It’s a massive, confusing world, and it's a big investment. How do you actually choose the right web designer, or web design agency, for your business?
This is the most important bit. Not all "web designers" are the same. Broadly, you have two types:
The Template-Filler: This person (often a freelancer) is fast and cheap. Their whole business model is based on buying a pre-made theme or template (like the ones used on WordPress) for about £50, changing the colours, and pasting in your logo and text.
The Custom-Builder: This person or agency (like us) builds your website from the ground up. They start with a blank page and design a solution that is built specifically to solve your business problems.
This is a big reason we don't use WordPress at Pedwar. A template-filler is like buying a suit off the rack. It sort of fits, but the sleeves might be a bit long, and it's a bit tight in the shoulders. A custom-builder is like getting a bespoke, tailored suit. It's made to measure and fits you perfectly.
A cheap template site might look okay at first glance, but it's often slow (full of bloated code you don't need), a security nightmare (all those plugins need constant updates), and a headache to change. If you want to add a new feature that the template doesn't support... you're stuck.
Every designer has a portfolio. Don't just look at the pretty pictures. Click the links. Go and use the websites they've built.
Ask yourself:
Are they fast?
Or do you sit there waiting for big images to load?
Do they work properly on your phone?
Try clicking the menu, filling in a form. Is it easy, or a fiddly, frustrating mess?
Do they all look... the same?
If their whole portfolio uses the exact same layout, just with different colours, that’s a huge red flag. It means they're just rinsing and repeating the same template.
A good portfolio should show a range of different styles and solutions, because every client has a different problem.
This is how you spot a pro.
A bad designer will ask you two questions: "What pages do you want?" and "What colours do you like?"
A good designer will ask you questions like:
See the difference? One is an order-taker. The other is a strategic partner who wants to understand your business, not just "paint a website".
It sounds simple, but it’s vital. Are they easy to get hold of? When you talk, do they explain things in a way you can actually understand, or do they hide behind a load of technical jargon?
This is a big benefit of using a local web design company. If you're a business in South Wales, finding a designer in Swansea or Neath means you're dealing with someone on your wavelength, who understands the local market. You can pick up the phone, or even (shock!) meet them for a coffee. You're not trying to get a reply from a random freelancer on a different continent at 3 AM.
The cheapest quote is almost never the best value.
A cheap site might look great on day one, but what happens in six months when a plugin breaks and your contact form stops working? What happens when it gets hacked? What happens when you want to add a new service page?
Ask these questions before you sign anything:
A professional agency will have clear answers for all of this. They'll have support plans, they'll be insured, and they'll be in it for the long haul.
Choosing a web designer isn't like buying a stapler. You're not just buying a product; you're starting a partnership. Look for a team that feels like a good fit, one that's less interested in selling you a template and more interested in helping you build your business.
We're proud to have been recognised as Wales' Most Trusted Web Design & Development Company for 2025. This award reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional digital solutions and outstanding client service that sets the standard for excellence.
He is able to understand what I want and need from AI and IT in general. I have established a trusted and supportive relationship with him and I can't recommend him more than I do. He explains what he is doing and delivers what is needed.