What does a web design company actually do?
A web design company plans, designs and builds websites for businesses. A good one covers more than the visual side. Expect it to handle:
- Planning: what pages you need, what each page is for and how visitors move from landing to enquiry
- Design: layout, colours, typography and imagery that fit your brand and work on every screen size
- Build: turning the design into a fast, secure, working website
- Content: writing or structuring the words on each page so they persuade people and make sense to search engines
- SEO foundations: page titles, headings, internal links, schema markup and technical set-up so Google can find and rank the site
- Launch and aftercare: hosting, redirects from any old site, analytics and ongoing updates
Some web design companies stop at design and build. Others, like us, treat the website as the foundation for getting found online, which is why every site we build is optimised for search engines and AI tools from day one.
12 questions to ask a web design company
1. Can I see websites you've built for businesses like mine?
A portfolio is the fastest way to judge a web design company. Look at live sites, not just screenshots, and open them on your phone. Do they load quickly? Is it obvious how to get in touch? Would you trust the business if you landed there from Google? You can see some of the websites we've built on our homepage.
2. How will my website be found on Google?
This is the question that separates a website that sits there from one that brings in work. Ask how they handle page titles, headings, site structure, internal linking, page speed and schema markup. If the answer is "we install an SEO plugin", that's not a plan.
3. Is the price fixed, and what exactly is included?
Get the price in writing along with a list of pages, features and revisions. Ask what costs extra: copywriting, stock images, extra pages, email set-up, hosting and changes after launch are the usual surprises.
4. Who owns the website, domain and content?
You should. Your domain should be registered in your name, and you should be able to take your content and move the site if you ever leave. Be wary of any arrangement where the company owns the domain or the site can't be moved.
5. What platform will you build on, and why?
WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, Wix and custom-coded sites all have their place. A good web design company recommends the platform that suits your business, budget and how much you want to edit yourself, not just the one they always use.
6. Will the site be fast and mobile friendly?
Most local searches happen on phones. Ask how they test speed and mobile layouts, and whether they check Google's Core Web Vitals before launch.
7. Who writes the content?
Words sell, and they're what Google reads. Find out whether copywriting is included, whether it's written around the searches your customers make, and how much you'll need to supply.
8. How do you handle my existing website?
If you already rank for anything, a redesign can lose it overnight if old pages aren't redirected properly. Ask how they protect existing rankings during the move.
9. Is the site set up for AI search?
More people now ask ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews for recommendations. A modern website should be structured so these tools can understand and cite it. We call this GEO, or generative engine optimisation.
10. What happens after launch?
Ask about hosting, security updates, backups, small changes and support. Know whether it's included, pay-as-you-go or a monthly plan.
11. How long will it take?
A clear timeline with milestones is a good sign. See our guide on how long it takes to build a website for realistic expectations.
12. Who will I actually deal with?
You want a named person who replies, not a ticket system. Small teams are often quicker and more personal than large agencies.
Red flags to watch for
- No live examples, or examples that are slow or broken on mobile
- Very low prices with vague lists of what's included
- Promises of "guaranteed page one rankings"
- The company registering your domain in its own name
- No mention of SEO, redirects or analytics
- Long contracts tied to the website build
- Pressure to decide today
Web design company, freelancer or DIY?
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Web design company | Businesses that want design, content, SEO and support handled together | Prices vary widely, so compare what's included |
| Freelance web designer | Smaller projects with a clear brief | One person may not cover SEO, copy and hosting |
| DIY website builder | Very small budgets and simple sites | Your time, and sites that look fine but don't rank |
If you're weighing up a freelancer, our guide to what a web designer does explains what to expect.
What should a website cost?
Prices depend on the number of pages, features, content and whether it's an online shop. As a guide, our SEO and GEO optimised websites start from £400, with online shops and larger bespoke builds quoted on scope. If you join our £350 a month SEO package, we build you a larger custom website, worth £1,200–£3,000, free.
Whatever you pay, compare like for like: a cheap site that never appears on Google costs more in lost enquiries than a well-built one.
How we approach web design in Milton Keynes
We build websites that are designed to rank from the first day. Every site includes keyword-led page structure, fast loading, schema markup, local signals and content written for both people and AI tools. You own everything, and you get a straight answer to every question above. Find out more about our web design in Milton Keynes.