During a call with a prospective client they asked a great question about planning for a new website. They asked "what other questions should I be asking?" It was tricky to answer because there are so many questions to ask while planning a website. So for the next time, there will be a resource to turn to right away. Also, all these questions also are within our scope of services. Thank you for the great question prospective client. Here's your answer and grab some coffee!
- Describe your target audience.
- What is the purpose of the website?
- What is the first thing you want users to do on your website?
- What is the second?
- What are your corporate core values and how do you express them to your visitors?
- What makes you different from your competitors?
- Why should people do business with you rather than your competitors?
- Describe the style of the website you want.
- Do you have specific company colors that need to be used?
- Can you provide the Pantone numbers for your company colors?
- Do you have any other materials that the site needs to match with in some way (brochures, press materials, etc.)?
- What do you like most about your current website?
- Is there any functionality or options on your current website that you plan to keep (other than the content)?
- What are your top 3 frustrations with your current website?
- What do your current competitors’ websites have that you wish to have?
- Are there any websites with designs that you like?
- What about those websites would you like to be incorporated into your website?
- What types of things do you see on other websites that you really like?
- What types of things do you see on other websites that you really hate?
- Name the 3 things that are most important in the design of your new website.
- Name the 3 things that are least important in the design of your new website.
- Do you have full editorial or admin access?
- Who will be involved on your end in the development of the website?
- Any other contractors?
- Who or how will you be managing website upkeep?
- Do you have a budget you are trying to meet?
Scope & Specs
- Do you already have a URL you plan to use?
- If not, do you need help selecting and registering a good URL?
- Do you have a logo you plan to use or will one need to be created?
- If you have one, can you provide the original artwork files?
- Will you need a favicon created?
- Do you have a tagline or value proposition you wish to use or do you need help creating one for your site?
- Do you have a completed site architecture for the new website or will this be part of the scope of work?
- How many pages will the finished website be (estimated)?
- Do you have any page wireframes ready or will those need to be produced as part of the scope of work?
- Do you have the content for the website or will content creation be a part of the scope of work?
- How many template pages will need to be developed?
- Will we be importing and formatting your content, or do you plan to do this?
- Do you or your team need training for making website updates, content publishing guidelines, etc.?
- What types of actions do you want your visitors to take on your website?
- Do you have any specific photos you plan to use?
- Do you have full rights to those files?
- Can you provide hi-res files to us?
- Will we need to find and/or create any images for the website?
- Will video or audio be a part of the new website?
- Can you provide us the proper files or is creation of this content part of the scope of work?
- How many videos or audio files will be added and/or created?
- Will any customizations need to be made such as optimizing for search?
- Do you require online chat features?
- Do you have any other media or PDF documents that need to be incorporated, or will any need to be created?
- Will your visitors require any special needs (i.e., screen reader ready, larger fonts)?
- Do you require your site to be mobile friendly (yes, is always the answer)?
- Will you need a shopping cart system for e-commerce?
- Do you have a system you already use?
- Are you in need of an upgrade?
- We work in Webflow and Drupal and you ok with that for your new website?
- Will you need multiple levels of access or just admin and editor?
- Do you need to be able to manage content publishing approval processes?
- Does your site need a blog or news page?
- Will users need to log in to your site for any reason?
- If so, why?
- Do you need any password protected areas?
- What kind of content will be put behind password protected areas?
- How many web forms does your new site need?
- What is the purpose of each?
- How do you want the submitted info handled? (email, database, etc.)
- Do you need any social sharing features built in (tweet, like, +1, share, etc.)?
- Will there be any third-party applications that will need to be integrated?
- What are they?
- Will you need an events listing?
- Do you have any subscription services like in Mailchimp or Constant Contact?
- Do you use a third party for any part of subscription content delivery and/or payment?
- What information must be on the home page?
- What information must always be visible?
- What features, sections or information do you want emphasized on the site?
- Do you need an internal site search feature?
- Do you want contact phone numbers prominently displayed?
- Do you require a database?
- What specific functionality will it need?
- How should that be implemented?
- Do you have a Google Analytics account?
- Can you provide us access?
- Do you have any other specifications or need specific functionality that has not been addressed?
- What is your time frame for total project completion?
- Will you be looking for keyword optimization beyond the design/development scope?
Once you are on a role, this is great resource to check to make sure everything else is also thought of.
Source: marketingland.com
