What Does a Free Consult With a Web Designer Look Like?
What Does a Free Consult With a Web Designer Look Like?
So you're thinking about hiring a web designer, and they've mentioned scheduling a "free consultation."
But what actually happens on these calls? Are they going to try to hard-sell you the moment you say hello? Will you walk away feeling more confused than when you started?
Short answer: No.
A professional consultation should feel more like a friendly chat with someone who genuinely wants to help your business succeed.
Here's exactly what to expect when you hop on a call with a professional web designer (including a peek behind the scenes of my own process as a Squarespace designer).
What a Web Design Consultation Is
A web design consultation is typically a preliminary meeting between you and a potential designer to discuss your project needs, timeline, and budget. Most designers use this time to assess whether they're a good fit for your project and vice versa.
Generally, consultations cover:
Understanding your business and website goals
Discussing project scope and timeline
Reviewing budget expectations
Explaining the designer's process and approach
Answering questions about the design process
Not all consultations are created equal, though. Some designers use this time as a high-pressure sales opportunity, while others focus on genuinely understanding your needs.
What a Consultation With ME, Janessa, Looks Like:
What my consultation IS:
A genuine getting-to-know-you conversation
A chance to see if our personalities mesh (we’ll be working closely together for weeks!)
An opportunity to discuss YOUR website goals and understand MY design process
Time to ask all those questions you've been Googling/asking ChatGPT about
What my consultation ISN'T:
A high-pressure sales pitch designed to get you to sign on the dotted line ASAP
A free design session where I solve all your problems in 30 minutes
An opportunity for me to upsell you seventeen different add-on services
What to Expect In a Web Design Consultation Process: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
Initial Contact
You’ll fill out my contact form on my website, and have the option to book a free call with me. I’ll get notified through my client management system. I use Moxie (← aff. link, get 30 days free).
Depending on your project, I might send you a discovery questionnaire ahead of time. If you're able to fill it out before our call, we'll spend our time going deeper rather than covering the basics.
During the Consultation Call
1. The "Getting to Know You" Phase
We'll start with introductions, nothing fancy, just a chance to put faces to names and get comfortable. I'll probably ask how you heard about me, and you can share any initial thoughts or concerns you're bringing to the table. I love this part.
2. Tell Me About Your Business (This Is Where I Get Excited)
Now we get to the good stuff: your business!
I absolutely love hearing what the entrepreneurs who contact me are working on. What lights you up? What are your big dreams? What problem are you solving for your clients?
We'll talk about how long you've been in business, what you do, and the value you provide. This isn't just small talk. Understanding your business inside and out helps me figure out how to design a website that works for your specific goals & dreams.
3. Are We a Good Fit?
Here's where we get practical. I'll ask about your experience with web designers (if you've worked with any before), your current website situation, and what's making you want to redesign or build from scratch.
We'll also talk about logistics: Are you making decisions on your own, or do you have a team that will give feedback? What's happening with your current hosting?
This part might sound clinical, but it's really important. Not every designer is right for every project, and I'd rather be honest about that now than let you down later.
4. Let's Talk About Your Website Goals
What do you want your website to DO for your business?
Are you looking to:
Sell products or services online?
Book more consultation calls?
Build your email list?
Showcase your work through a portfolio?
Share your expertise via a blog?
Display your course or class schedules?
We'll also chat about your brand situation. Do you have a logo, color palette, and fonts already sorted? Professional photos ready to go? Website copy written?
If you're starting from scratch on any of these fronts, don't panic. I can point you toward resources or services to help fill in the gaps.
5. Here's How This Whole Process Works
I'll walk you through my website design process so you know exactly what you're signing up for. I work transparently, so there won’t ever be surprises or hidden steps or fees.
We'll cover:
How to book your design date if we decide to work together
How long things take and what material you'll need to gather
How the content creation process works
What the build, revision, and launch parts look like
6. Dates, Pricing, and Booking Details
If we're both feeling good about working together, I'll explain how to secure a date in my design calendar.
Important note: I typically don't book website projects less than 3-4 weeks out. You'll need time to gather your content, and I've learned that rushing this part never ends well for anyone.
What Happens AFTER Our Call?
Once we decide to move forward after our consultation call, I’ll email you a proposal, contract, and invoice all in one fell swoop.
You’ll review and sign the contract, and submit the required deposit - this will secure our time together, including our start date and your website launch date.
Payment Process:
For my custom website design projects, including my Signature 5 Day Website and Fully Custom Website Build, the payment process is typically:
25% at contract signing to reserve your date;
50% at start of Design process;
and 25% on Launch Day
When you book me for for one day in my VIP Design Day or Design In a Day service, the payment process is:
50% at contract signing to reserve your date, and
50% on the day of the project.
Longer payment plans are available upon request.
And just so you know, your design date isn't officially locked in until I receive both your signed contract and deposit. If someone else snags that date while you're deciding, I'll offer you priority for the next available slot.
And from there, we’re off to the races with the Design Process! (Which you can read more about here on my Website Design Page).
Squarespace Web Design Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do I need to provide for my website?
A: You'll be responsible for:
Copy (the words) for each page using my content guides
High-resolution images and graphics
Your branding elements (logo, colors, fonts)
Legal pages like Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
I provide detailed worksheets and guides and optional AI Copy Prompts to help with the copy creation process. Trust me, they're much more helpful than staring at a blank Google Doc, wondering what to write.
Q. What if I don’t have any copy/words for my website ready to go, or I don’t like what I have?
A: No problem! You have a couple of options here:
DIY with support: I provide in-depth copy worksheets & content guides & optional AI prompts for you to create the copy for your website. These do take some time, which is one of the reasons why I recommend booking at least 3-4 weeks out.
I can help you: If you’d rather not write the copy yourself, I offer a brand interview & copywriting service. We’ll schedule 1-2 video calls prior to the project start date where I’ll ask you questions about your brand and business, and then turn that into copy for your website. This works best for business owners who know their ideal client well.
Hire someone else: Hire a different copywriter to write copy - I can send you recommendations of people I trust, or you can use one you know or find one on your own.
Q. What if I don’t have branding?
A: Still no problem! You have a couple of options here:
Hire a professional to design a brand for you. This typically includes a logo, color palette, wordmark, typography, and sometimes social media images. (I can recommend a few.)
Explore platforms like Fiverr or Upwork for budget-friendly options.
I’ll do it! Upgrade to a mini web-based brand kit with me: Share an Inspiration Board (usually with Pinterest, but you can also use Google Drive, Trello, Notion, etc.) with me, and I’ll design a brand board for your business and website. This can include logo, color palette, typography, and brand images, but doesn’t include a print-based logo or graphics.
Q. When do I need to get everything to you?
A: We set a date typically at least 3 weeks in advance. I want to be sure to give you time to gather or create your material. I know it seems like a lot of time, but gathering everything takes longer than most people expect.
All pre-work items are due 5-7 days in advance of the project start.
Q: What happens if I don’t provide the necessary materials by the due date?
A: If materials aren't ready by the deadline, we'll need to reschedule to my next available design date. I've learned this the hard way: rushing the content phase always leads to a website that doesn't perform as well as it could.
So in order to make sure I can design and optimize your website to the best of my ability and get you the results you deserve, it's essential that you submit all the necessary materials by the due date.
If the materials are not received on time, I may need to reschedule the design process to my next available design date. This ensures that we can maintain the integrity of the timeline and deliver the best possible results for your website.
Q: How many edits can I make during the Web Design process?
A: As many as you want! You have unlimited edits during the edit period. After I present the initial design, you'll send me a numbered list of your requested changes. I'll work through each item and send you the updated version.
You can continue sending edit requests until the day before launch. Then we enter a "content lock" phase to make sure everything is tested and ready to go live.
Q: How easy is it to make changes to my website myself once we’re done?
A: Making changes to your website will be a breeze!
I provide you with an live launch and tutorial on the day of the launch to show you how to access and update your site. I record personalized tutorials for you and save the videos on an unpublished page of your website, allowing you to refer back to it whenever needed.
Plus, I offer one-two weeks of support following the launch, ongoing care plan options, and I'll check in with you after six months to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Q: Can you help with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or AI Optimization for my website?
A: Yes, absolutely! While I offer on-page optimization as part of my Custom Website Package, I also provide in-depth SEO services… you can either book my SEO in a Day package, or current or previous web design clients can add on additional SEO packages.
Q: What is the timeline for completing the Squarespace website design process?
A: It varies based on a number of things including goals, pages, urgency, etc:
For my standard Custom Website Design package, the project starts on a Monday and finishes the following Friday, lasting two weeks.
If you book my Signature 5 Day website, the project starts on a Monday and finishes that Friday, lasting just five days.
If you’d like to add on additional pages, integrations, or services — like brand interview and copywriting, SEO services, stock photo package, or the mini web-branding kit, the design will typically take an additional 1-3 weeks.
Note: timely material submission and prompt feedback are necessary to meet these timelines.
Other options are available as availability allows.
Q. Do you offer post-launch support?
A: Heck yeah I do.
I provide a comprehensive support package for one-two weeks after your website launch. During this time, you can reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or technical issues you may encounter.
I'm dedicated to ensuring your website's smooth operation and will assist you in making any necessary adjustments or updates. Your success is my priority, and I'm here to provide the support you need during the crucial post-launch phase.
Q: Can you help me with website maintenance and updates after the design is completed?
A: Yep! I offer ongoing website maintenance, care plans, and support services as availability allows. We can discuss the options and determine the best plan to suit your needs and budget.
Q: Can you integrate third-party tools and platforms into my website?
A: Yes, I can integrate third-party tools, such as email marketing services, payment gateways, social media platforms, and more, into your website. We'll discuss your specific requirements during our consultation and ensure seamless integration.
Q: Do you offer any additional design or branding services beyond website design?
A: While I offer a mini web-brand kit, I don’t personally offer a full service branding service at this time. I partner with vetted specialists I recommend. These services can be customized to meet your specific needs and are available at an additional cost.
Q: How do I communicate with you throughout the design process?
A: We primarily communicate via your Client Portal. I also use Google Meet for our virtual meetings. All materials will be submitted through a combination of Google Drive & Tally. This allows us to keep track of discussions, share files and updates, and maintain clear and organized communication throughout the design process.
Q. Where are you located?
A. I'm a freelance Squarespace web designer based in Portland, Oregon. While I enjoy working with clients from the Pacific Northwest, including Seattle, Eugene and along the Oregon Coast, I also collaborate with small business owners, creators and solopreneurs globally and in any time zone.
Q. Do you offer Sliding Scale rates?
A. Absolutely.
I believe that everyone deserves a professional and effective online presence, regardless of their background or financial situation. That's why I’m happy to offer sliding-scale pricing for LGBTQIA, BIPOC, and economically disadvantaged individuals and organizations.
Contact me for more information about my Sliding Scale rates.
Have any additional Q’s, or want to schedule a call to talk about your website? Contact me here.
