You have decided you need a new website (or possibly a logo or corporate identity/business image). You have found a designer/developer and the first thing the designer gives you is a long list of questions and your first question is…“Why am I filling this out, I just want a website”. Good question! Or you maybe thinking…“You’re the expert, you should be telling me!”
So…why should you provide information…here is an example of why. You go to a hairdresser on Saturday morning and because you were running late, you had quickly pulled on some crumpled, old jeans, which have a few rips in them and an un-ironed t-shirt. You explain to the hairdresser that you want a new hairstyle but don’t provide any guidance. You simply say, “I want a new hairstyle. You’re the hairdresser and I trust your judgment, so just give me something that you think will suit me”.
The hairdresser styles you hair, and after an hour or so, proudly shows you your new hairstyle. Your lovely long blonde hair has been cut off shorter than a US Marine’s haircut…and what is left is bright red with black streaks. You are horrified…you look like something from a heavy metal punk band! Unfortunately, the hairdresser didn’t know that you actually work for a VERY conservative corporation as a marketing executive and all of your clients are extremely conservative. How are you going to go to work the next day?!? You are frantic, however, the hairdresser did exactly what you asked and given you a hairstyle that she thought would suit you.
If you had given the hairdresser some background information or guidance, such as “I would love to go really short with red hair and black streaks but I work in a corporate environment and I am required to have a conservative, corporate type look” the hairdresser would have gone about styling your hair completely differently.
Business owners are busy people and having reach a decision that they “need and want” a website they often just want to get the task finished. The designer/developer could (and often does) build, what you asked for, “just a website” without asking any probing questions about you and your business. However, would the website be what you and your business really want or need, need possibly being the operative word? You run the risk of ending up with something that doesn’t meet you or your business requirements or expectations and you end up feeling frustrated, annoyed and disgruntled.
Also, if the designer/developer asks questions in the preparation stage, while it may seem tedious, pointless and time consuming, it will reduce development time and the need for constant questions throughout the website development. Preparation prior to commencement also reduces the chance of potential budget blowouts and delays in development due to you changing your mind during the development.
So, as the business owner you have decided that your business needs a website (or the person tasked with getting the company website online)…what next? Well you need to undertake some planning and preparation work. Below are a few examples of what you should be considering and why. | Sample Questions | Reason for Question | | First and foremost, what is your budget? | The designer/developer needs to know you budget so that they don’t suggest something that is outside of your budget. Or maybe able to suggest something similar that is within your budget. | | When do you need the website to be online? | If you require it yesterday, the cost will increase. Why, because to meet your “yesterday’s” launch date the designer/developer will have to take resources from other projects or high additional resource to meet your deadline. | | Does everything need to be operational when the website going online? | Perhaps sections of the website can be switched on progressively, reducing the urgency. | | Who are your clients? | Remember you can’t be everything to everyone. You need to know who your clients are to enable you to provide the best information. | | Ideally, who do you want to be visiting your website? | You don’t want duck hunters if your business message is to ban duck hunting. So consider who your ideal client would be. | | What is the demographic of your target market? | Are your clients…single, females 12-18, or trades people working throughout Melbourne, or corporate executives? | | Do you want your website to provide information, to sell products online, or just to be a brochure-type site? | If you are intending to provide information or sell products online, you will need to plan for regularly content addition. The type of website may also influence the layout and look and feel of the website. | Many of the questions your designer/developer should be asking you will determine what type of site you need, its functionality, what it will provide to your site visitors…and what it will look like.
Now…why do designers and developers need to ask questions…to ensure that what you are asking for really meets your expectations, business needs and will be a useful tool for your business…and that you don’t end up with “just a website” (or a perhaps an extremely bad haircut). |
