Remember how the web looked like just five years ago ? Almost no dynamic content (with the exception of Flash content that took a great while to load, and everyone was avoiding it), almost no taste in the way websites were designed and almost no stability at all.

The web has since changed very quickly - we are in the middle of Web 2.0, with Web 3.0 coming up rapidly. As web design was so profitable, designers popped up everywhere and you needed little in the way of skills, so long as you could configure a template. Quality was extremely varied.

You need a web designer because you want a professional website built for your website. And this means opting for established designers, rather than those who are still learning. (Granted there are many talented new guys learning the craft, but you need to think carefully before becoming one of their “test projects” - your business is important to you after all). You must ensure they deliver the basics of web design - a user friendly, visually appealling website that loads very quickly.

The same thing goes with usability - if they find it hard to find the things they are looking for, they will leave sooner than you think. Therefore, a professional web designer that understands your needs is almost imperative. Do not search for the cheapest one on the market, because it will surely not make it worth your while. Now, there are some things you should look for when searching for the perfect web designer for your business, and I detail them carefully below:

* Is your designer open minded? Your designer should listen to your opinions and requirements - after all you know your business better than anyone. He should be able to take what you know about your business and customers and fuse it with what he knows about web design. See if he listens and and asks the right questions, rather than trying to impose a solution on you. The desired result is a fusion of ideas to produce a remarkable website, rather than a “cookie cutter” solution.

* Good and fast - No matter how long the prohject is, you should always make sure progress is being made towards the end of the project. Ask him to complete the project in stages and tell you how long each stage will take. Make sure to review each stage as you go, to make sure he is completing everything to your satisfaction.

* Promoting Usability ? As mentioned before, you need a website that is useful, rather than glittery or flashy. You have to check if your web designer understands that need - if he can construct a useful website that still looks good.

Finding the perfect web designer for your business is a tricky task but should not be impossible, if you follow the above and ask questions. Take time to check his portfolio to see if his past works are usable and well designed and you shouldn’t go too far wrong. If anything arises that makes you think he might not be suited to your business, then walk away and find another one.