There comes a time for every Mommy Blogger when you want more than a bland default design on your blog. You might try a cute free design but those are used on hundreds of other blogs and still won’t give your blog a distinct look.
One way to achieve a unique and memorable look for your blog is to hire a blog designer to create a custom header or layout. Hiring a blog designer can be intimidating and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are 30 questions to help you select the right blog designer for you:
- Does the designer work on your desired platform (WordPress, Blogger, Typepad)?
- Do you want a complete custom package, only a custom header or just a seasonal tweak to your current header?
- Do you already have a style in mind? If so, has the designer used that style before?
- Do you own images for the designer to use or will you use her images?
- How many columns do you want?
- How large do you want the header? 3/4 of your screen or a small narrow bar?
- Will the designer install the new design for you or email it for you to install?
- Will the designer (re)install any widgets for you?
- Will the designer provide future support in case something goes wonky?
- Will the designer provide support for free or for a fee?
- How many revisions will the designer do without charging extra?
- How much communication can you expect (and do you want) from the designer during the process?
- How will the designer communicate with you (email, IM, telephone) and which is your preference?
- Will she refund part or all of your money if you don’t like her work even after the revisions?
- How much money are you willing to spend?
- Do you like knowing your fee is going to a mompreneur or do you prefer to support a good cause (like a charity or adoption costs)?
- How long are you willing to wait for the design to be completed?
- How long has the designer been working on blogs?
- How many blogs has she designed?
- Does the she work with any partners or will ONLY she be designing your blog?
- Does the designer have a degree in graphic design or is she self-taught?
- How did she learn? Books? On-line tutorials? Classes?
- Do you like the examples in her portfolio?
- Does she have any clients who didn’t like her work?
- What do her previous clients have to say about working with her?
- How much feedback did she provide during the design process?
- Did she work to fit the design with the personality of their blog?
- Was she easy to work with or tempermental?
- Did she respond to emails, IMs or phone calls quickly?
- Would they use her services again?
Now it’s time to use these questions and search for the designer that’s right for you.
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Stephanie is a work at home mom who enjoys writing about blogging, family life and home management. Her current projects include a blog internship, a bloggy book club, teaching her son to read and potty training her daughter.
Great tips Stephanie! No one can use the excuse of , “I didn’t know what to ask” anymore. THX!
Great post Stephanie – these are really important questions and it is so nice having them in one succinct post!