Top Questions to Ask a Web Design Agency in Perth Before You Sign

Why Asking the Right Questions Matters?

Here’s the honest truth:
Anyone with a laptop and Canva template can call themselves a “web designer” these days.

But a professional website that attracts customers, converts traffic, and helps you grow your business requires far more than pretty graphics.

And that is where most Perth businesses slip up. They focus on:

❌ Pretty mockups
❌ Cheap quotes
❌ Quick turnarounds

…and only realise the problems later:

• No results.
• No strategy.
• No support.
• No communication.
• No way out of the contract.

That’s why asking smart, strategic questions upfront is your best defence.

A good agency will welcome these questions.
A bad agency will dodge them.
A great agency (hi, that’s us 👋) will give you straight answers.

List of 10 Questions to Ask a Web Design Agency in Perth

Below are the essential questions to ask before hiring any Perth web designer – plus the red flags and the answers you should be looking for.

1. What results can you realistically guarantee?

Most agencies will happily talk about pretty designs, but few will talk about actual business results. A website is an investment, not a digital poster.

A trustworthy designer should talk about:

• Increased conversions
• Better user experience
• Clear SEO structure
• Improving leads and enquiries

Red Flags:

• “We can’t guarantee anything.”
• Vague jargon like “digital synergy”, “brand alignment”, or “growth-fuelled optimisation.”
• No mention of KPIs.

What a trustworthy agency will say:
A solid Perth web designer will explain what’s achievable, backed by case studies.
At Design Hero, we talk in simple terms: more leads, better visibility, faster websites.

2. Who will I be dealing with day-to-day?

The #1 complaint we hear from businesses in Scotland?

“I signed with an agency… then I never heard from the same person again.”

Big agencies shuffle clients between account managers, interns, and whoever is available.

Red Flags:

• “We have a team of people, you’ll speak to whoever is assigned that day.”
• No direct contact with the designer.

What a trustworthy agency will say:
“You’ll speak directly to the person doing the work.”

At Design Hero, you get direct contact with the designer/developer – no faceless teams, no passing the buck.

3. Can I see real examples of websites you’ve built for Scotland-based businesses?

You want a designer who understands Scottish markets, not someone who only designs for tech startups in London.

A Perth trades business, café, or local service provider has very different needs.

Red Flags:

• Only showing pretty mockups, not real websites.
• No local case studies.
• Portfolio looks outdated or generic.

What a trustworthy agency will say:
“Yes, here are real Scottish businesses we’ve helped grow.”

4. How do you approach strategy, not just design?

Anyone can make a good-looking website.
Very few can build a strategic one that actually converts customers.

Ask about their process:

• Do they research your audience?
• Do they plan user journeys?
• Do they focus on conversions?
• Do they consider SEO structure from day one?

Red Flags:

• “We’ll make something that looks nice.”
• No mention of goals, KPIs, or customer behaviour.

What a trustworthy agency will say:
A proper agency starts with strategy, not aesthetics.

5. “Will I own my website and content?”

Some agencies hold your website hostage.

We’ve seen it too many times in Perth:

❌ Locked into monthly fees
❌ No access to your own site
❌ No ownership of images, layout or content
❌ Forced to stay with the same provider forever

Red Flags:

• “We manage everything for you.” (Means THEY own it.)
• No written agreement about ownership.

What a trustworthy agency will say:
“You own everything. Full stop.”

At Design Hero, once your site is paid for, it’s yours.

6. What’s included in your quote, and what’s extra?

Hidden costs are one of Perth businesses’ biggest frustrations.

Common surprise costs include:

• Plugins
• Hosting
• SEO
• Extra pages
• Content writing
• Maintenance
• Stock images

Red Flags:

• Cheap quotes that look too good to be true
• Vague proposals
• “We’ll sort that later”

What a trustworthy agency will say:
Here’s everything included, here’s what’s optional, and here’s the total cost — simple.

7. How long will the project take, and how will you communicate updates?

Good communication stops 90% of problems.

Ask for:

• Timeline
• Milestones
• Communication method
• Update frequency

Red Flags:

• No clear timeline
• Long gaps between updates
• Agencies that “go dark” for weeks

What a trustworthy agency will say:
Transparent timeline + regular check-ins.

8. What happens after launch?

A website isn’t finished when it launches, it needs support, security, updates, and sometimes content refreshes.

Red Flags:

• “Once it’s done, it’s done.”
• No maintenance options
• You have to wait weeks for small changes

What a trustworthy agency will say:
“We offer ongoing support, as much or as little as you need.”

9. Do you understand my industry and audience?

Designers who don’t understand your business will build the wrong thing.

A Perth tradesperson needs something different from a café.
A charity needs something different from an eCommerce shop.

Red Flags:

• No questions about your goals
• No discovery process
• No knowledge of local markets
  

What a trustworthy agency will say:
“We take time to understand your business before we design anything.”

10. How do you measure success for a website?

If they can’t measure success, they can’t deliver success.

Good answers include:

• Conversion rates
• Engagement
• Traffic quality
• Organic visibility
• Page speed
• User behaviour

Red Flags:

• “Success is however you see it.”
• Only talking about design aesthetics

What a trustworthy agency will say:
Business-focused KPIs, not vanity metrics.

Bonus: Hire Web Designer Perth Checklist

Before hiring ANY Perth web designer, tick off this list:

✅  Ownership

You should own your website, domain, images and content outright. If you do not have full access, you are not in control of your own business.

✅  Clear Communication

You deserve one clear point of contact who replies quickly and keeps you updated. If communication is messy at the start, it will be a nightmare later.

✅  Relevant Portfolio

Look for real Scottish projects that show the designer understands local markets. A relevant portfolio is far more valuable than pretty mockups.

✅  Real Results

A good website should generate leads, not just compliments. Make sure the agency talks about conversions, performance and business outcomes.

✅  Transparent Pricing

You should know exactly what you are paying for with no hidden extras. Clear pricing protects you from nasty surprises halfway through the project.

✅  Full Strategy

Good design starts with strategy, not decoration. Your website should be planned around goals, user behaviour and a clear customer journey.

✅  Support After Launch

Your site needs ongoing updates, SEO tweaks and maintenance. A reliable agency will stick around rather than vanish the moment it goes live.

✅  Values & Fit

Choose a designer who listens, understands your audience and actually gets your business. A good fit makes the whole process faster, easier and more effective.

Keep this checklist handy and you will avoid 90% of the headaches Perth businesses face when hiring a web designer.

Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Web Designer in Perth

Here are the biggest pitfalls Scottish businesses fall into:

❌ 1. Choosing the cheapest quote

Budget is important, but extremely low prices are usually a warning sign. Cheap websites often lack:

• Proper strategy
• Good coding
• SEO structure
• Mobile performance
• Speed optimisation
• Security

You end up with something that looks fine for a moment but causes problems for years. Many Perth clients come to Design Hero after hiring someone cheap and realising they need to rebuild the entire site.

❌ 2. Hiring someone who doesn’t ask YOU questions

If a designer does not ask about your:

• Customers
• Brand
• Services
• Competitors
• Goals
• Problems

Then they are designing blindly. A website without context will always miss the mark.

❌ 3. Hiring someone who only “does design”

A stylish website is nice, but a stylish website that does not convert is pointless. You need someone who understands:

• UX
• SEO
• Messaging clarity
• Behavioural design
• Sales funnel understanding
• Search intent
• Conversion strategy
• User psychology

Otherwise, you get style over substance.

❌ 4.  Ignoring communication red flags

If a designer takes ages to respond before you sign, imagine how slow they will be once the project starts.

Projects run smoothly when the designer:

• Replies quickly
• Communicates clearly
• Sets expectations
• Provides updates

Poor communication leads to frustration and delays.

❌ 5. Believing unrealistic promises

Unrealistic promises are often a sign of inexperience. Quality websites require research, planning, strategy and testing.

Promises like:

• “We will rank you number one in a week”
• “We can build a full site in a couple of days”
• “Unlimited revisions forever”

These are red flags. Quality work requires time, planning and honest expectations.

❌ 6. Agencies that don’t talk results

If a designer talks endlessly about visuals but never mentions how the website will bring in customers, that is a clear sign they are not focused on your business growth.

Watch out for:

• Designers who only discuss colours, fonts and layouts
• No mention of conversions, enquiries or performance
• No plan for SEO or visibility
• Vague answers about success or impact

Choose agencies that focus on leads and measurable outcomes, give examples of past results for real businesses and confidently discuss strategy, not just appearance.

Why Perth Businesses Choose Design-Hero

If you’re looking for a web design agency in Scotland, UK that’s built for real results, not pretty fluff – here’s what sets us apart:

⭐ Work directly with the expert

There are no layers of staff. No bottlenecks. No confusion. You speak directly with the person designing and building your website. This keeps communication tight, fast and accurate.

⭐ Proven results across Scotland

We work with a wide mix of businesses across Scotland including trades, hospitality, professional services, non profits, retail, tourism, consultants and local brands. This gives us insight into:

• Local customer behaviour
• Competitor patterns
• Scottish buying habits
• Regional search trends

This level of understanding massively improves the final website.

⭐ Straight-talking, honest approach

We believe honesty builds trust. We explain everything in clear English, not technical jargon. We give realistic expectations. If something is not a good idea, we tell you.

⭐ Strategy-first design

Our websites are planned around audience behaviour, sales pathways and business goals. Every layout choice has a reason. Every button and headline is placed with intention. Design is not decoration. It is structured communication.

⭐ Ongoing support

We stay involved long after the launch. We offer help with updates, troubleshooting, SEO, ongoing strategy and digital growth. Many of our clients stay with us for years because the relationship works.

⭐ Proven results across Scotland

We have helped businesses increase enquiries, bookings, conversions and visibility. We prioritise outcomes, not awards. What matters is whether the website helps your business grow.

If you’re tired of being messed around by agencies, or you’re ready for a site that actually brings in leads… you’re in the right place.

Ready to Hire a Web Designer in Perth?

✅ Take this list of questions and ask them to any agency you’re considering.
✅ The good ones will welcome them.
✅ The bad ones will get uncomfortable. 

And if you want honest answers, straight talk, and a website built to get real results?

👉 Get in touch with Design Hero for a transparent, no-pressure chat about your project.
Let’s build something powerful for your business.