How to Choose a Web Designer in Yakima: Questions to Ask Before You Hire

To choose a web designer in Yakima, ask who will own the finished site, what platform they build on, how they meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA, whether SEO and AEO are included, what happens after launch, and how they price their work. A good designer answers each question plainly, in writing, and shows you local sites they have built.

A website is a big purchase for a small business, and most owners only buy one every few years. That makes it hard to know what to ask. The questions below come from what we see when Yakima Valley businesses come to us after a project that didn't go the way they hoped. Use them in any interview, with any designer, including us.

What questions should I ask before hiring a web designer?

1. Who will own the website, domain, and accounts?

You should own your domain, your hosting account or site plan, your content, and your analytics. The designer can have access, but the accounts belong in your name.

A good answer sounds like: "Everything is registered to you. We'll add ourselves as collaborators, and you can remove us at any time."

2. What platform do you build on, and why is it right for me?

Webflow, WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix all have strengths. What matters is whether the designer can explain why their platform fits your needs, such as how often you'll update content, who will make those updates, and what features you need.

A good answer sounds like: "We build on this platform because it lets your staff edit pages safely without breaking the design, and here's how updates will work for you."

3. How do you make sure the site is accessible?

Accessibility means people with disabilities can use your site, including people using screen readers, keyboards, or zoom. The current standard to ask for is WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Ask how they test, not only what they promise.

Be cautious if a designer suggests an accessibility overlay, the widget that adds a toolbar to your site. Overlays don't fix the underlying code, so the barriers stay in place. Accessibility professionals, WCAG specification editors, screen reader developers, and disabled users have signed the Overlay Fact Sheet explaining why overlays are not an effective way to make a site accessible. Read it and judge for yourself.

A good answer sounds like: "We design and build to WCAG 2.2 AA from the start, test with a keyboard and a screen reader, and fix issues in the code. We don't use overlays."

4. Are SEO and AEO included, or are they extra?

Some designers include basic search setup in every build. Others charge separately for it. Both can be fine, as long as you know which you're getting. Basic SEO includes page titles, meta descriptions, a clear heading structure, alt text, redirects from old URLs, and a sitemap. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) means structuring content so AI tools like Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT can understand and cite it.

A good answer sounds like: "Here's exactly what search setup is included at launch, and here's what ongoing SEO looks like if you want it later."

5. What happens after launch?

Websites need care: software and integrations change, content goes stale, and new pages get added. Ask whether they offer a maintenance plan, what it covers, and what it costs.

A good answer sounds like: "You can update content yourself, and we'll train you. If you'd like us to handle updates, here's our monthly plan and what's included."

6. How do you price your work?

Pricing should be clear before you sign. Ask for a written estimate with what's included, what isn't, how many revision rounds you get, and the payment schedule. A designer who publishes price ranges on their site is making it easier for you to compare.

A good answer sounds like: "Here's a written estimate broken down by phase. Anything outside this scope gets a separate quote before we start it."

7. Can I see sites you've built for local businesses?

A portfolio shows taste, but live sites show quality. Ask for links to sites they built for businesses or organizations like yours, ideally in the Yakima Valley. Click around, try them on your phone, and press the Tab key to see if you can move through the page without a mouse.

A good answer sounds like: "Here are three live sites, and you're welcome to contact those clients."

8. How quickly do you respond, and who will I talk to?

Ask how they communicate, how fast they reply, and whether you'll work with the person who designs your site or a rotating account manager.

A good answer sounds like: "You'll hear back within one business day, and you'll work directly with the person building your site."

9. Who does the work?

Some studios hand projects to subcontractors or overseas teams. That isn't always a problem, but you deserve to know who is touching your site and who is accountable for the result.

A good answer sounds like: "I lead the design and build myself. When I bring in a specialist, I'll tell you who and why."

10. What happens if you go out of business or stop responding?

This is the question most owners forget. If your designer disappears, can someone else pick up the site? That depends on who owns the accounts, whether the build follows a documented structure, and whether you have your logins.

A good answer sounds like: "You'll have every login, and the site is built in a standard way another developer can understand. We'll hand over documentation at launch."

What red flags should I watch for?

• Guaranteed rankings: No one controls Google's results.
• Accounts in the designer's name: This makes leaving difficult and expensive.
• An overlay offered as the accessibility plan: Accessibility belongs in the code.
• No written scope: Verbal promises are hard to hold anyone to.
• Templates with your logo dropped in: Ask what's custom and what isn't.

What do we see when businesses switch designers?

Many of our projects start as takeovers, where a business comes to us with a site someone else built. The same problems show up again and again. The owner doesn't have the logins, or the domain is registered to a former designer. Pages exist but aren't being indexed. Buttons can't be reached with a keyboard, images have no alt text, and text has too little contrast to read. Updating a simple event or staff photo requires a call to the original designer.

None of these problems are visible on launch day, which is why the questions above matter. They help you find out how the site will hold up a year or two from now.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a website cost in Yakima?

It depends on the number of pages, the features you need, and whether content and photography are included. Small brochure sites and large CMS-driven sites can differ by thousands of dollars. Ask every designer for a written, itemized estimate so you can compare fairly.

Should I hire a local web designer or a remote one?

Either can work. A local designer can meet in person, already knows the Yakima Valley market, and may know your customers. What matters most is the quality of their work and how they answer the questions in this guide.

How long does a new website take to build?

Small sites often take a few weeks, and larger sites with many templates and content collections can take a few months. Content is usually the biggest factor, so ask who is writing it and when it's due.

Is an accessibility overlay enough to make my site accessible?

No. Overlays add a toolbar on top of your site but don't fix the code underneath. The reliable path is building or fixing the site to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA and testing it with real assistive technology.

Looking for a Yakima web designer who answers these questions in writing?

We're Graceful Web Studio, a Webflow studio based in Yakima, and we built this list from the questions we wish every client had asked their last designer. Crystal Scott, our founder, is a Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), so every site we build targets WCAG 2.2 Level AA from the first page. For a local example, read how we rebuilt the St. Joseph Marquette Catholic School website, moving a school that has served Yakima Valley families since 1875 from an aging WordPress site to an accessible Webflow site with content their staff can update themselves.

See what's included in our Webflow website design and development services, estimate your budget with our website project cost calculator, or request a free project quote.

Written by Crystal Scott, founder of Graceful Web Studio. Crystal is a Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), a Section 508 Trusted Tester, and a Certified Webflow Expert with over a decade of front-end experience.