These are some of the questions that we will ask as we build your new website. A good web design company should ask you questions, lots of questions. The more information the web design team has, the more they can build your new website to fit your needs, and those of your customers.
We of course know you’re busy running your business. However, if you are investing in your business by building a website, you need to invest some time with us. The more you communicate with us, and the speed with which you answer our questions, the better it is for you. Needless roadblocks in communication delay the launch of your new website and bringing in those new leads.
Basic questions will relate to your company name, address, contact information, how long you have been in business, etc. Your answers to some of the broader questions below will help us help you increase your business.
Who are your competitors?
The website development team needs to know who your competitors are so we can examine their websites. This may not seem important to you at first but we in the web design business need to look at the source code, link feed, applications used and other information, to know what those competitors are doing to bring customers into their business through the web. If potential customers are going to be looking at them, you want to be better right?
What sets your business apart from these competitors?
We need to know how we are going to promote your business and bring it to the attention of potential customers. We need to tell them about you and what you have to offer, but we also don’t know what we don’t know, so make sure we are aware of what makes your company unique. Just as you may not know much about web design, we may have the same limited knowledge of your industry. When the project is complete however we always want to leave feeling like an industry expert.
Can you describe your target customer?
Rather obviously the web design team needs to target a specific type of client. It will be beneficial to know which type of client is the most profitable to your business and which type of client is easiest to work with over the course of a contract. Then we are able to target our message to this client. This includes the look of the site, the web content writing and SEO efforts. Is there a specific niche of your customer base that you want to target? These are things we need to know.
What is your deadline for completing the site?
Expectations can be unrealistic for many people. Some projects take a week, some take months. Some factors include how many pages you want in your new website design, whether you have an existing website and how accessible you are when it comes to answering our questions. A good web design company will lay out for you how long a project should take, with deadlines for each part of the project. With Build Your Online these deadlines are specifically spelled out in the proposal. This way you know exactly how long and what part fo the process you are in at all times.
What are some other sites on the Web that you like and why?
Look around. You should be able to identify some websites that you like and explain why you like them. Whether it’s the color scheme, the design or how the information is presented, make a note of it. Chances are there will be many people that like the same things you do. We can incorporate some of those web design aspects into your new website.
What specific functionalities would you like included on your site?
By this we mean will you want things like a contact form, shopping pages, etc. We’ll talk with you about making your site easy to use yet perform every task you need.
Who is going to be responsible for updating the website’s content?
Will there be a specific person in your company that needs to be trained to manage your web presence? Will you expect the web designer to make all the changes to the content? By this we mean writing a blog, adding pictures and promotions to the website and other minor updates.
Build Your Online has a web content writer who will work with you and the web design team to create original, informative content for your website launch. We also offer maintenance packages to keep your website secure, backed up, and up to date with fresh content.
What key search phrases would you like to be found for?
If you are signing up for SEO services, this is something we will ask. In order to help your company come up on the first page of search results for your industry, we need to identify key search phrases and keywords that are applicable to your business. For SEO purposes, we also need to know the geographic area you are targeting. Every website that we complete will have the groundwork layed for good SEO. We of course offer further SEO services for after your website is launched to continue to drive new customers to your business.
What is your budget for this project?
Make sure you are thinking of your website as an investment in the future of your business before you answer this question. Your web design team needs to keep your project within your budget. Your website can cost tens of thousands of dollars or less than $5000. Of course, you will get what you pay for, but it is nice to keep things in line with what you can afford. A low-ball estimate from an out-of-state company or a friend of a friend’s nephew should raise some red flags. Get several estimates for your new web design project before signing on the dotted line with anyone.