Any website development project begins with a set of questions. During the initial discussion itself, you would ask your potential clients several questions to determine the scope of the project and understand their business and expectations. But if you don’t proceed with a roadmap, you can wander off into an endless maze of questions, answers and recommendations, making the web design and development journey tougher than ever. So, while you must ask questions, you should ask the right ones and skip the rest. But how do you differentiate? To help you out, we have put together a list of questions that you should consider when building a website for a new client. Get started with these questions, and a smooth and streamlined path will clear up for you, simplifying the entire project and guaranteeing client satisfaction.
Business Goals and Objectives
Understanding your client’s business goals and objectives is always a great starting point – it gives you a quick glimpse into their business and expectations. Any website project can move in a number of directions. Clarifying the client’s goals at the initial stage itself helps you decide which route to take.
Some questions to ask –
- What is the primary intent behind building the website? (Lead generation, brand awareness, etc.)
- Are there any specific goals that you wish to achieve through your website?
- What is the brand’s core message that you want to communicate?
Target Audience
To determine what the website should look like and offer, you need to first figure out who the target audience is. If a website does not align with the expectations and preferences of the target audience, it is doomed to fail.
Some questions to ask –
- Who is your target audience or primary customers?
- Is there a certain demographic your website should cater to?
Branding and Design Preferences
While there are certain elements that every website should have, the look and feel entirely depend on the nature of a business and client preferences. Your client must have a rough idea of what their website should look like – if your design doesn’t translate that vision into reality, your client will never be satisfied. So, it is always better if you discuss any client preferences beforehand and proceed accordingly.
Some questions to ask –
- Are there any existing assets (logos, images, videos) that you wish us to incorporate?
- Is there a colour scheme that you want us to adopt?
- Are there any specific design elements that you liked or saw in your competitor’s websites and want us to add?
- Are there any accessibility or usability standards you wish us to meet?
Website Content
The content forms a key part of any website, and it is often one of those elements that undergo multiple re-does. The content you are offering should represent the business in the best light without sounding too promotional and while providing complete insight into the business and offerings. Also, the content should establish your reputation in the industry and evoke a sense of trust in the target audience. The easiest way to meet all ends is to discuss the content expectation with your client thoroughly.
Some questions to ask –
- What kind of content do you wish to add to the website? (Blog, client testimonials, portfolio, product description, etc.)
- What tone should we adopt while writing the content? (Professional, friendly, etc.)
- Would you provide us with the content, or would you need help with content writing and copywriting?
- Is there any existing content that you wish us to review, improve and incorporate?
- Are there any legal disclaimers, terms and conditions, or privacy policies you wish to highlight?
Functionality and Features
The functionalities and features that a website must have differ depending on client requirements. For instance, an ecommerce website will require diverse integrations that a service-oriented website might not need. Some clients might wish to incorporate AI advancements to promote accessibility, and some clients might wish to keep it simple. So, is it always smart to discuss the kind of functionality and features that the client expects and proceed accordingly?
Some questions to ask –
- Do you wish to offer chat and live support to your clients?
- Do you wish to offer chatbot support?
- Do you require third-party integrations like CRM, email marketing, etc.?
- Do you wish to invest in a future-proof website infrastructure?
SEO and Marketing
The primary intent behind building a website is to enhance the visibility of the business and boost conversions. So, creating a website is not enough; you have to optimise it to succeed in this online race. That’s where SEO and marketing comes into play. Certain SEO and marketing elements, like social media integration, responsiveness, page speed, etc., should be targeted at the design and development stage itself. So, you can’t leave this discussion for later – make sure to understand the client’s SEO and marketing expectations and surround your entire website strategy around it.
Some questions to ask –
- What are your key SEO goals (increase organic traffic, reduce bounce rate, etc.)
- Are there any specific keywords or topics you wish to rank for?
- Are there any competitors that you wish to outperform?
- Do you already have a content marketing strategy in place?
- Do you have any industry connections you can utilise to create strong backlinks?
- Which social media platforms are you active on, and do you need social media support?
Timeline and Budget
Timeline and budget are two factors which determine the course of the entire project. The budget entirely determines the level of services that you can offer. Also, if the client is expecting a quick design, development and launch, that might impact the cost of the services. Clarifying these two points beforehand can help you create a clear framework and avoid any disputes later on.
Some questions to ask –
- What is the expected timeline for the project?
- What is the price range for your project?
- Is there a strict budget, or are you flexible with the pricing?
Maintenance and Future Updates
Website design and development is an ever-evolving field; to remain in sync with the changing digital landscape, you would need to make regular updates. Content creation is also a recurring service, especially if they wish to target SEO and marketing. So, you must discuss this with the client and let them know about any package deal that you offer.
Some questions to ask –
- Would you manage updates independently, or will you need regular maintenance assistance?
- Are there any future enhancements that you would like to plan for?
- Do you wish to avail of our ongoing marketing and SEO content services?
- Do you want us to manage your social media accounts?
Ask the Right Questions and Deliver Exceptional Services
When you ask these questions, you will get a complete idea regarding your client’s expectations. And knowing what your client expects is the first step to fulfilling those expectations. So, if you wish to build a successful business as a web design agency, make sure to ask the right questions and get started on the right foot. It will not just guarantee client satisfaction but also limit the scope of the project, help you simplify the entire design and development process, and minimise the edits and redos.
