100-Point Web Designer Interview Scorecard

Most web design conversations sound the same—until you ask questions that reveal how the work will actually be delivered.

This is a simple scorecard you can use when speaking with any web designer or agency. It helps you compare providers on what matters: process, proof, ownership, support, and how well they understand local intent in Laois.

Score each section and you’ll quickly see who is “sales talk” versus who can deliver.

If you want to see how we work before booking anything, start with Web Design Laois and review our Portfolio.

Section 1: Outcomes and planning (20 points)

10 points: Do they start with outcomes (calls/bookings/sales) and propose a site structure?
10 points: Do they define scope clearly (pages, features, content responsibilities)?

Ask:

• “What pages would you recommend for my services in Laois—and why?”

• “What do you need from me in week 1 to avoid delays?”

Section 2: Proof and credibility (20 points)

10 points: Can they show relevant examples (not just pretty screenshots)?
10 points: Can they explain results or rationale (conversion flow, SEO foundations, usability)?

Ask:

• “Show me a similar business site—what problem were you solving?”

• “How did you design the enquiry journey?”

Browse what “good proof” looks like here: Portfolio.

Section 3: Content quality (15 points)

5 points: Who writes/rewrites the core pages?
5 points: Do they prevent generic, templated content?
5 points: Do they propose FAQs and “decision-ready” service pages?

Ask:

• “Will you rewrite my content so it’s clear and conversion-focused?”

• “How do you avoid thin or repetitive pages?”

Section 4: Local search understanding (15 points)

7 points: Do they understand how people search locally (towns/areas, service intent)?
8 points: Can they explain what they do beyond “we’ll add keywords”?

Ask:

• “How would you help me show up for searches in Portlaoise / Portarlington / Mountmellick (where relevant)?”

• “What’s included in your SEO foundations?”

Compare their answers to SEO Laois.

Section 5: Build quality and ownership (15 points)

8 points: Do you get admin access and full ownership?
7 points: Is the build maintainable (clean structure, not plugin chaos)?

Ask:

• “Do I own my domain and hosting? Can I move if needed?”

• “Will I have WordPress admin access on handover?”

Section 6: Post-launch support and risk management (15 points)

8 points: Do they offer a sensible support window after launch?
7 points: Do they offer updates/backups/monitoring (or clearly explain what you must do)?

If they are vague here, you’re taking on risk. A baseline “what good looks like” is on Website Maintenance & Care Plans

Quick scoring guide

• 80–100: strong provider; clear process and low risk

• 60–79: capable, but clarify ownership/support and scope

• Under 60: high risk of delays, poor conversion, or unclear deliverables

Red flags (don’t ignore these)

• vague scope (“up to X pages” without listing them)

• no clarity on ownership/access

• no staging/review process

• no plan for updates/backups

• content is clearly templated across many sites

Mini-brief template (copy/paste)

Use this to get better quotes:

Business:
What we do (1–2 sentences):
Primary goal: calls / quote requests / bookings / sales
Service area in Laois: (towns/areas you genuinely serve)
Must-have pages:
Must-have features: (forms, booking, ecommerce, etc.)
Examples you like (3 links):
Content: we will supply / need help rewriting / need copywriting
Timeline (if any):

If ecommerce is part of your plan, review Ecommerce Websites so you can ask better questions about payments, shipping, and checkout.

Next step

If you want a no-pressure recommendation, use Contact and send:

• your website link (if you have one),

• what you want the new site to achieve,

• and any examples you like.

We’ll reply with the clearest next step, timelines, and a straightforward quote.