The questions that matter
Ask these before you hire.
Use the answers to judge scope and fit—not a generic promise to rank first for every keyword.
01 / Discovery and local intentWho will find this website, and why?
Ask how staff will keep activity schedules, travel information and contact details current. Marine and trade services need clearly defined capabilities, while visitor products need understandable meeting points and policies.
Ask the builder to show which customer questions deserve a dedicated page, which need a FAQ, and which belong in a booking or contact flow. The map should follow actual services and travel logistics, not only a list of search phrases.
02 / Structure and editingWhat must the website actually do?
A charter operator may need trip-by-trip pages, safety and weather expectations, pickup details and booking. A year-round contractor may need service categories, response expectations and accessible inquiry options.
Confirm who maintains the information, how visitors interact with it, and what integrations are genuinely needed. Use a content model and design system that editors can keep current.
03 / Proof and launchHow will you judge the work?
Review whether the development team plans real mobile tests and keeps image file sizes controlled. Require transparent ownership of code, photos, DNS and analytics rather than treating a future rebuild as a vendor-owned black box.
Before launch, review mobile pages, form delivery, major URL redirects, accessibility and the ownership of your domain, source code, analytics and accounts. Request dated evidence for any claimed traffic or performance gain.