You hired a web designer. Everything seemed fine. They built your site—or got halfway through—and then... nothing. No replies. No updates. Just silence.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. And honestly, it probably wasn't personal.
Let me explain what's actually happening in the freelance world, why so many web designers vanish, and what you can do about it.
You're Not Alone—This Is Incredibly Common
When I talk to small business owners about their websites, the same story comes up again and again: "I had a guy who built my site, but he disappeared." Or: "She did great work, but now I can't get her to respond to anything."
It's so common that there's even industry data on it. A 2024 survey of 715 freelance creatives found that 72% have been ghosted by clients. Yes, freelancers get ghosted too—we'll come back to that. But the point is: disappearing is epidemic in this industry.
The problem isn't that you picked the wrong person. The problem is systemic.
Why Freelance Web Designers Disappear
Understanding why this happens doesn't make it less frustrating—but it might help you avoid it next time.
1. They're juggling too many clients
Most freelancers don't have a stable income. They take on every project they can because they don't know when the next one is coming. Then they get overwhelmed, deadlines slip, and the easiest thing to do is... ignore the emails piling up.
When you're drowning, responding to an angry client feels impossible. So they don't.
2. The project-based model is broken
Here's the dirty secret of freelance web design: there's no ongoing incentive to maintain the relationship.
A freelancer gets paid once to build your site. After that? Every support request is unpaid work. Every "quick update" is time they're not spending on the next paying project. The financial structure actively discourages long-term support.
3. Freelancing is brutal right now
The same survey found that 45% of freelancers saw their mental health decline in 2024. Nearly 71% dealt with late payments and spent time chasing invoices.
Many simply leave the industry. They get a full-time job. They move. They burn out. Your project just stops mattering to someone who's no longer doing this work.
4. Some just weren't professionals to begin with
Let's be honest: the barrier to calling yourself a "web designer" is zero. Anyone with a laptop can put up a Fiverr profile. Some people taking on projects genuinely don't know what they're doing—and when they get in over their head, they bail.
The Real Damage of an Abandoned Website
When your web designer disappears, the problems go way beyond the annoyance factor.
Your site becomes a liability
Websites need updates. Security patches. Content changes. When no one's maintaining yours:
- 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses with outdated platforms. If your site's software hasn't been updated in a year, you're a target.
- Your hours change, but your website doesn't. Customers show up when you're closed.
- Links break. Forms stop working. Customers can't reach you.
Your credibility takes a hit
75% of consumers judge a business's credibility based on their website. That outdated design from 2019? The broken contact form? The wrong phone number? They're all telling potential customers that you don't have your act together.
Users form an opinion within 0.05 seconds of seeing your site. You don't get a second chance to make that first impression.
You lose customers—permanently
88% of online consumers won't return after a bad user experience. If someone visits your broken, outdated site and has a bad experience, they're not coming back. They're calling your competitor instead.
Why You Can't Just "Take Over" the Site Yourself
When a freelancer ghosts, the first instinct is often: "Fine, I'll just update it myself."
Good luck.
Most freelancers build on platforms they know, with setups they understand. Without documentation (which most don't provide), you're stuck trying to figure out:
- What login goes where?
- Where is this thing even hosted?
- What's the admin password?
- Why does changing one thing break everything else?
64% of small-business owners find updating websites challenging—and that's when things are working properly. When your developer disappears with half the knowledge in their head, you're in an even worse position. (We wrote more about this in why DIY websites cost you customers.)
This is why so many small businesses end up paying a new developer to rebuild from scratch. You pay twice for the same website.
How to Avoid Getting Burned Again
If you've been through this once, you're understandably cautious about hiring another web designer. Here's what to look for:
1. Look for ongoing relationships, not one-time projects
The project-based model is the root of the problem. When someone builds your site and walks away, you're on your own. Look for models where the designer has a financial incentive to keep you happy month after month.
2. Choose local when possible
Someone in your town is harder to ghost. They're part of your community. Their reputation depends on word of mouth from people you both know. If things go wrong, you can show up at their office.
3. Get clear on ongoing support before you start
Ask upfront: "What happens after the site launches? How do I get updates done? How much will that cost?" If the answers are vague, that's a red flag.
4. Make sure you own everything
Your domain name, your hosting account, your content—you should own all of it, with credentials you control. If the freelancer disappears, you need to be able to point your domain somewhere else without their help.
The Alternative: Someone Who Actually Sticks Around
Here's the thing about freelance web design: it's built around transactions, not relationships. They get paid to build. They have no reason to maintain.
What if the model was different?
What if your website was a service, not a product? What if someone was responsible for it forever—and had every incentive to keep you happy because you're paying them every month?
That's the idea behind managed website services. Instead of paying $5,000 upfront and hoping your freelancer answers emails next year, you pay monthly. Updates are included. Hosting is included. Support is included. And if you're not happy, you cancel—they lose a customer, not a one-time payment that's already in the bank.
What YouGrow Does Differently
I started YouGrow because I saw this problem everywhere. Local business owners burned by freelancers who disappeared. Business owners stuck with broken sites they couldn't update. Business owners who'd paid twice, three times for websites that never quite worked out.
We do things differently:
- We're local. Based right here in Arroyo Grande. You can call me. Meet me. I'm not going anywhere.
- We don't disappear. Same phone number: 805-439-6288. Same person. Your website is our responsibility, not a project we finished and forgot about.
- Updates are included. Need your hours changed? New photos? A new page? Just email or call. No hourly bills, no waiting weeks for a response.
- Month-to-month. $79/month, cancel anytime. We earn your business every single month. If we're not delivering, you walk.
- No setup fee for founding members. The first 100 clients pay $0 to get started and lock in $79/month for life.
A professional website, managed forever, from your neighbor. No surprises, no disappearing acts, no rebuilding from scratch when someone ghosts you. See how it works or check out all the features included.
Had a bad experience with a freelancer? I get it. Get your website and find out what a real ongoing relationship looks like. Call 805-439-6288 or send me a message—I promise I'll actually respond.