Hiring a Web Developer or Designer for Your E-Commerce Site? Read This First.

1. Get Clear on What You Actually Need (Before You Panic-Google “Web Designer Near Me”)

First things first: not all web folks do the same thing. Some are design wizards who make everything look stunning, others are code masters who make it all work, and some do both.

Ask yourself:

• Are you starting from scratch or just giving your current site a glow-up?

• Do you need someone who knows Shopify? WooCommerce? Wix? (Yes, even Wix has its moments.)

• Are you dreaming of sleek animations and custom features? Or just a clean, functional shop that doesn’t crash?

The more specific you are, the better your chances of finding someone who gets it.

2. Make Sure They’ve Been Around the E-Commerce Block

E-commerce design has its own set of rules—and breaking them can cost you sales. A designer might be amazing at portfolio sites, but do they understand:

• How to reduce cart abandonment (hint: clean checkout flows matter)

• The psychology behind product page layouts

• How to integrate payment gateways, inventory tools, or shipping plugins without a meltdown

Always ask to see real e-commerce examples in their portfolio. Bonus points if you can test the sites yourself and pretend you're a customer.

3. Design Isn’t Just About Being “Pretty” (Although That Helps)

Sure, you want your site to look amazing. But great design goes deeper. A solid e-commerce designer knows how to:

• Make your brand feel consistent from homepage to confirmation email

• Create layouts that guide users to “add to cart” without overthinking it

• Design for mobile-first shoppers (which is, like, everyone these days)

Ask about their creative process. Do they sketch or wireframe first? Will they show you design drafts before coding begins? You don’t want surprises—unless it’s a confetti explosion from a successful launch.

4. Ask About SEO, Speed, and Other Nerdy (But Crucial) Stuff

An e-commerce site isn’t just there to look cute—it needs to perform. If your homepage takes 8 seconds to load, your visitors are already gone.

Make sure your developer knows how to:

• Optimize images and scripts for fast loading

• Use clean code and proper SEO structure (like meta tags and heading hierarchy)

• Set up basic analytics so you can track what’s working—and what’s not

They don’t have to be a full-on SEO guru, but they should know the basics and bake them into the build.

5. Understand Their Workflow (and How You Fit Into It)

Some developers run a super-tight ship with timelines, feedback rounds, and milestones. Others... wing it. Ideally, you want the former.

Ask:

• What’s the typical process from start to finish?

• How many revisions are included?

• Will they teach you how to update your products/content, or do you need to call them every time?

Also, clarify how they handle post-launch fixes or support. You don’t want to be ghosted if your checkout button suddenly vanishes.

6. Budget Smart—Don’t Just Go for the Cheapest Option

We get it. Budgets matter. But your website isn’t the place to cut corners. It’s your storefront, your brand ambassador, and—hopefully—your biggest revenue driver.

Going cheap might cost you more in the long run with fixes, downtime, or poor conversions. Instead:

• Look for transparent, fair pricing

• Make sure you know exactly what’s included (design, development, mobile optimization, etc.)

• Think of it as an investment, not just an expense

You’re building something that works for you while you sleep. That’s worth getting right.

7. Do a Little Background Check (It’s Not Creepy, Promise)

Peek at their reviews, testimonials, or case studies. What do past clients say? Were they happy with the results? Did they feel supported throughout the project?

You can even (politely) message past clients on LinkedIn or email to get the real tea.

8. Vibes Matter—Seriously

You’re going to be working closely with this person or team, possibly for weeks. So ask yourself:

• Do they communicate clearly?

• Do they ask thoughtful questions?

• Do they seem genuinely interested in your business?

You want someone who gets your brand, speaks your language, and ideally, makes the process kind of fun.

TL;DR: Don’t Rush It

Hiring the right web designer or developer for your e-commerce business is a big deal—but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Ask the right questions, look for real experience, and trust your instincts.

And if you're still feeling unsure or overwhelmed, no pressure—but feel free to reach out. I love talking shop and helping business owners figure out what they actually need (even if it’s just a friendly chat to start).