When You Should (or Shouldn't) Hire A Web Designer

At this point, we know that the power of social media is not to be overlooked.

But there are also a ton of internationally available marketplaces where regular people can contact web designers for projects. Most of these marketplaces function like job portals, connecting freelance designers with website owners like yourself, and enable you to make arrangements and payments through the marketplace itself.

In most cases, you’ll type in the requirements of your project (like “landing page” or “5 page website”), and the search results will show you a ton of different designers, their portfolios, and their prices.

Not sure where to start? We’ve gathered the five most common marketplaces that came up in our conversations with designers, and summarized their most important features below:

Wait – what do these features mean?

We’re glad you asked! Here’s a quick rundown:

• A trustworthy reviews system helps you quickly eliminate freelancers that other customers have had poor experiences with.
• Skills screening tools give you a good sense of whether a freelancer is qualified for the job you need.
• Secure payments mean you can protect yourself with payment management tools, and only release payments when you’re satisfied with the completed work.
• A time logging tool is like a built-in staff management tool that allows you to track the hours a freelancer has spent working on your project.
• Customer support will be there to turn to if you have any disputes with your freelancer.

Toptal

Toptal is a great freelancer website for those looking for high-quality website designers.

Unlike many other platforms, Toptal focuses on working with the top 3% of freelancers on the market, meaning you will typically find highly experienced web designers on this platform.

Designers on Toptal have varied expertise across all industries and can deliver work in a variety of styles and formats. Each designer has client reviews connected to their account, each of which is verified to ensure authenticity. They have also undergone a rigorous application process which ensures their ability to complete jobs and good communication in English.

Each freelancer sets their own fee based on their experience and expertise.

The platform facilitates easy communication between designers and the client. This includes tools for collaboration and feedback processes.

Toptal offers responsive customer support and has processes in place to ensure the protection of confidential information.

Fiverr

Fiverr offers access to a broader range of freelancers ranging from beginners to advanced professionals with a background in a range of different styles, industries and technologies.

Designer reviews can help give you a good idea of their experience. However, these reviews are not necessarily verified by the Fiverr platform.

Fees vary depending on the individual freelancer. Each payment on the platform is subject to a 5.5% fee, plus a $2.50 flat fee for payments under $75.

Within Fiverr it is easy to communicate with freelancers using their communication tools. They also offer an easy to navigate support page.

Upwork

Upwork is another great freelancing site that offers access to a diverse range of web designers. Whether you’re looking for a budget designer who can do a few edits for you, or you’re seeking out an experienced designer with expertise in a specific area – you’re likely to find it on Upwork.

Clients are invited to review freelancers that do work for them, making it easy to see the level of expertise you can expect when you hire them.

Each freelancer can set their own rate based on their personal skills and experience. The majority of payments on Upwork will require a 5% fee to be paid, but this fee can change slightly based on the exact project and payment method.

Upwork has a helpful customer experience team to help you with any enquires you may have.

99designs

Unlike the majority of platform suggestions on here, which offer access to a range of different freelancers with different skills, 99designs focuses specifically on building a community of designers.

However, the designers you find on 99designs do range in their levels of experience and expertise. Each designer has their own profile which contains reviews and ratings (out of five) to give you an idea of their experience, quality and background on the platform.

Freelancers set their own rate and clients pay a flat fee of 5% on any payments they make through the platform.

People Per Hour

People Per Hour (PPH) is another popular freelancer website that can be used to find great web designers for your site.

The platform offers access to a range of talent from newbies to seasoned experts. Each seller has a rating, with a ‘Top Cert’ badge awarded to the freelancers that maintain a high-level of positive feedback and make the most money on the platform.

You will also find customer reviews on the platform, offering insight into the freelancer’s background and experience.

Customer service is fairly reactive, with live chat available during working hours and email support outside of that.

Check out how the hiring process went for Thomas Jepsen, CEO of home design company Passion Plans:

“I already knew that I needed to have something more advanced built than what was possible to get done with WordPress. In order to find the right designer, I actually put up a contest on 99designs and had about 30 designers submit their proposals.

In order to get additional qualified submissions, I also reached out to designers on the platform and encouraged them to submit their work. I was extremely happy with what came out of it.”

What About Looking Locally?

The freelance marketplaces we discuss above are global communities of designers, open to any geographic location. The advantage of this is that you get a wider talent pool to choose from, and you can afford to be picky.

However, there are also more localized web design agencies that you can work with, which often serve a particular city or region. There are some advantages to using a local agency:

• Word-of-mouth recommendations will be easier to come by
• You can meet a designer in person before deciding to work with them
• You and your designer will be working in the same time zone

Ultimately, the decision to search for a designer globally or locally is down to your personal preference. As long as you find a designer whose prices and portfolio impress you, the end result won’t differ very much!

If you want to try a local web design agency, we recommend putting out some feelers on LinkedIn and seeing which places in your area come highly recommended. Business reviews on Google are also a good way to gauge the quality of a local agency.