When someone approaches me asking for a quote to design and build them a website, the first step is for us to discuss the project together in detail. Many consultants call this a ‘discovery call’. This makes sure I thoroughly understand what the client needs. Also, while some clients have everything thoroughly planned out from the outset, others benefit from a little help with thinking through their marketing or business strategy and how their website could serve it best.
The sixteen questions below are an example of the kind of questions I discuss with potential clients. If you’re considering commissioning someone like me to design and build you a website, have a read through them and consider your answers and it will help you prepare you for the discovery call.
Aims
- What’s the biggest thing you’d like your website to achieve? e.g get new customers, help existing customers buy from you or increase sales of new products?
- What is your target audience? I’m thinking: location, age, gender, income, personality, buying motivation and concerns etc. Please be as specific as possible.
- Who are your main competitors? What do you like about what they offer and how they present themselves?
- What do you want your customers to understand is unique about what you offer?
Branding
- Do you have any brand-related content prepared, such as a logo typefaces, typography, colours, spacing, images etc? Would you like help with any of this?
Website content
- What website page structure will you need?
- Other than the homepage, what pages will need unique page layouts designed?
- Will you be providing written and photographic content for the website or would you like help with either?
Website technical
- Are there any external services you’d like your website to integrate with?
- Do you know of any other technical requirements for the website at this stage (especially if it’s an e-commerce website)? e.g gift vouchers, time-based discounts, Instagram image feed, embedded review website widgets, Google Maps
General
- I can host your website and offer a website support package. Would you be interested in this or do you plan to manage these things yourself?
- What is your budget for the project? This will help me scope the project to suit.
- What’s your preferred time frame for the project? I’ll include a proposed timeline with the project quote.
- How did you hear about us?
- How would you prefer for us to stay in touch?
- Would you like me to set up professional email accounts accompanying your website?
Then finally, I ask the client to send me links to any relevant websites they like the look or functionality of, not to copy but as a guide to understand what they’re looking for.
Then when the client has considered the above I ask them to suggest a day and time for a video call to discuss it all. Of course, before the pandemic I used to even meet clients in person to discuss these things over coffee. Those were the days.
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