Editorial

What to Ask a Web Designer If You Are Switching From Wix to a Custom Site

October 5, 2026·4 min read
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If your business has outgrown Wix and you need a custom site, the right questions will find you an agency that can migrate your content properly and protect your search visibility. This is especially true for Korean American businesses that need a site that works in both English and Korean. The goal is to move forward without starting over.

You are not just hiring a designer. You are hiring a partner for a technical migration. The following questions separate agencies that build websites from those that understand business, bilingual content, and sustainable growth.

1. How will you handle my existing content and SEO?

A good agency will have a plan for your Wix content. They should not suggest you rewrite everything. Ask if they will export your text and images to preserve your work. More importantly, discuss your existing Google rankings. The agency must explain how they will set up 301 redirects from your old Wix URLs to the new pages. This tells Google your pages have moved, not disappeared, preserving your hard earned search position.

For a bilingual business, this gets more complex. If you have some Korean content on your Wix site, ask how it will be integrated. At Hyper Vision Co., we place English and Korean on separate but connected URLs (using hreflang tags). This allows each language version to rank independently in Google. We write the Korean content fresh, never using a machine translator, which search engines and users can detect.

2. Who will own the site, the code, and the hosting?

With Wix, you rent your website. You do not own the code or the platform. When you pay for a custom site, you should own the final product. Ask the agency: "When the site is done, who owns the files? Can I move them to a different host if I choose?"

If the answer is not "you do," walk away. You should receive all the website files and have control over your own hosting account, like with SiteGround or HostGator. This gives you the freedom to change developers or hosting plans without penalty. At Hyper Vision Co., the client always owns the code, the files, and the hosting account. We build by hand, never using a purchased theme you would see on other sites. This ownership is a core part of our pricing structure, from our $599 Landmark site to our $3,750+ Flagship builds.

COST DRIVER: The price difference between a Wix subscription and a custom site is not just for design. It pays for your ownership of a unique asset, built for accessibility and SEO from the start, that no one can take away or change the rules on.

3. Is the site built to be accessible and fast?

Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) is not a luxury. It is a legal best practice and makes your site usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. It also improves SEO. Ask if the agency tests for accessibility before launch. A "yes" should include specific checks for keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and color contrast.

Speed is critical. A slow site loses customers and hurts rankings. Ask how the agency ensures fast loading times. They should mention techniques like optimized images, clean code, and a fast hosting environment. Since you will own the hosting, you can choose a plan that matches your traffic needs.

4. What is the real cost after launch?

The initial build price is one part. Ask about ongoing costs. There are three common categories:

  1. Hosting and Domain: This is your annual fee for your web address and server space. It is separate from the design fee.
  2. Updates and Security: Websites need software updates and security monitoring. Ask if this is included in a support plan or if it is your responsibility.
  3. Marketing: To grow, you may want ongoing work. We offer month to month retainers: Local SEO for $100/month, a bilingual blog service for $150/month, and management of Google and Meta Ads for $200/month (plus the ad budget paid to the platform). No contracts.

Get these numbers in writing. Transparency here builds trust. If an agency hesitates to give clear numbers, that is a red flag.

5. Can you show me work for a business like mine?

Look for an agency with experience in your industry and with bilingual projects. Ask to see live websites they have built for Korean restaurants, PMU studios, clinics, or retail shops. Review their case studies page. Do the sites look professional and load quickly? Navigate to the Korean version. Does the language read naturally, or does it feel like it was run through Google Translate?

An agency familiar with your field will understand your specific needs. For example, a restaurant site needs a menu layout that is easy to update. A retail shop needs an online store that can take payments from day one. Our Storefront package starts at $2,000 for this reason.

6. What happens if I need to change something later?

Understand the process for future edits. Can you update text and images yourself through a simple admin panel? For more complex changes, what are the agency's rates and response times? A clear, fair policy prevents surprises.

Sometimes, the best move is to keep what you have. If your Wix site is functioning well, brings in customers, and meets your needs, investing in a custom site may not be the right priority now. The decision should be driven by a clear business need, not just a newer technology.

Your next website should be a business asset you control. It should serve your English and Korean speaking customers equally well and be built to last. The right agency will answer these questions confidently, with your long term success in mind, not just a sale.

If you are considering a move from Wix, you can start with a free website audit. We will review your current site's SEO, speed, and accessibility and provide a straightforward report.

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