Why Hiring a Freelance Web Designer Is Better Than Using an Agency

Statistics show that 88% of online shoppers will NOT return to a website because of a bad user experience. And it is easy to see why. Today, when you start a business, one of the first things to do is establish an online presence. Since there are so many businesses online, you have to stand out to be noticed. Your web design is like a physical brick-and-mortar store. If a shopper enters and is not impressed, they’re unlikely to come back. 

So do you really need a large group of people pulling you in every direction and telling  you how to handle your website or would you rather have one dedicated individual who can guide you through the entire process? Hold that thought for a minute.

I recently read an article online and it let me tell you that it was pretty ridiculous! The article was written by a digital marketing agency and the piece was focused on why you shouldn’t hire or use web design freelancers. Their article made it out like all freelancers are not capable of handling a project or doing a good job and agencies are the only option for a new website or other digital marketing services. 

From my own personal experience, some freelance designers I have met are very successful with many clients and making over 6 figures!

Instead of letting this agency know what I thought about their article, I decided to come up with my own list on why freelance web designers are a better choice than working with large agencies. 

I mention this particular point later on in my article, but I will throw it out here as well. 

You will save money working with a freelancer and the work you receive will be just as good or better! Save that extra $3,000 to $10,000 dollars and take a friend or family member on vacation. I guarantee you this, you will never hear anyone from an agency tell you that.

Freelance Web Designers Give a More Accurate Price-Range and Scope For Projects

For any web design project, it is always common to get multiple quotes to see which matches up with your budget and needs.  Price is one thing that will always be a factor before making a purchase, but a freelance web designer can give you the most accurate estimate. 

Here is why;

A freelancer is a person who works by themselves and they know exactly what their expenses and overhead for the business are.  When dealing with an agency they will give you a wide price range for the project as they have much more overhead to account for ( rent for office space, account payables, computers and other electronics, office supplies, etc). 

At the end of the day both parties are qualified to get the project completed, but a freelancer designer will be able to do the work at a fraction of the cost. 

Take a quick look below to see the difference in overhead between freelancers and agencies:

Here is an example of what my expenses and overhead are as  a web design freelancer:

• Laptop – $3,000
• Software and SEO Tools – $3,000
• Internet – $1,000
• Office Space -$0 (I work from home or at a coffee shop).
• Other expenses – $500

Since my expenses as a freelancer are relatively low, I am able to take on projects at a lower cost with the same quality of work. Some agencies have upwards of 50 staff members! And to manage all of their expenses and wages they have to charge a lot on every project. I can’t imagine what their expenses are every month. 

Also when working with a freelancer designer, both parties will know the exact scope of the project and it will be delivered on an agreed upon budget. There will be no hidden costs, extra fees, or random hours billed. Typically, you will pay 50% upfront and the other 50% when it’s complete.

You Will Enjoy Working With a Freelance Web Designer + Web Developer

Freelance web designers typically have agency work experience and are professional when dealing with their clients. Unlike agency web designers, freelance web designers are actually running a business, so they cannot afford to be careless. They have good project management skills and will not miss deadlines.

I always want to work with clients for as long as possible, so I make sure all of their web design needs are met and have no problem doing weekly check-ins either over a Zoom or phone call.

Working with an agency can be a headache because you’re not dealing directly with the designers (typically project managers). If you’re working with a design team there may be multiple designers, and they often resort to the blame game if things do not go right. It might actually take longer to finish the design process when working with agency designers.

Freelance Web Designers Use The Latest Technologies & Have Multiple Backup Plans

When your website is down from a client or server-side error, you can lose out on potential customers as they will not be able to access the information on your site. When working with an agency, you are just one of many clients and you will have to wait inline to get your site back up and running. Personally, as a  freelance web developer,  I will start working on a website as soon as I know that this is down. Us freelancers are prepared for these circumstances, so you can rest assured that even when your site is down, it won’t stay in that state for long.

You Get What You Pay For

You may decide to browse the internet for the cheapest web designers if you have a low budget. But what if you get a badly designed website at the end of it all? It means you will have to fork out more money for a decent web developer. Web design agencies typically charge more for their services, but that doesn’t mean you should find the cheapest freelancer if your budget is low. For instance, if an agency charges $10,000, you can find an expert freelancer who charges maybe $4,000.

If you always do your due diligence, you can get agency-quality work at a lower price point.

Freelancers Prioritize Your Work

Most freelancers do web design as their full-time job. While a few may do it as a side hustle, that does not mean that they will not prioritize your work. Like any other agency, freelance web designers don’t like losing their clients because of shoddy work or poor time management skills. Therefore, they will dedicate their time and energy to your project until completion.

A freelancer will typically take between four and six weeks to finish designing your website. When working with an agency, the designers may have several websites they are working on, so the project may take longer than expected. But with a freelancer, you are always sure that they are focusing on your project. Keep in mind that freelancer web designers will avoid taking too many clients to maintain their high-quality work.

Freelancers Will Not Go Rogue or Disappear On a Client

Normally, it takes years to build a good reputation in any industry. Great web developers are those who have been building websites for several years. It takes many years to build a portfolio and reputation as a credible website designer, so chances of getting fleeced are pretty low. The freelancer will probably be looking for good reviews so they will do a fantastic job. Remember, that a good freelancer will want to retain their reputation and would never do something silly like stealing money from a client or holding a website hostage. 

Freelance Web Designers Also Offer Other Digital Marketing Services

A significant number of businesses opt for agencies thinking that freelance web designers only know about designs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Today, most website developers come with other skill sets that you can use to improve online visibility and grow your business.

For example, my other main service which I offer is Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Optimizing a website compliments the web design aspect as it allows it to be seen on the pages of Google. I decided to learn about this skill because of personal interest, but there are many other services that a freelancer can offer besides SEO.

Other common digital marketing services that freelancers can offer along with web design include:

• Copywriting
• Paid advertising (Google ads, Facebook ads, Linked In ads, or Pinterest ads)
• Graphic design
• Brand building
• Logo design
• Creating Instagram posts
• Reputation management

 Note that freelancers run their own design businesses, so they understand what it takes to succeed. Also, you will probably find a designer who has worked with other clients, agencies, or companies in the past. So, freelancers not being all-rounded should be the least of your worries. If you take the leap, you will likely notice that they offer just as much as an agency.

Time-Zones Don’t Matter For Freelancers

With a freelancer, you never have to worry about different time zones. Good freelance web designers are all over the globe, so if you get one in a different country, it’s no big deal. It’s not like you have to check in every three hours. As long as there is consistent communication there won’t be an issue. If there is an urgent problem, then you can call them and let them know. Most freelancers will be ready to receive your call and fix any issue on your website.

A positive aspect that a lot of people overlook is that if you hire a freelancer on the other side of the world, work is being completed while you are sleeping. That leaves the client all day to make suggestions or reviews before passing them along. 

How much better would you sleep at night knowing that after a long day of work on a project, it is still being worked on while you are fast asleep? 

How Much Does a Website Cost To Build in 2024?

This may seem expensive, but there are countless agencies out there charging more than $150,000 per project! This would of course be done by an entire team of professionals but there are many large customers out there who can afford this price point. 

Freelancer Website Design Quote

The cost to have a website built by an experienced web design freelancer can range anywhere from $2,500 – $25,000. This all depends on the type of website you want (standard business website, something with custom features, e-commerce), branding, and content production.

Why Trust a Freelance Web Designer?

They ask all the right questions

A great web designer will ask you a lot of questions before starting the project. You will have to provide information such as your vision, brand colors, and the type of content management system. All these details will help them create the right site for your business. If a freelancer doesn’t ask questions, that’s a red flag, and you should keep looking.

They’re highly responsive

When building your website, you need to be in constant communication with your designer. Remember, no freelancer would want to soil their reputation by being unresponsive or not providing updates regularly. So, they’ll always check in frequently to ensure they’re not doing anything the wrong way. Good communication enables the designer to finish building your website on time.

They finish websites ahead of schedule

Freelancers will always want to remain on your good side, so issues like missed deadlines won’t be a problem. And since you will be communicating regularly, they’ll always let you know if there is a delay.

Solo designers don’t take on too many projects

Unlike agencies, a solo designer will usually work with one client at a time. Having too many clients means a freelancer will not have enough time to create the ideal website for a client. Therefore, go with a solo developer if you need someone who will give your website undivided attention.