Comments on: Questions to ask clients before designing a website

By: Robert Maxim Website Solutions

Robert Maxim Website Solutions — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:18:56 +0000

Great list Brian, et al. My problem is not the questions so much as getting them answered. I do auto repair website design and getting clients to provide more than their business name and address is like pulling teeth! I have tried collecting info in a variety of ways but haven’t found anything to make it easier for them and especially for me. If anyone has any tips on “extracting” info I’d greatly appreciate it!

By: Buyers Agent Sydney

Buyers Agent Sydney — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:05:33 +0000

Great list of questions i agree. But i believe we should not ask the client about the design in mind with the related questions, show concepts first, saves time, then tweak the layout.

By: Lyle

Lyle — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:15:40 +0000

Fantastic compilation of viable questions to ask. As a web designer myself, I will definitely be adding some of these to my list. Thanks for sharing!

By: Janes Oosthuizen

Janes Oosthuizen — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:14:46 +0000

This is a great list! thanks very much!

By: Olga Revilla

Olga Revilla — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:42:00 +0000

I would like to share my own kick-off script. I use it for small business websites, but it can be inspiring for bigger projects.

Cheers

http://olga.itakora.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Itakora-kick-off-script.pdf

By: Zahra

Zahra — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:16:27 +0000

thanks Brian for your post ,its really helpful and useful,Good Luck.

By: Jason C.

Jason C. — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:09:20 +0000

Great list man! It’s essential to get the client thinking in this regard in the very beginning while putting the concept in development. I think sometimes clients would like to move faster than is healthy for their site and their business. Just like in video production, the more work that is done planning on the front end, the less likely there will be major bumps in the road in the future. My advice is to work heavily on the pre-planning, of which this list is fantastic by the way, really similar to what I use, allow your clients several opportunities for approvals of the plan and the design (slow them down). That way they have put their golden finger on the project and feel a sense of ownership. I think lots of times web pros want to keep the client out of it and by doing so create an us/them mentality which does not help.

By: panky

panky — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:58:50 +0000

Good list to begin with :) Thanks buddy

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:08:43 +0000

Hi Jacqueline,
Great hearing a clients take on this – thank you. As I’m sure you are not the only client experiencing this, I’m sure not all web designers fall short in communication either. As to answer and further elaborate on ‘Why do you want a website?”, I personally find that many clients do not know why the need a website other than the fact that everyone has one. So for example, clients can answer in more depth: “What is the product or service intended to provide or promote?”, “What issues are you trying to solve with a website?”, “What is the most important action visitors should respond to?” There is no doubt that in this current day and age, websites and companies with successful websites are making the most money. With that said, every company has a website, but just having a “website” is no longer enough. You need to know “why” you need a website, and if you don’t know why, it might be best to invest in a designer that provides more thorough research beyond “design.” Hope this helps to better undersand.

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:27:13 +0000

coming from a clients perspective – I’ve just engaged a web designer to redo our organization web site for a relaunch.I have been stressing for weeks about what information I would need to provide, to what extent I would be involved.

I am sure I am not the only one experiencing this. My advice to all you web designers and wanna be web deigners, is have alist of questions that you can give us right from the start. Tag them as things to think about so that you can give us what we want. Sad thing some of us don’t know exactly what we want and we get confused when we try to decided what we want the web site for.

Why do you want a web site ?
Is there any message that you do NOT want your web site to give.

I think the second question is the one that bothers me the most. I may not know exactly what I want but I know 1000% what I do not want.

hope this helps you guys help us :)