How to Choose a Web Designer in PEI: 10 Questions to Ask

To choose a web designer in PEI, look for someone with real websites for Island businesses in their portfolio, pricing you can see in writing, and a clear plan for SEO, hosting and updates after launch. Before you sign, ask who will own your domain and content, how long the build will take, and what support costs once the site is live. The 10 questions below cover everything you should settle first.

Why the Choice Matters for a PEI Business

Your website is often the first place a customer meets your business, whether they found you on Google, in a Facebook group or from a friend's recommendation. A good web designer gives you a site that loads fast, shows up for the right searches and makes it easy for people to call, book or ask for a quote. A poor fit can leave you with a site you can't update, a domain you don't control, or a bill every time you want to change a phone number.

Prince Edward Island is a small market, and most businesses rely on word of mouth and local search. That makes it worth taking an extra hour to ask the right questions before you hire anyone, whether they're down the road in Charlottetown or across the country.

10 Questions to Ask a Web Designer in PEI

1. Can I see websites you've built for businesses like mine?

A portfolio tells you more than any sales pitch. Look for live sites, not just mockups, and click through them on your phone. If you run a trades or service business, ask to see similar work. For example, our portfolio includes BMD Project & Construction Management in Charlottetown and Jeff Somers & Associates in Cornwall. If a designer can't show you work for real businesses, that's worth noting.

2. What exactly is included in the price?

Two quotes with the same number on them can include very different things. Ask whether the price covers hosting, the domain name, an SSL certificate, basic SEO, content writing, photos and changes after launch. Get it in writing. We publish our pricing so you can compare plans before you ever talk to us.

3. Is it a one-time fee or monthly, and what happens after launch?

Some designers charge a single upfront fee and hand you the keys. Others offer a monthly plan that bundles hosting, security and updates. Neither is wrong, but you should know which one you're buying and what it costs to make changes a year from now. Our guide on how much a website costs in PEI walks through both options in detail.

4. Who owns the domain, the content and the site?

Your domain name is part of your business identity. Ask whose name it will be registered under and how you would move it if you ever change providers. Ask the same about your text, photos and logo. A good designer will answer this plainly and won't make it hard for you to leave.

5. How do you handle SEO?

A beautiful site that nobody finds won't bring in work. Ask how the designer sets up page titles, meta descriptions, headings, mobile performance and your Google Business Profile. Ask whether ongoing SEO services are available or whether you'll be on your own after launch. If local search matters to you, our local SEO checklist for Charlottetown shows what a solid setup looks like.

6. Will the site work well on phones and load quickly?

Many of your visitors will find you on a phone, often while they're out and about. Ask to see the designer's past work on a mobile device and check how quickly it loads. Tap-to-call buttons, readable text and simple contact forms should be standard.

7. Who handles hosting, security and updates?

Websites need regular care: software updates, backups, security fixes and the occasional content change. Find out who does that work, how fast they respond and whether it's included or billed by the hour. On our monthly plans, hosting, domain, SSL and updates are all included.

8. How long will it take?

Ask for a realistic timeline and what you need to provide to keep it on track, such as photos, service descriptions and logins. Timelines vary with the size of the project. Our sites on monthly plans are usually live within a week, while larger custom builds take longer.

9. Can you build a bilingual English–French site?

If you serve Acadian or francophone customers, or work with government programs, a bilingual site may matter. Ask how the designer handles French content and who checks it. We build bilingual English–French sites, and the French is reviewed by a French speaker before launch.

10. What do your reviews say, and who will I actually work with?

Read the designer's Google reviews and ask who you'll deal with day to day. With some agencies, the person who sells the project isn't the person who builds it. Brousseau Design has a 5.0 rating from 19 Google reviews, and you work directly with me.

Red Flags to Watch For

• No written quote: If the scope and price aren't in writing, expect surprises later.
• Vague answers on ownership: You should know exactly who controls your domain and content.
• No portfolio of live sites: Mockups are fine, but real businesses using real sites tell you more.
• Long lock-in contracts: Be careful with agreements that make it costly or slow to leave.
• SEO promises that sound too good: Nobody can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google. Be wary of anyone who does.

Quick Checklist Before You Sign

1. 1Review at least three live sites the designer has built.
2. 2Get the full price, and what it includes, in writing.
3. 3Confirm who owns the domain, content and design files.
4. 4Ask how SEO and your Google Business Profile will be handled.
5. 5Agree on a timeline and the content you need to supply.
6. 6Know what changes and support cost after launch.

How Brousseau Design Answers These Questions

I've been building websites from Cardigan, PEI since 2009, and have completed more than 200 projects. Our monthly plans are Starter at $49/month (up to 5 pages), Growth at $99/month (up to 10 pages plus one blog post a month) and Premium at $199/month (up to 20 pages with full SEO and keyword research). Hosting, domain, SSL and updates are included, there are no setup fees and there's no minimum contract. If you'd rather pay once, custom builds start at $1,000.

If you're in the capital region, see our page on web design in Charlottetown for local examples and details. We also work with businesses in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Frequently Asked Questions