Once you've written your RFP, send it to as many prospective contractors as possible. In addition to posting at job boards, spend some time seeking out designers whose portfolios you like. You want to have the luxury of having too many options.
Here are a few ways to find qualified candidates:
- Post on as many of the the top 10 Web designer job boards as you can.
- If you run into a website design you love, send the designer an RFP. Don't forget to email the designers of the sites you link to in your RFP.
- Visit sites where designers hang out, and check out the portfolios of its members. If you run into a portfolio you love, send them an RFP. Popular Web design communities include A List Apart, Site Point, Talk Freelance, and FreelanceSwitch.
- Email your RFP to friends and associates. And encourage them to send it to their designer acquaintances.
- Ask your competitors for recommendations. They may have a website with needs very similar to yours. Most people are happy to share recommendations. It doesn't hurt to ask.
Wait a few days for the applications to filter in before making your decision. Once you have a few dozen options, the next step is to vet each designer carefully to get the most qualified designer for your project and budget.