rounds will be made and will you be required to pay for each round of editing?
This information helps you be prepared, determine if you can work by the terms and also to avoid any unpleasant surprises on both parties.
Usually, reputable designers ask for an up-front 50% of the total charge. They require the remaining amount once they transfer the new theme file to you.
- Number of Iterations Allowed
The design won’t be complete unless you say it is. You’re allowed to ask your designer to make any changes you deem necessary – within reason, of course – on the new design.
The designer must communicate on the maximum number of changes they are willing to make before they start charging you for them.
Some designers allow you to suggest as many changes as you want as long as the work is ongoing.
Read the contract carefully to understand how such issues will be handled before any work starts. Remember that you can’t change your mind once the work begins.
- After-Design Support
How about when all is done and the site goes live; what kind of support does the designer promise?
Offline web development is very different from online functionality of the website. Sometimes you might realize that some aspects aren’t working as well as you had expected. What happens then? Will the designer be available to fix any of those issues or will you have to pay them still? How many of these online changes will you be able to ask of the designer before they start charging? Will that particular fee be to the changes or will it be part of initial price?
Also, what happens when there’s a new update from WordPress and your theme breaks? Will the designer fix that; and for how much? How many of such updates will the price cover?
Spend Enough Time
Hiring a suitable blog designer might take a lot of time. And assuming you’re trying to make money off your blog, it will require some monetary investment. But you get what you pay for. Your effort will be paid back. So, go ahead and don’t be afraid to look. Don’t be afraid to ask all the important questions. And most importantly, get the answers. Remember, it’s your career at stake.
Have you worked with a web designer before? What more would you look at in trying to hire the best designer for your blog. The Comments section is always open 🙂