Choosing a Web Designer in Lagos: 10 Questions to Ask First

Lagos has no shortage of people who build websites. There are agencies, freelancers, students, template resellers and developers working for clients abroad — and their prices and quality vary enormously. Picking the wrong one can cost you more than money: a site you can't edit, a domain you don't own, or a project that stalls halfway.

I'm James Morgan, founder of theHoracle Studio. These are the questions I'd want answered if I were hiring someone to build my own website — including the ones that might make some designers uncomfortable.

Before you contact anyone: know what you need

You'll get better quotes, and be able to compare them, if you can answer these first:

• What should the website do? Bring in enquiries, sell products, take bookings, build credibility for a pitch?
• Who is it for? Your customers, investors, job applicants?
• What pages do you think you need? A rough list is enough.
• What content do you have? Logo, text, photos, product information.
• What's your budget range and deadline? Honest numbers help a good designer recommend the right scope.

If you're unsure about budget, our guide to how much a website costs in Nigeria explains what drives the price.

1. Can I see websites you've built — live?

Screenshots and mock-ups are easy to fake or borrow. Ask for links to live sites, then:

• Open them on your phone, on mobile data, not office Wi-Fi.
• Check how fast they load and whether they're easy to use with one thumb.
• Look at whether the content is current — abandoned sites tell their own story.
• Ask what exactly they did on each project: design, development, both, or just setup.

You can see ours in our portfolio, with case studies like Whatstore, the DJ booking website and the theHoracle Studio website itself.

2. Who will actually do the work?

Some agencies sell the project and pass it to a junior or a subcontractor. That isn't automatically bad, but you should know who designs, who builds, and who you'll talk to when something goes wrong.

3. Will the domain be registered in my name?

This is non-negotiable. Your domain is your address online; if it's registered under someone else's account, they control your website and email. Ask for the domain to be in your name (or your company's), with login details you control.

4. Who owns the website and content?

Ask directly:

• Do I get access to the CMS (admin panel)?
• Do I get the code or an export of my content if I leave?
• Are images and fonts properly licensed?

If the answer is "you can't leave", walk away.

5. Can I update the website myself?

You'll want to change prices, add products, post updates and fix typos without paying every time. Ask to see the admin panel of a site they've built. Is it simple enough for someone on your team to use? We build on Payload CMS, which gives clients a clean editor without plugin clutter.

6. How will it perform on mobile in Nigeria?

Most of your visitors will be on phones, many on slower connections. Ask how they handle image optimisation, page speed and testing on real devices. A designer who only shows you the desktop version is designing for the minority. I wrote more on this in website speed for Nigerian mobile users and in what makes a website actually work in 2026.

7. What's included for SEO?

At minimum, a professional website should include:

• Proper page titles and descriptions
• Clean URLs and heading structure
• A sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
• Fast loading and mobile-friendly design
• Structured data where relevant

Be wary of anyone guaranteeing "first page on Google in two weeks". Honest SEO is a foundation plus consistent work over months.

8. What exactly is in the quote — and what isn't?

Get a written scope. It should list:

• Pages and features included
• Number of design revision rounds
• Who provides content
• Hosting, domain and email — included, or separate?
• Timeline and what happens if it slips
• Payment schedule

Then ask what costs extra. Unclear quotes lead to surprise invoices.

9. What happens after launch?

Websites need security updates, backups, occasional fixes and new content. Ask:

• What does maintenance cost per month or year?
• How quickly do you respond if the site goes down?
• Will you train me or my team to use it?

10. How do you handle payments and milestones?

A common, fair structure is a deposit to start, then payments tied to milestones like design approval and launch. Be cautious about paying 100% up front to someone you haven't worked with, and equally cautious about anyone who won't put the agreement in writing.

Red flags to watch for

• No live examples, or examples that don't work on mobile
• The domain and hosting "handled" in their name
• No written scope or contract
• Guaranteed rankings or traffic numbers
• Pressure to decide immediately
• Vague answers about who does the work

Green flags

• They ask more questions about your business than about your colours
• They explain trade-offs and recommend the simplest solution that works
• They're clear about what they don't do
• They put scope, timeline and ownership in writing

The bottom line

The right web designer is someone who understands your business goals, builds something you own and can manage, and is still around after launch. If you'd like to put these questions to us, book a free call or read about our web design and development service. If we're not the right fit, I'll tell you.