Many businesses in New Jersey have experienced the benefits of hiring a freelance web designer to create their website. In fact, most small to medium-sized businesses now turn to freelancers to get their website up and running, as opposed to traditional web design agencies. If you're familiar with the benefits that the gig economy offers, that should come as no surprise. Any quality freelance web designer in New Jersey will have all the skills needed to create a terrific website for your business. And, they can likely do it more efficiently and at a lower cost than an agency. So, how do you hire a freelance web designer right here in New Jersey? That’s what this post aims to help you with. We’ll outline a simple process that will help you find the perfect freelancer for your project.
Create a Budget
Before going out and hiring a freelance web designer in NJ, you need to have a well-formed idea of what your project will require. This means having set aside a budget for the project, as well as thinking through what pages and features you would like to see on the site. Don’t worry if you don’t know everything. A quality freelance web designer will also act as a consultant and make recommendations. A defined budget and big-picture idea of what the website will need will make it much easier to reach out to local freelance web designers in New Jersey. This way, when you set up a consultation with a freelancer (more on that in a bit) you will be able to quickly see if they are within your budget and have the skills needed to bring your project to life.
Determine What Type of Freelancer is Best for Your Project
Most businesses will either need to hire a web designer or web developer for their project. But what exactly is the difference? In short, web design and web development are two separate disciplines. Web designers focus more on the branding of the website and can create beautiful websites with a pleasing color scheme and effective layouts to help your website generate leads. They may also have graphic design skills to help you create custom visuals for the site. Web developers, on the other hand, focus more on the coding that is necessary to take the design of the website from a wireframe to a live and fully functioning website. They are also the ones that can manage all of the domain, hosting and technical bits necessary to get your website online. So, what does that mean to you? Honestly, we recommend not focusing on this distinction too much. The only reason why you should is if you are looking to develop create an eCommerce website, custom application or login dashboard/portal to your website. That would definitely require a web developer skillset. But otherwise, the line between web development and web design has blurred so much that this distinction doesn’t mean what it used to. Modern website builders like WordPress and Webflow have significantly streamlined the web development process. You still need to be technically savvy with websites, but you certainly aren’t required to know JavaScript or PHP like the back of your hand to get your website online at the same time. Our advice to you here is to make sure whatever freelancer you hire has the skills to create your website and get it online from start to finish. What is more important is being able to develop a content strategy for a website that will help a company reach its goals and move website visitors from strangers to leads. Ultimately, it’s the end results that matter, right?
Create a Web Design Brief or Freelance Job Description
To streamline the process of hiring a freelance web designer in NJ, we recommend putting together a web design brief or job description. This will make it easier to vet freelancers, as they’ll know exactly what you are looking to accomplish and can see if they have the skills that match. It’s also a good exercise for you to sit down and think through exactly what you want in the person you hire. The design brief and job description can also be posted on your website and job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed. This way, you can have freelancers apply for the job directly.
Begin Searching for Freelance Web Designers in New Jersey
At this point, you probably have a solid grasp of your project and it’s budget, along with the skill set your freelancer will need. You also hopefully have a job description/brief that you can send out to freelancers. From there, it’s time to find a freelancer for your project. Making sure you find the right person is critical. Not only do you need to find someone with the right skills, but they also must have the right personality and work ethic so your project goes smoothly. So, where do you find high-quality freelance web designers and developers? First, we recommend reaching out to business owners you know that have high-quality websites and asking them who they hired to do it. This will allow you to cut down on the vetting process, as you will have a referral source that you can trust. To find local freelance web designers, check the local chamber of commerce business listings to see if anyone nearby has a web design business (Many freelancers opt to form an LLC). Of course, also Google for freelance web designers near you and use Google Maps to find nearby designers. If you don’t have much luck through referrals from your network, you can also try social media. Specifically, Instagram. Since Instagram is such a visual platform, there are lots of web designers advertising their services on the platform. However, you may end up having to work remotely on this project then, which is something you need to be okay with.
Set up a Consultation Call
Once you have selected a few different freelance web designers that you believe are a good fit for your project, it’s time to set up a consultation with them. A consultation is necessary so a freelancer can learn more about your business, your goals for the website, and the timeline/budget you have to work with. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions, get advice, and determine if you would be able to work well together. Almost all freelancers offer free consultations, so you really have nothing to lose. If you are wondering how to get the most value out of a consultation call, we have a separate post covering the top questions you should ask.
Conclusion
Hiring a freelance web designer in New Jersey is how most local businesses get their website up and running. Freelancers provide many advantages over agencies and have all the skills necessary to complete your project. If you are interested in hiring a freelance web designer and would like to learn more about the web design process, click the image below to book a consultation call.
