• Make sure the developer has a web site that is well designed. The text and graphics should be clean and crisp. The links should work. Broken links spell trouble.
• Make sure they have numerous samples of sites they have completed, preferably with links to the actual sites, so that you can see the quality of work they normally provide. Check the links, to be sure the sites really work, and that they are consistently attractive and well made.
• Make sure that their design styles are versatile enough to accommodate your needs.
• Make certain that the developer provides the basic features that you will need, such as data based catalogs, shopping carts, domain based email, quality hosting and server logs.
• Choose a web developer that is well established enough to have a search engine presence. You can benefit from their Googlebot, or other search engine visits, bringing more visitors to your site.
• Contact the clients they designed sites for, and ask them what their experience was like.
• Find out the normal turn-around time for a completed site. Many clients have complained that their developer was taking over six months (sometimes up to a year) to finish their site. Sites developed by Art Z design normally take under thirty days to complete. Again, check references.

The laid-off IT person that will do it for $400 may not be the best choice. Often they will realize that $400 isn’t quite covering it, and drop the ball on you or they’ll get a job and just not be able to fit it in. Be wary of anyone who wants the entire payment for the site up front.

• Business Card site – a site that simply states who you are and what you do. Designed to introduce you to potential clients.
• Support site – add support for what you do on the ground, such as provide download for forms and instructions, provide signup, or scheduling, or show progress on current project.
• Informative site– to simply provide information on a specific topic, or in a general subject area.
• Sales / e-commerce site. To sell your product, or products. Usually involves a shopping cart, and a credit card service.

• Look at other companies offering similar services, and see what they do to achieve similar goal. You will find things you didn’t think of, and see some things you really don’t want to do. Print these samples out, so that you have a resource to show your developer.
• Look for sites that have visual elements that you would like to see on your site. Keep color, loading times, and style in mind as you look at other designs. Bookmark and print these for future reference. Number them, from most liked to least favorite. First impressions are important when visiting a web site