Don’t Get Burned By A Web Designer in New Braunfels
Hiring a web designer in New Braunfels shouldn’t feel like a gamble—but let’s be honest, it often does. Way too many local business owners have been burned by vague promises, overpriced packages, and websites that look okay… but don’t actually do anything.
The truth is, a great-looking site means nothing if it doesn’t bring in leads, convert customers, or reflect the real value of your business. And unfortunately, not every “professional” designer is interested in delivering that. Some just want your money and a quick portfolio piece.
That’s why asking the right questions matters. Not small talk. Not “how long have you been doing this?” Real, strategic questions that cut through the BS and reveal whether a designer knows what they’re doing—or if they’re just another smooth talker with a template and a sales pitch.
So before you sign anything or hand over thousands for a site that might flop, ask these five questions.
Question 1: “Can You Show Me Real Results?”
Why It Matters:
You’re not buying digital wall art—you’re buying a business tool. A website should bring in leads, build trust, and help you grow. If they can’t back up their work with data, results, or real client wins, then what exactly are you paying for? Anyone can make something look good. Very few can make it work.
Extra Red Flags:
- “We don’t really track that.”
- “Our clients don’t usually ask for that.”
- They send you a Figma mockup and call it a case study.
What You Want to Hear:
“We increased bookings by 47% after launch,” or “This client jumped from page 5 to page 1 in 30 days thanks to our SEO work.”
🚩If you hear:
“Oh, we don’t really have that info, but trust us—it looked amazing,”
→ Find someone else.
Question 2: “What’s Included in Your Pricing—Exactly?”
Why It Matters:
Vague pricing is how people get screwed. A flashy $2,999 website package might sound legit—until you realize it includes just the homepage and a contact form. Suddenly you’re being upsold for every damn thing you thought was standard: mobile design, SEO, even basic copy.
It’s like ordering a burger and getting charged extra for the bun. Then the cheese. Then the ability to chew.
Extra Red Flags:
- “Oh, we can add that later… for an extra fee.”
- “Let’s just get started and we’ll figure it out.”
- They get weirdly defensive the second you ask for a detailed breakdown.
Let’s Talk About “It Depends…”
Nothing screams I’m about to make this up as I go like the phrase “It depends.”
Yes, pricing can vary—but if you can’t tell me what a basic website includes, we’re already off to a shady start.
If you walk into a store and ask how much something costs, and the clerk goes:
“Well… it depends…”
You’re walking right back out.
“It depends” isn’t an answer. It’s a stall tactic. It’s a setup for inflated invoices, made-up deliverables, and being charged for things you didn’t even know weren’t included.
Personally? When I hear it, I already know what I’m dealing with:
Someone who’s not confident in their offer, or worse—someone who is confident… in how easy you’ll be to nickel-and-dime.
✅ When “It Depends” Is Actually Okay
Now to be fair — there’s a right way to say it.
If someone says:
“It depends on how many pages you need and whether you want integrations like booking or e-commerce — but our base package is $1,695, and extra features are clearly listed here…”
That’s not a red flag. That’s clarity.
They’re giving you a ballpark, a scope, and a structure. You know where the money goes, and how it scales.
That’s what you want.
What You Want to Hear:
Transparent, line-by-line pricing. What’s included. What’s not. What it’ll cost if you want more. Up front. In writing. Before any contracts get signed. Period.
🚩 If you hear:
“It depends…” …with zero clarity, no structure, and not even a rough scope?
→ Don’t walk. Run.
There are too many honest web designers out there to waste your time with someone who’s winging it from the jump.
🚩 Real Quote (Yes, This Came From a Self-Proclaimed “Branding Expert” in New Braunfels):
“Pricing? It’s not some rigid chart. It’s a conversation. A vibe. A collaboration built on what you need and how bold you want to go.”
And just to be clear — this isn’t theory. We’ve lived this.
We reached out to one of these so-called “marketing” companies in New Braunfels to get printed promo items made. Simple request. But the second we started asking real questions about pricing and deliverables, the answers got vague fast.
He hit us with the classic: “It depends…”
No clear numbers. No scope. Just bullsh*t, vibes, and a heavy pitch for a “collaborative experience.”
When we pushed back and called out the BS?
He canceled the entire deal.
No joke — instead of being transparent or professional, he pulled the plug the moment he realized we weren’t going to be an easy upsell.
Vibe-based pricing is just code for “I charge more if you seem clueless.” Don’t fall for it.
Savage Take:
Oh good. So instead of telling you what a website costs, they want to vibe-check your wallet.
Let me translate that for you:
“We don’t have pricing. We have feelings. And those feelings get more expensive depending on how clueless you seem.”
What’s worse is this line is buried under feel-good filler like:
“Every design project is a little wild, a little wonderful, and totally unique—just like your brand.”
That’s not transparency. That’s lipstick on a landmine.
Question 3: “Do You Design With SEO In Mind From Day One?”
Why It Matters:
Web design without SEO is like building a billboard in the desert. No one’s gonna see it. SEO isn’t something you bolt on after—it should be part of the foundation: structure, speed, content, images, code. If your designer isn’t thinking about SEO from day one, they’re doing it wrong.
Extra Red Flags:
- They mention “Google Search Console setup” and call it SEO.
- They say SEO is “a separate service.”
- They look confused when you ask about schema, meta tags, or internal linking.
What You Want to Hear:
“We build SEO into every page—titles, meta descriptions, image alt text, site structure, internal linking, and speed optimization.”
🚩If you hear:
“We’ll worry about SEO later, after the design is done.”
→ Find someone else.
Question 4: “Will I Own My Website and Content?”
Why It Matters:
This one’s huge. Because what’s the point of investing in a website if you don’t own it?
You’d be shocked how many local business owners are renting their websites without even realizing it. Some “designers” set things up under their own accounts — domain, hosting, platform — and never give you full access. Then, the minute you stop paying, you lose everything. Total hostage situation.
And no, that’s not just a horror story — it’s reality.
We recently met with an off-road truck and vehicle builder who told us they’ve gone through this three times. The last so-called web designer in New Braunfels they hired completely deleted their website, disconnected their domain, and ghosted them. They lost everything. No login access, no way to recover the domain, and no help.
So yeah — they were hesitant to even talk to us.
And we don’t blame them.
This shady setup is way too common, and it’s exactly why you need to ask this question before signing anything.
🚩 Extra Red Flags to Watch For:
- “We manage the hosting for you!” (but won’t give you login access)
- “The domain’s under our account — but don’t worry, you’re covered”
- Everything is bundled so if you try to leave… you lose the whole thing
- They say: “Just call us when you need updates” — but vanish when you do
✅ What You Actually Want to Hear:
“You’ll own your website, your domain, your content, and your hosting. Everything is in your name, and you get full admin access.”
That’s exactly how we do things.
As a web designer in New Braunfels, we prefer when you buy your own hosting and domain — so you’re in control from the start. We’ll request access to build everything, but the keys stay with you. No confusion. No strings attached.
Speaking of which — if you need a reliable host, we personally use and recommend Hostinger for most of our WordPress sites. Here’s our affiliate link — it gets you a discount, and we get a small kickback. Win-win. But feel free to use any host you trust — as long as you own the account.
🚩If you hear:
“It’s easier if we just handle all that for you…”
🚩 That might sound helpful — but more often, it’s just a sneaky way to lock you in and shut you out.
→ Find someone else.
Better yet, find someone who treats your business like it’s yours — not their leverage.
Question 5: “What’s Your Plan After the Site Goes Live?”
Why It Matters:
A site launch shouldn’t be the finish line — it should be the starting point. But too many business owners hire a web designer in New Braunfels, get handed a shiny new site, and then… nothing. No instructions. No training. No plan for what’s next. Just crickets.
Now you’re stuck staring at a dashboard you don’t understand, Googling how to update your hours, or worse — paying someone every time you want to fix a typo.
It’s frustrating. It’s disempowering. And it’s completely avoidable.
You deserve a partner who sets you up for long-term success, not someone who drops a zip file and disappears.
Extra Red Flags:
- “We hand it off and you’re good to go.”
- “Support packages are extra… starting at $500/month.”
- They ghost you once the invoice clears.
What You Want to Hear:
“After launch, we’ll walk you through everything — from editing text to managing updates. You’ll feel confident using your site, or we can take care of updates for you with a support plan.”
A good web designer in New Braunfels should offer some sort of post-launch runway — a few weeks of free support, help fixing bugs, and time to answer questions while you get comfortable.
From there, extended support is available as a paid add-on — not a hostage situation. You won’t be forced into anything, but you’ll have options. Whether that’s a monthly maintenance plan, ongoing SEO services, or just knowing you have someone reliable to call when you need updates — you’ll know exactly what it costs, what’s included, and how to get help without being upsold or ignored.
🚩If you hear:
“Once it’s live, it’s all yours. Good luck!”
→ Find someone else.
Bonus Question (That Reveals Everything): “What makes you different from every other web designer in New Braunfels?”
This is where the masks come off. You’re not just hiring a web designer in New Braunfels—you’re trusting someone to shape how the world sees your business.
So if their answer is:
“We’re creative,”
“We care,”
“We love small businesses…”
That’s cool. But it doesn’t mean sh*t without proof, follow-through, or intent.
Why It Matters:
Anyone can slap a logo on a template and call it custom. Anyone can say they care.
But very few actually show up when it matters—after launch, when things go sideways, or when you need real support.
You don’t just need a designer.
You need someone in your corner. Someone you trust. Someone you’d call again.
What You Want to Hear:
“I don’t want to build you a website and disappear. I want to earn your trust—so when your cousin starts a business, you send them my way. When you grow, you come back to me. That’s how I run this.”
“I love happy clients. I love repeat clients even more. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you feel good about this decision—not just now, but six months from now.”
“This isn’t just a project to me. I want you to win. Because when you win, I win.”
🚩If you hear:
“We build beautiful websites with great branding…” …you’re not talking to a partner. You’re talking to a brochure.
→ Find someone who gives a damn about you. Not just the paycheck.
Final Word: You’re Not Being Picky. You’re Being Smart.
Hiring a web designer in new Braunfels shouldn’t be a guessing game. If they get defensive when you ask these questions? Walk away. Fast.
At Savage Web Solutions, we expect these questions. Hell—we welcome them. Because we’ve got nothing to hide and everything to prove.
Your business deserves better. And if your next web designer in New Braunfels can’t answer these clearly, confidently, and without dodging? Walk away.
Want to see how we stack up? Check out our location pages or get started here.
Don’t get gaslit. Get Savage.