Well, generally I don’t do a lot of blog commenting – but this one I was compelled to do so.
First, you need a better class of web designer if (a) they work from templates, and (b) they charge for reworking your design.

I have been a graphic designer and website developer for many years. I charge a very reasonable fee for my work (paid up front) and I am not done with the design until the client is delighted.

There is a vast difference between a graphic artist, a web designer, a web developer and an internet marketer. A graphic artist is exactly that – they have artistic ability, a vision of their own. You just have to hope it matches your vision, because most artists are very invested in their creations.

A web designer is much like a graphic designer, but has the added talent of knowing how to make the design work online (HTML, PHP, Themes for Blogs, etc). These people are all about the design, hoping it fits the screen, that forms don’t break the design, whatever.

A web developer could not care less about the actual design. All they want to do is create a site that functions beautifully – whether a WP blog, a CMS or some other fancy script… incorporating function into a site is what it’s all about for these people. They would be delighted to just make everything one colour to keep it simple.

No where in any of these descriptions is the word SEO. And you know why? Because any of these people don’t care if you get traffic. All they care about is that the site looks and functions as you wish.

I am all of the above – as well as a marketing expert. THAT is the key. If you hire a designer who knows nothing of business and marketing, you are not hiring a professional who can do what you require.

Additionally, to be fair, if you require SEO in your designs, you should be making that very clear up front – and see examples of good SEO from your prospective designer.

Sorry about the rant, but I really hate being lumped into a group like you just did, especially when painting the group with a black brush. That’s like saying everyone who uses green on a website is a scam artist. Silly, isn’t it?