Thinking of getting a website for your business?
When it comes to setting up a website for your business, there are certain questions you should ask yourself before approaching a web designer. Questions which will allow you to get the best out of your web designer and website, making the finished project unique to the needs of your company.
The following is a sample from a work sheet designed to extract this information from clients at the beginning of a project. The full work sheet can be downloaded and the bottom of this articule.
About your Company
Briefly describe your company/organisation and the concept, product or service your site will provide or promote.
Why do you want to have a new website, or have your current site redesigned?
Who are the decision makers on this project? What is the turnaround time for making a decision?
What staff will be involved in running the site? What are their roles? Any experience administrating a site, using HTML etc?
Your Customers
Please describe your potential customers. Pay special attention to their income, interests, gender, age, even type of computer they use, e.g., old with dialup account or newer with broadband. If your website is a business-to-business site, what sort of companies are you hoping to attract?
What problems do your customers/prospects have that your business solves?
Why do you believe site visitors should do business with you rather than with a competitor?
The Competition
Have you researched your online competition so you have an idea of what you do and don’t want on your site?
Name two or three primary competitive sites and their web addresses. Please comment on the strengths and weaknesses of these sites.
Are there features that your competitors online presences are lacking?
Conclusion
If you have found any of these questions helpful in your pursuit of a website for your business, please feel free to download the full work sheet document below.
