First, let me say that the Showit designer community is genuinely one of the best groups of people I’ve ever had the privilege of being part of. Almost every single designer I’ve met is super talented, super generous and always down to collaborate…. These are truly designers who root for each other.
BUT. Not every designer is the right fit for every client. And that’s not a knock on anyone, it’s just reality.
A designer who primarily works with product-based businesses, retail brands, or industries with completely different website goals isn’t wrong… she’s just probably not the right fit for a service-based business owner who needs a strategic sales page ecosystem, a lead magnet opt-in, and a clear path from visitor to booked client. Fit matters more than credentials.
Hiring the wrong fit *probably* won’t be a total disaster, but it will cost you time, energy, and the mental load of micromanaging someone through decisions that should just flow naturally. If you feel like you’re managing your designer more than she’s managing your project, that’s a sign that something’s off.
So here’s what to actually look for if you’re on the hunt for the perfect designer for your Showit site.
What is a Showit Design Partner?
Showit has an official Design Partner program and it’s not just a title you apply for. To become one you have to first have an active Showit subscription. On top of that, you have to submit three real client sites you’ve built in Showit, complete Showit’s official course, and pass their best practices assessment which proves you actually know their design standards inside and out.
I’ve been a Showit Design Partner since 2021 and it’s genuinely one of the things I’m most proud of in my business. It means Showit has looked at my work and said “yes, she knows what she’s doing.”
BUT… simply being on the Showit Design Partner directory doesn’t automatically mean a designer is the right fit for YOU. Showit lists their partners in chronological order and some designers on that list may not be designing in Showit full time.
Some specialize almost entirely in the photography industry because that’s where Showit started, which is totally valid, but if you’re a coach or a speaker hiring a photography-focused designer you might end up with a site that feels built for someone else’s clients, not yours.
What Working With the Right Designer Actually Feels Like
It should feel GOOD. Fast. Clear. Like they read your mind and then made it better.
Most of my clients need little to no revisions. They often get feedback like: “You got so much done. It would have taken me months to do what you did in a day!” or “you took my thoughts and created EXACTLY what I wanted.”
You don’t get these results from luck. It’s what happens when you hire someone who actually knows the platform, knows your industry, and just gets it.
I’ve been designing websites professional since 2014 and switched fully to Showit around 2019-2020. Honestly, I wish I’d made the move sooner. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had designing websites and I’m faster in it than any other platform I’ve used.
It mirrors the design software I already knew which means I’ve been able to mostly cut out the wireframing and mockup stage entirely. Building it directly in Showit takes about the same amount of time, and you get to see the real thing instead of a static mockup. It’s also opened me up to a whole new quick-turnaround website offering that I would never have been able to offer before on other platforms.
What to Actually Look for When Hiring a Showit Designer
Here’s what is going to matter most if you’re looking to hire:
Someone who knows your industry
A designer who specializes in service-based businesses like coaches, speakers, creatives, course creators, is going to build you a completely different site than someone whose portfolio is full of product-based businesses or industries with completely different conversion needs. The pages you need, the flow your clients expect, the way your offers should be presented, it all changes based on what you sell and who you sell it to. Ask to see examples of sites built for businesses like yours specifically, not just a general portfolio.
Real comfort + familiarity with WordPress
Not every Showit site needs WordPress but if you want a blog, e-commerce, advanced forms, or CRM integrations you need a designer who is genuinely fluent in it, not just familiar. I’m super comfortable in both which means I can often do things other designers tell clients aren’t possible.
Coding chops… (a bonus!)
Showit is no-code website platform, but a designer with development experience can take your site to a completely different level. Custom animations, embed integrations, creative workarounds that most designers don’t even know exist.
SEO awareness
A designer who doesn’t understand how SEO and Showit work together will hand you a homepage with eight H1 tags and a sloppy layers panel. That’s not a small thing to ignore because it directly affects your Google rankings and accessibility and it’s a pain to clean up after the fact. Ask your designer how they handle these things before you book.
Knowledge of the full launch process
The Showit + WordPress launch process has specific steps that someone new to the platform will absolutely fumble. Ask them directly: how many Showit sites have you launched? What does your launch process look like? A blank stare or a vague answer is your cue to keep looking.
Post-launch support
Launch day isn’t the finish line… it’s the starting line. Ask every designer you’re considering:
- What does post-launch support look like?
- Do you get a handoff video that walks you through your own site?
- A help doc?
- 30-60 days of support for questions?
- Or does the relationship end the second your site goes live?
Every K Design Co. client gets personalized tutorial videos built specifically for their site, a dedicated help page, and support after launch, because a website you can’t actually use and maintain isn’t a website. It’s just a very expensive decoration.
If you’re working directly with the owner or a junior designer
With boutique studios and solo designers this is usually a given, but worth asking. If you’re hiring someone based on their portfolio and their voice, you want to make sure the person you fell in love with is the one actually leading your project. At K Design Co. every project is approved and reviewed by me personally. You’re always getting my eye, my standards, and my sign-off on everything that goes out the door.
Red Flags to Watch For When Hiring a Designer
- They said “Showit can’t do that” or “I’m not sure” more than a few times
- Their own website isn’t on Showit and/or doesn’t reflect the quality of a site you want
- Their design portfolio is mostly mockups or templates, not real launched client sites
- They can’t speak confidently about WordPress integration or the launch process
- They specialize in a completely different industry than yours
- They offer hourly-only pricing. Most experienced Showit designers I know work in VIP Days or project-based packages. If someone IS quoting hourly, expect $100-200/hr for someone with real experience. Significantly under that and you’re probably paying for their learning curve.
What I Bring to the Table
I get in, I do the work you need, beautifully, and I do it fast. From setting up custom forms with CRM integration to building out your email welcome sequence, I’m not just a website designer. I handle pretty much anything you can think of…. Probably more than you’re paying me for, if I’m honest, but that’s just how I work.
Just a few of the ways I love to go above and beyond for my clients that they don’t expect when I’m building their websites:
- Creating custom blog styles so your posts look polished
- Dedicated help pages and personalized tutorial videos
- Setting up a matching email newsletter template
- Submitting pages to Google Search Console for indexing
- Targeted keyword research and implementation
Other FAQs about Hiring a Showit Designer
This will vary wildly based on experience… but most experienced Showit designers don’t offer hourly pricing, instead you’ll find VIP Days or project-based packages. For hourly work, expect to pay $100-200/hr for someone with real platform experience.
Custom projects vary based on scope but a quality Showit website typically starts around $4,000-10,000 + for a service-based business. If budget is a huge concern for you, buying a Showit website template and customizing it yourself is you’re best bet.
Showit Design Partners have been vetted by Showit directly. Showit design partners are required to submit past client work, complete the Showit design course, and pass a best practices assessment. It’s the most reliable signal that a designer actually knows the platform. That said, Design Partner status is a starting point for your search, not the only thing that matters. Experience, industry knowledge, and portfolio fit matter just as much.
Both are great options depending on where you are in your business. A template is a smart investment if you want to launch fast and have a budget under $1,000. Custom design makes sense when you need something built specifically around your offers and have the budget to invest. Or you could go for the hybrid option which is Showit template customization. You purchase a template and have a designer help you personalize it for your brand. This is exactly what my One-Week Website is.
Not necessarily, but if you want a blog, e-commerce, or advanced integrations, you’ll need one of the Showit + WordPress pricing plans. Make sure your designer is comfortable in both. Read more about the Showit + WordPress integration.
Ready to Work Together?
If you want a Showit Design Partner who’s been doing this for 12+ years, knows the online entrepreneur space inside and out, and will just GET it, here’s how we can work together one-on-one:
- Showit VIP Day – For targeted updates on your Showit site
- One Week Website – Template-based website, launched in 1-week
- Custom Website – A bespoke website built from scratch, just for you
Not sure if you need a custom build or a website template you can DIY? Reach out and I’d be happy to give you my recommendations.
