Building a website is about providing a service to your customer, and therefore it should be a thought out process. There are some practical matters that need to be considered to facilitate a smooth website design process. Hence, compiling a list of Website Design Questionnaire to ask your client before designing a website will ensure a solid understanding of your client’s business, audience, and goals. A website design questionnaire will enable you to dig deep into the real reason a new website / re-design is needed, so you can create a design that is well-tailored to your client’s goals and not just aesthetically appealing.
10 Essential Website Design Questions to ask before designing a website.
UNDERSTAND YOUR CLIENTS BUSINESS
- What is your Company and what services it offers?
This should include the basics like- Name, Address, Employees
- Vision, Mission, Objectives
- Services, Products
You can discuss the motivation for starting the company, its vision, its mission statement, and any other background information. This will give you insight into why the business was started. Your design can reflect their values and personality.
- What makes your Company stand out?
This will help you learn what sets them apart, their unique selling point (USP), and their unique value proposition (UVP). What is their competitive advantage, or strengths so you can show their potential clients why they should choose them? It is also important to know about the weaknesses. It will help you approach the project holistically. - Who is your Target Audience / Ideal Customer?
Whilst you are designing the website for your client, you are designing for your client’s customers. So it is important to understand both demographics such as age, location, gender, etc. and also what motivates them i.e. what they like most about the product or service. What are their expectations; what do you think frustrates them, etc? Answers to these questions will give you insight into what design elements such as colours, images, and fonts to use on their website. - Who are your Competitors?
Ask your clients to list their top 5 competitors. Then check their online presence and do a bit of research on them.- How does their website look?
- What do you think are the positives and negatives?
- How is their social media engagement?
KNOW WHAT IS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND CREATING A WEBSITE
- What is your website’s goal/purpose?
Many clients want to create a website for their business but do not think of the purpose they want their website to accomplish. For you to marry your design with the client’s business vision you need your clients to articulate the purpose of their business.
Defining the website’s purpose, examining its current weaknesses, and understanding what pain points should the site address will help you channel through your design. - What features should your website have or need?
Once you get clarity over the objective, then it’s important to understand what features you want your site visitors to engage in. For example Forms, Social Media Buttons, Call To Action, Searches, Services, Pricing, etc. Your clients need to answer what is that they want the website to convey – services online, reading a blog, signing up for a newsletter, etc - Which other websites do you like and why?
Ask your client to send over three to four favourite links of any websites they like or social media accounts they follow and to explain why they like them or find them attractive. This will show you what styles they like and help you use them as examples to gain inspiration.
DOES CLIENTS BUSINESS ALREADY HAS AN EXISTING BRAND / STYLE
- Do you have a website, and what do you like and dislike about it?
It is a great technique to run through the entire site with your clients, and check with them over each page – what do they like, what frustrates them. Is it the design or the colours? Certain features or lack of features?
Note everything. If the client has Website analytics – request a copy so you can learn what is working, which pages are doing better etc. - Are client’s businesses active on social media?
Social media creates its form of presence and directs audiences towards the website. So it’s relevant to understand and see what works and what doesn’t work in your client’s communication with customers on social platforms. - Do you have a style guide or any existing images?
Clients might have an existing style, images or branding that is used across social media, stationary, presentations etc. Knowing the existing style and look-and-feel will help you adapt it in the website design. But be sure to know if they are happy with the existing aesthetic, or whether they prefer to change it in any way.
BE AWARE OF WHAT DOES THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE
- Do you already have a URL?
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a unique identifier used to locate a resource on the Internet. It is also referred to as your web address/domain name. If the client does need a new URL, how to register and find the availability of the domain name. - Do you need hosting?
Web hosting is the process where a web hosting provider stores and maintains website files and applications on a server to make its customers’ websites accessible on the internet. Again, you might need to explain the concept of Web Hosting and what features to look for in a hosting provider. If the client does need hosting, will you provide this service or not? Which are the best options/recommendations? - What is your Website Design Budget?
It is best to be clear client’s expectations and what they are looking to spend on the project. Don’t beat around the bush and do not play safe by postponing the conversation to gain the client. If the budget is minimal in comparison to the design and work expectations, it’s better to have an honest dialogue. If you don’t provide certain services, maybe you could partner with someone else who does offer that additional service. This way you don’t have to let go of the opportunity. - What is the deadline to deliver the Website?
You need to know the degree of work required and what you’re signing up for. Sometimes clients may not realise the time it might take to design and launch a brand-new website. So you would need to provide a timeline to show what can be achieved within a certain time frame. This helps manage expectations. - Do you require Website maintenance once it is launched?
You need to be clear if clients need ongoing website maintenance. Whether it is not a part of the website design project and that it will be an additional cost. Whether you provide that service or can recommend a partner firm who can assist.
Final thoughts!
A website design questionnaire is your first step in planning a website design project. It helps and guides you to get a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish by creating/designing the website for your client’s business, and more importantly — it helps the client understand what they want.
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Strategically crafted, beautifully designed websites that will help your brand STAND OUT!
6 Steps to Implement Strategic Website Design
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