Look for business clarity, not only visuals
The strongest agencies ask about the business model, the offer, the buyer journey, and the conversion goal before they talk about visual direction.
Ask how they handle SEO and launch quality
A credible agency should be able to explain metadata, responsiveness, tracking, page speed, and how the build will behave after launch.
Why founder fit matters
Especially for startups and service businesses, communication style and decision quality matter. The team should help simplify scope rather than inflate it.