5 Web Designer Red Flags To Spot Early (+ Green Flags Too!)
If you think hiring a web designer is just about finding someone who can make a pretty website, think again. The wrong fit can cost you time, money, and a lot of stress that you do not need.
This post is part of my Confident Client Series, where I help you make confident, informed decisions about your website. I'm Meg, a Squarespace web designer and SEO specialist, and for this series I serve as your Confidence Catalyst. My goal is to help you bridge the gap between your expertise and your website so you can show up confidently online, whether you work with me or with someone else.
In this article, I’m walking you through five major web designer red flags to watch for, plus the green flags that signal you may have found someone you actually want to work with. We’ll talk about things like process, contracts, communication, promises, portfolios, and more, so you can feel clear about what to look for before you sign a contract.
If you prefer to watch or listen, you can watch this episode as part of the Confident Client Series on my YouTube channel.
What You'll Learn in This Article
Why These Web Designer Red Flags Matter
Spotting red flags when hiring a web designer is a significant investment. It is not just about having a pretty website. It is about finding a designer or web design agency that understands your goals, respects your time and budget, and communicates clearly.
If you know what to look for, you can:
Avoid messy projects that drag on for months
Protect your money and your energy
Feel confident signing a contract and starting a website redesign or build
Red Flag 1: No Clear Process or Timeline
If a designer can’t clearly explain their process or timeline, that is a big problem.
You should be able to ask, and get clear answers to:
What happens when?
What is my role in the process?
How long does each phase take?
What is the overall timeline from signing a contract to launching my site?
You also deserve to know the major milestones, such as:
When strategy or planning happens
When the first design draft is due
When you give feedback
When revisions happen
What the target launch date is
Another important piece is what happens if you are delayed. If you are late with your content, images, or feedback, what does that do to the timeline? Does your project get paused, rescheduled, or incur fees? If a designer can’t, or won’t, articulate any of this, creating a vague timeline, that is a major red flag.
Green flag: A clear, realistic process
A green flag here is a designer who:
Provides a detailed project timeline
Explains each phase of the project in plain language
Sets clear expectations for your role and theirs
Builds in buffer time for real life delays through strong project management processes
You should walk away from the initial call or proposal knowing exactly what to expect, not guessing how things will go.
Red Flag 2: Vague (or Missing) Contract
If there is no contract at all, it is time to move on.
If the contract exists but is very vague about key pieces, that shows a lack of transparency and is a red flag. You want the contract to clearly outline:
Deliverables
Timeline
Payment terms
How many rounds of revisions are included
What happens if someone needs to cancel
Contracts are not just there to protect the designer. They protect clients, too. They should be detailed and clear, and you should be able to ask questions about anything you do not understand.
If a contract glosses over the important parts, or leaves you feeling unsure of what you are actually getting, that is not a good sign.
Green flag: A comprehensive, clear agreement
The green flag version of this is a designer who has a comprehensive contract that spells out:
Scope of work and exactly what is included
Deliverables for your website
Payment schedule and terms, including maintenance fees
Project schedule and deadlines
Revision policy and what counts as a “round.”
Cancellation terms on both sides
Ownership rights for your site and content
Post-launch support and what happens after launch
You should never feel confused about what you’re agreeing to. A solid designer will welcome your questions and be happy to explain or clarify anything in the contract.
Red Flag 3: Promises That Sound Too Good To Be True
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Some examples of this:
“I’ll get you to page one of Google in 30 days.”
“We’ll 5x your revenue in six months.”
“We’ll fix your low conversions in three months.”
If someone is making unrealistic guarantees about results they do not control, they are either very naive, or worse, very manipulative. Neither one is good.
Your designer cannot guarantee results like rankings, revenue, or conversion rates. They can influence those things with good strategy and best practices, but they cannot control them.
If they are promising big, specific outcomes they cannot control, that is a major web designer red flag.
Green flag: Honest, realistic expectations
A strong green flag is a designer who:
Sets realistic expectations about what a website can do
Explains what is in their control versus what is not
Focuses on best practices instead of promises
Talks about your website as one part of your overall business strategy, not a magic solution to every problem
You want someone who will be honest with you and who frames your website as a strategic tool, not a miracle worker. Spotting red flags like these upfront protects your project from poor outcomes.
Red Flag 4: Poor Communication or Unavailability
Communication from a designer before you book is often how they will communicate once you have paid them.
Red flags in this area include:
Very slow responses during the sales process
Taking days to answer simple questions
Feeling like they are hard to reach or uninterested in talking with you
If that is happening before you sign and pay, it will likely not get better during the project.
You also want to watch for how they communicate. Some warning signs:
Talking over your head and using jargon without explaining
Giving vague answers instead of clear ones
Dismissing your questions
Making you feel dumb for asking
You deserve to feel respected and informed, not talked down to.
Green flag: Clear, consistent Communication
A green flag designer will:
Provide consistent, clear communication
Respond within their stated timeframe, often within 1 to 2 business days
Explain things in plain language
Welcome your questions
Make you feel heard and never stupid for asking
They show up as professional and approachable at the same time.
Red Flag 5: No Portfolio or Questionable Testimonials
Your designer should be able to show you examples of their work.
If they have no portfolio at all, that is concerning, unless they are very new and honest with you about that.
If they do have a portfolio but:
Every site looks the same
The work feels generic
It looks like templated designs
Sites in the portfolio rely on outdated technologies
It does not show the type of project you actually need
that should also give you pause.
Testimonials matter too. If they have no testimonials or reviews, or if the testimonials they do have are very generic, like:
“Great to work with.”
“Highly recommend.”
that does not tell you much about the experience or results.
Green flag: Strong, specific proof
You want to see:
A portfolio with enough projects to understand their style and range
Custom work and projects similar to what you need, including examples of responsive design and competence in the mobile experience
Detailed testimonials that talk about process, communication, or specific results
They do not need dozens and dozens of sites, but they should have enough for you to see whether their work aligns with what you are looking for.
Bonus points if they have:
Case studies that walk through a project
Video testimonials
A willingness to connect you with past clients, so you can hear about their experience directly
Bonus Red Flags To Watch For
Those are the five big ones, but there are a few extra warning signs that are helpful to keep in mind.
Pressure tactics
Pressure tactics often signal a lack of transparency. If someone says things like:
“This price is only good for a few days.”
“I’ve got one spot left, you need to decide now.”
Now, maybe it is true, but it can also feel manipulative. In those situations, trust your gut. You should not feel rushed into hiring someone.
No discovery process
If they can quote you for a project without asking any detailed questions about:
Your business
Your goals
Your audience
Your needs
they are not being strategic. It suggests they are selling a one-size-fits-all solution instead of tailoring the work to you.
No talk about content
If they do not ask about, or discuss:
Who is handling your copywriting
Where your images are coming from
What content you already have
that sets both of you up for problems. Content is a big part of a website, and ignoring it early in the process is a red flag.
Talking negatively about past clients
If a designer talks negatively about past clients, pay attention.
How they talk about clients is how they may talk about you later. That is something worth considering.
Not asking about your budget
Ideally, a designer has pricing on their website, so you already have a sense of whether they are in your range.
Even so, a good designer will still be curious about your budget. They will want to make sure their services and your investment level can align.
If money never comes up, or if they seem uninterested in whether this is a good financial fit for you, that is another little red flag.
Green Flags: Signs You’ve Found a Great Web Designer
Now for the fun part: the positive signs.
Here are some of the green flags that signal you have an excellent designer on your hands.
A great designer will:
Have a thorough discovery process with thoughtful questions
Be genuinely curious about your business goals, your offers, and your audience
Educate you throughout the process instead of keeping you in the dark
Give you your “homework” and hold you accountable to it
Always explain the why behind their recommendations
They will also be honest with you when:
The designer challenges ideas if something you want will not serve your business
A design choice might hurt user experience, SEO, or conversions
They will talk about a strategic approach, not just aesthetics, focused on long-term value. You will hear them mention things like:
SEO
User experience (UX)
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
not just “It will look pretty.”
You will also see them:
Practice setting boundaries
Manage expectations clearly
Model the quality they promise through their own website and communication
Their presence online should reflect the same level of care they want to bring to your project.
Trusting Your Gut When You Hire a Web Designer
You can check every box on paper and still feel off about someone. That matters.
You’ll be working closely with your designer for weeks, maybe months. If you spot red flags such as:
The vibe feels weird from the start
You do not feel heard
Something just is not sitting right
you need to listen to that.
Clients rely on a good working relationship that includes:
Trust
Clear communication
Mutual respect
If those are not present at the beginning, they will not magically appear later.
Wrapping Up: You Deserve a Professional, Strategic Partner
Hiring a professional designer is a big step and a meaningful investment. Taking the time to spot both red flags and green flags early will save you money, time, and stress later.
You deserve to work with a designer or web design agency that is:
Professional
Communicative
Strategic
Genuinely invested in your success
Committed to post-launch support
Now that you know what to look for, you are much better equipped to choose the right partner to build your website. If you’d like to learn more on this topic be sure to check out this post from the series: 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer.
In the next installment of the Confident Client Series, I'm talking about DIY-ing your website build versus hiring a designer, and how to figure out which path is actually right for you.
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