Outsourcing Local Website Design

Gday Tom, I have found it better to first ask the client questions about the specific elements of the website before volunteering to do any mock ups in photoshop or the like. Make a list of all the elements and find out exactly what it is the client is expecting otherwise you run a real good chance of burning through some cash and getting no where. I believe the more opportunity you give the client to say NO to a suggestion the more you undermine their confidence in you. This is something i try to avoid.

Question i avoid at ALL COST is What would you like your website to be able to do? or What type of website do you want?

I found clients tend to get frustrated and respond with statements such as 'If i knew that i wouldn't be talking to you'- Another response best avoided if possible.

If you don't have a list of all the components of a website search Google.

Then give the outsourcers a specific list of what you want this way you will keep the price / quote down. Unless of course you want to get an idea of the outsourcers artistic / creative ability in which case getting a mock up would work if they are prepared to do it or at least get a number of revisions agreed to in the quote.

Good luck

I am not an expert web designer but I don't think offering a few mock-up designs to choose from is a good idea unless you are showing some ready-made templates to the client. They will have no idea how much time/effort or money you have spent on the mock ups and none of them might make them happy as well.

In my opinion they only care about the content and the functionality of the site as long as it looks nice. So, learn what they want to have on their site and design accordingly.