Web Design FAQs

General Questions

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1. What does a website designer do?

A website designer creates the visual layout, user experience, and overall look and feel of a website. They focus on design elements like colors, typography, images, and navigation to ensure the site is visually appealing and user-friendly.

2. How much do websites cost?

Since every project is unique, and every client has different requirements, we meet with each client to go over the business goals and requirements and then provide a detailed scope of work. Costs vary based on the complexity of the project, experience of the designer, and features required. Simple websites may cost $500–$3,000, while custom, feature-rich sites can range from $5,000–$15,000 or more. To get a detailed and precise quote, please schedule a Free Business Consultation. 

3. How long does it take to design a website?

Timelines depend on the project scope, the customer providing assets and timely feedback, but typically range from 3–6 weeks for small websites and 2–3 months for larger, custom projects.

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4. How do I choose between custom website design or template-based design?

Custom websites are tailored to your unique needs but cost more, while template-based designs are more affordable and quicker to implement. Your choice depends on budget, time, and specific requirements.

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5. What if I already have a website?

​Starting Gate Marketing has flawlessly migrated and redesigned over one hundred websites to Wix from SquareSpace, WordPress, Blue Host, GoDaddy and more. We are highly skilled in making sure there is no loss of SEO value when migrating a website and mapping old URL's to new. Contact us HERE to find out how we can help.

6. What platform or CMS (Content Management System) do you use?

Common platforms include Wix, WordPress, Webflow, and Shopify. As a top Wix Agency in the United States, Wix is our first choice; however, the customer always comes first, and there are occasionally instances where Wix may not be a perfect fit.

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Experience and Portfolio

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1. Can I see your web design portfolio or examples of websites you’ve designed?

Yes! A portfolio showcases the designer's style and capabilities, giving you a sense of their expertise and design approach. See our Featured Projects.

2. Do you have experience designing websites for my industry?

Many designers specialize in specific industries. But Starting Gate Marketing has one of the most diverse industry portfolios, and we can create a great website by learning about your business and audience.

3. What types of websites do you specialize in?

Designers may specialize in e-commerce, blogs, corporate websites, or portfolio sites. Ask if they’ve built websites like what you envision. Starting Gate Marketing specializes in understanding your business, bringing your vision to life and a fresh perspective to stand out from the competition.

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Design Process and Collaboration

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1. What is your design process?

Like most designers we follow these steps: initial consultation, having customer fill out our client intake form, creating a home page mockup, gathering feedback, making revisions, and launching the final website.

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2. Will I have input in the design process?

Absolutely! We welcome your input to ensure the final website reflects your vision and meets your business goals.

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3. Do you provide mockups or prototypes before finalizing the design?

Yes, we start with a Home Page mockup to ensure alignment on layout, colors, and functionality before development begins.

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4. What if I don't like the final product?

​​We start by designing your Home Page first and in four years of designing over 400 websites, we have only had three instances where we could not deliver a design our client was happy with. There is nothing more important than learning from your failures, which is why we are so meticulous in our preplanning process. If we cannot get it right for you, we will refund your deposit.

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5. How many revisions do I get on my website?

​​We have learned that by having our clients fill out our client intake form and holding regularly scheduled meetings, we rarely need more than 4 revisions, meaning, a complete design change, to the first home page mock up. This is why Starting Gate Marketing has garnered over 200 five-star reviews. ​

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Technical and Maintenance Questions

1. Will my website be mobile-friendly and responsive?

This depends on the platform and your budget. For Wix Editor, your site will look great on PC and mobile, but elements are not fully responsive and we cannot specifically design for tablets and iPads. With Wix Studio, responsive design is a standard practice, ensuring your site looks great on all devices, including phones, tablets, and desktops. Wix Studio is a premium platform, and is more expensive to build and often requires a professional to make updates to the site. 

2. Will my website be optimized for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

Many designers implement basic SEO practices, such as meta tags, alt text, and mobile optimization. We also perform Key Word research for each page. Advanced SEO may require a specialist.

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3. Do you offer hosting services or recommend hosting providers?

Some designers include hosting, while others recommend platforms like Bluehost  or WP Engine. Hosting costs are typically separate. At Starting Gate Marketing, the majority of sites are built on Wix, which is the hosting platform. Your domain can be hosted anywhere. We do not do hosting because in our experience most designers who offer hosting are just looking for monthly recurring revenue.

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4. Will I be able to update my website myself?

This depends on the platform you choose. Wix was build so most users can update the site themselves with little, to no training, depending on the site functionality. Starting Gate Marketing is known for providing expert training. Platforms like WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, and Squarespace, typically require a professional to make updates to the site.

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5. Do you provide ongoing maintenance or support?

Many designers offer maintenance plans for updates, security, and backups. Maintenance is often billed monthly or yearly. View Our Support Plans

Contracts and Guarantees

​1. What is included in the website design package?

Packages typically include design, revisions, responsive development, basic SEO, and a specified number of pages. Custom features may cost extra.

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2. Do you provide a contract or agreement?

Upon request we provide a contract and all our invoices list our Terms & Conditions to ensure clarity on project scope, timelines, payment terms, and deliverables.

4. What are your payment terms?

We require payment in advance for all projects under $4,000, but on occasion, will work with clients on terms with more flexibility.    

Advanced Features

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1. Can you integrate specific features, such as e-commerce or booking systems?

Yes, we can add features like online stores, appointment booking, or custom forms, but these may require additional time and costs.

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2. Can you design a website that supports multiple languages?

Yes, multilingual websites can be created using plugins or custom development.

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3. Can you integrate social media or analytics tools?

Yes, social media links, embedded feeds, and tools like Google Search Console are standard integrations.

Miscellaneous

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What sets you apart from other designers?

Designers may differentiate themselves with their style, industry experience, customer service, or ability to deliver on time and within budget. Starting Gate Marketing was built on uncompromising service and value.

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Do you offer branding services, such as logo or graphic design?

We have great vendor partners we can recommend that offer additional branding services and logos to provide a complete package.

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What security measures do you implement?

Security measures may include SSL certificates, secure hosting, regular updates, and backups to protect against hackers or data loss. The Wix platform is one on the most secure platforms in the world and statistics show it is more secure that WP. Click to see stats.