It’s very difficult to find a good, honest and skilled web designer. However, it’s not impossible. Here are a few tips to ensure you are working with the best:

• Be sure you have a verbal interview with them. This is especially important if you’re hiring an overseas designer. If the designer only wants to chat, that’s typically not a good sign. You need to be sure that they understand English very well both spoken and written, so you can type a few questions during the verbal interview, but don’t neglect to speak with the designer.
• Ask what delieverables you’ll receive once the design is complete. Different developers require different files to ensure they can put out their best work. A developer is most often different than a web designer (we’ll cover web developers next week) I’ve come across various situations and you need to confer with your designer to see what they will provide.
• If you can do a screen sharing session, to view their design skills during the interview or shortly there after, you’ll be doing yourself a big favor. It’s very important; as so many people domestically and overseas secure work with you and then give the work to someone else to complete. You want to be sure you’re working with an actual designer who has the skills they claim to have.
• Check references. Ask for references from the owners of the websites in the designers portfolio. If they actually designed the websites themselves, this shouldn’t be a problem. Make sure the references are recent.

Lastly, if something feels off, or you think a potential candidate is lying to you, they probably are. Go with your gut; after all it’s your business reputation on the line.

Next week, I’ll have tips on hiring a good web developer. Typically a designer is not always great at developing a website and vice versa.

This is Shilonda Downing, signing off for Virtual Work Team LLC