What Questions Should a Web Designer Ask Clients?

10 years ago

One of my favorites was always "what do you want/expect this website to do for you?"

Then listen to the answer.

You may be a good web mechanic, but if you don't have any real background dealing with business owners, it would help to get some.

With the software available today, "web designers" are a dime a dozen. Web designers who understand business and can create sites that accomplish what the client wants are much harder to come by.

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NK 10 years ago

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

One of my favorites was always "what do you want/expect this website to do for you?"

This is what I do as well. I realize that many potential clients that approached me have a very different idea of what a website is and what it does. Some of them just want a website for the sake of having one (because it's what other people are doing) and others want features that doesn't do what they think it does.

Having a clear understanding of what they expect the website to do for them can really prevent headaches and confusion down the road when clients starts to rage that this isn't what they wanted or it's not doing what they wanted it to do.
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st0nec0ld 10 years ago

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

One of my favorites was always "what do you want/expect this website to do for you?"

Then listen to the answer.

Totally agree with John, I think it is important to know and to clarify your client's expectations. In this way, it will not be difficult for you (and as well for him) to do the things you need to do. You both will have a picture on how the output would be.
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tristatemedia

10 years ago

i will not let anyone design a site for me unless they ask me what keyowrds i am interested in. so, they can build website around these keyowrds............very important.
this separates the ideots form the professionls.

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JohnMcCabe

10 years ago

Originally Posted by tristatemedia

i will not let anyone design a site for me unless they ask me what keyowrds i am interested in. so, they can build website around these keyowrds............very important.
this separates the ideots form the professionls.

That's because you know what "keywords" are and which ones you want to optimize for.

Ask that question of many business owners and you'll get a blank stare, which may let you feel superior all the way back to your car, empty handed.

I never asked about keywords until after I had the project, and then only for some seed keywords to start the process. Even then, I never used the term itself.

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Steve B 10 years ago

Originally Posted by tristatemedia

this separates the ideots form the professionls.

TriState, thanks for making my day - I love it.

Steve
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agmccall

10 years ago

Originally Posted by tristatemedia

i will not let anyone design a site for me unless they ask me what keyowrds i am interested in. so, they can build website around these keyowrds............very important.
this separates the ideots form the professionls.

Maybe you do not realize this, but, Designers design websites, and Marketers optimize websites. Keywords have nothing to do with the design

al

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savidge4

10 years ago

That is about the silliest statement I have ever read! Its actually beyond silly!

Your gonna have to pay 2 times to build your site. The first time I am just going to "design" the site for you. The second time I am going to "Optimize" it for you destroying all of the previous work I did, so that it ranks and you get traffic and have the ability to convert the traffic you get into sales.

The Optimizing phase is going to cost 2x the amount as the design. Not only am I going to redesign your site, but I have to rewrite all your text and put tags on your images, and do a bunch of behind the scenes tag writing and change all image names, and your URL names and the list goes on and on.

Are you F ing kidding me?

Originally Posted by agmccall

Maybe you do not realize this, but, Designers design websites, and Marketers optimize websites. Keywords have nothing to do with the design

al

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sbucciarel

Banned 10 years ago

Originally Posted by savidge4

That is about the silliest statement I have ever read! Its actually beyond silly!

Your gonna have to pay 2 times to build your site. The first time I am just going to "design" the site for you. The second time I am going to "Optimize" it for you destroying all of the previous work I did, so that it ranks and you get traffic and have the ability to convert the traffic you get into sales.

The Optimizing phase is going to cost 2x the amount as the design. Not only am I going to redesign your site, but I have to rewrite all your text and put tags on your images, and do a bunch of behind the scenes tag writing and change all image names, and your URL names and the list goes on and on.

Are you F ing kidding me?

It's beyond silly to suggest that the designer is also the the SEO specialist. They are not and it's a rare thing to get both in one package.

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savidge4 10 years ago

Then color me rare! ha ha

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

It's beyond silly to suggest that the designer is also the the SEO specialist. They are not and it's a rare thing to get both in one package.
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Sheryl Bagley

10 years ago

I've always thought that briefing is like going to the doctor so the questions are very much like the ones that a doctor will ask when you're ill.
1. What's the problem? = objectives, problems to solve
2. What were you doing when the problem started? = background
3. Family history? = any other past actions
4. Do you have any allergies? = mandatory stuff, what to, what not to
5. Are you insured? = what's the budget
And, of course, "whom are you talking to?" to set the target.
I hope this helps

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Johnniedag Banned 10 years ago

[DELETED]

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sbucciarel

Banned 10 years ago

You should develop a website spec sheet for your customers to fill out.

Here's a very basic one

SPECIFICATION FOR YOUR COMPANY WEB SITE

Proposed domain name: www.yoursite.com
1.0 OVERVIEW OF WEB SITE REQUIREMENT

Our new site will perform the following function for our business:

"We want people to find our products by searching the web. The site will provide detailed information about the products and enable visitors to make on-line purchases."

2.0 SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION
2.1 Search Engine Ranking

The website should be accessible to search engine spiders and be coded with good on-page search engine optimisation.
The designer should propose seperately a budget for link building required to make the site reasonably competitive in the target market

3.0 LIST OF PAGES
3.1 Home Page

The home page will give visitors an overview of our services.
3.2 Products List

This page will give an overview of each of our products
3.3 Products Detail Pages

For each product there will be two pages. The first will provide a detailed summary of the product including prices and photographs. The second will contain a detailed specification.
3.4 On Line Shop

Each product page will have a link that will allow visitors to place an order on-line.
3.5 About Us

Details about our company and personnel.
3.6 Contact Us

Full contact details including a map.
3.5 Site Map

A site map should be provided showing the structure of the site and linking to every page on the site.
4.0 STYLE AND LAYOUT
4.1 Overall Style

The site style should incorporate our corporate colours and logo.
4.2 Navigation

A common navigation bar should be included on all pages. The navigation bar will include links to the home page, products list, about us, and contact details.
5.0 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Accessibility

This site must comply with the standards of accessibility contained in W3C WAI (World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility Initiative) level A Guidelines.
5.2 Valid Code

All code on the site should validate to W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) specifications.

Here's a more complex one

http://www.web-redesign.com/download...-specsheet.pdf

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sbucciarel

Banned 10 years ago

You should develop a website spec sheet for your customers to fill out.

Here's a very basic one

SPECIFICATION FOR YOUR COMPANY WEB SITE

Proposed domain name: www.yoursite.com
1.0 OVERVIEW OF WEB SITE REQUIREMENT

Our new site will perform the following function for our business:

"We want people to find our products by searching the web. The site will provide detailed information about the products and enable visitors to make on-line purchases."

2.0 SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION
2.1 Search Engine Ranking

The website should be accessible to search engine spiders and be coded with good on-page search engine optimisation.
The designer should propose seperately a budget for link building required to make the site reasonably competitive in the target market

3.0 LIST OF PAGES
3.1 Home Page

The home page will give visitors an overview of our services.
3.2 Products List

This page will give an overview of each of our products
3.3 Products Detail Pages

For each product there will be two pages. The first will provide a detailed summary of the product including prices and photographs. The second will contain a detailed specification.
3.4 On Line Shop

Each product page will have a link that will allow visitors to place an order on-line.
3.5 About Us

Details about our company and personnel.
3.6 Contact Us

Full contact details including a map.
3.5 Site Map

A site map should be provided showing the structure of the site and linking to every page on the site.
4.0 STYLE AND LAYOUT
4.1 Overall Style

The site style should incorporate our corporate colours and logo.
4.2 Navigation

A common navigation bar should be included on all pages. The navigation bar will include links to the home page, products list, about us, and contact details.
5.0 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Accessibility

This site must comply with the standards of accessibility contained in W3C WAI (World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility Initiative) level A Guidelines.
5.2 Valid Code

All code on the site should validate to W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) specifications.

Here's a more complex one

http://www.web-redesign.com/download...-specsheet.pdf

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magiclouie

10 years ago

Normally, I ask these questions:

1. What type of website do you want? (Then I give them the different type of sites with explanation)

2. Do you have links of some sites that you really like? If so, can you send them to me?

3. What's the nature of your business?

4. What's your favorite color? (I seldom ask this but it somehow gives me an idea what color scheme I am going to use)

5. Tell me everything you have in mind. (Not a question but a request)

Then I give them some info about responsive sites and silo structure.

I believe customer service and support are very significant. Treat them well and be patient as much as you can.

I am just so lucky for I normally get my clients from referrals from my previous clients.

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Karen Blundell 10 years ago

As John posted earlier, finding out what the customer wants the website to accomplish is critical.
It pays to be a good listener
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- JohnMcCabe 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Karen Blundell
  
  As John posted earlier, finding out what the customer wants the website to accomplish is critical.
  It pays to be a good listener
  
  Sometimes it pays very well...
  
  I ran into many instances where prospects didn't even know what could be accomplished with a good website. Asking good questions, looking for pain points, can be a good way to expand the scope of the project (and the fees).
  
  For example, many business owners don't think of adding an FAQ section for current customers and then adding the url to their voice mail or after-hours message. But having that url and website section can save their people hours of answering the same questions over and over again. Which means they can spend more time doing more productive things and/or being more patient with the people who do need human contact.
  
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  Joe Mobley 10 years ago
  
  I found this to be most helpful.
  
  45 Incredibly Useful Web Design Checklists and Questionnaires | Smashing Magazine
  
  Joe Mobley
  
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  Follow Me on Twitter: @daVinciJoe
  
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RyanLB

10 years ago

Aside from the checklists and questions (since that has been covered well already, in full) you also need to make sure that you are able to get these things written in stone into your contract with them. By outlining exactly what they need you have a much better chance of limiting revisions and giving them what they want from the beginning. It also limits how much you have to deal with less than ideal clients who constantly change the scope of the project or make late additions.

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magiclouie

10 years ago

Originally Posted by RyanLB

Aside from the checklists and questions (since that has been covered well already, in full) you also need to make sure that you are able to get these things written in stone into your contract with them. By outlining exactly what they need you have a much better chance of limiting revisions and giving them what they want from the beginning. It also limits how much you have to deal with less than ideal clients who constantly change the scope of the project or make late additions.

Scope and limitations.

I have experienced in the past wherein the clients just keep on changing the layout and the color scheme. It was really a pain in the butt.

What you have a written here is a MUST in my opinion.

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Syed Raza

10 years ago

how do you turn your client's art into money so they send you an endless flow of new business?

By asking these 10 crucial questions before you get started, that's how...

1. What does your business actually do?

2. What do you want your site to accomplish?

3. Do you have a website already?

4. What makes your company remarkable?

5. Who are your competitors?

6. What websites do you like and why?

7. Who exactly are your customers and what are their pains?

8. What features do you want your website to have?

9. How will you record your results?

10. Do you have a style guide or any existing collateral?

Best Of luck

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Go4DBest

10 years ago

Originally Posted by magiclouie

Normally, I ask these questions:

1. What type of website do you want? (Then I give them the different type of sites with explanation)

2. Do you have links of some sites that you really like? If so, can you send them to me?

3. What's the nature of your business?

4. What's your favorite color? (I seldom ask this but it somehow gives me an idea what color scheme I am going to use)

5. Tell me everything you have in mind. (Not a question but a request)

Then I give them some info about responsive sites and silo structure.

I believe customer service and support are very significant. Treat them well and be patient as much as you can.

I am just so lucky for I normally get my clients from referrals from my previous clients.

Originally Posted by Syed Raza

how do you turn your client's art into money so they send you an endless flow of new business?

By asking these 10 crucial questions before you get started, that's how...

1. What does your business actually do?

2. What do you want your site to accomplish?

3. Do you have a website already?

4. What makes your company remarkable?

5. Who are your competitors?

6. What websites do you like and why?

7. Who exactly are your customers and what are their pains?

8. What features do you want your website to have?

9. How will you record your results?

10. Do you have a style guide or any existing collateral?

Best Of luck

Thank you guys for sharing these questions. You deserve all the kudos.

More power to you.

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wordwizard 10 years ago

Originally Posted by Joe Mobley

I found this to be most helpful.

45 Incredibly Useful Web Design Checklists and Questionnaires | Smashing Magazine

Joe Mobley

This resource sounded really great, so I went there. Unfortunately, it's from 2009, and while it looks great (when you're not actually trying to look up the actual resources), once you click, you will find...

The first several links lead to no longer existing pages, and one of them to an ad by Godaddy that tries to sell you the domain name of a former resource. Aw shucks! (NOTE: I only tried the first 5 or so links - for all I know, there are still plenty left (up to 40) that may have excellent info).

Of course, meanwhile it's 2014, i.e., five years later, so the lists are no longer so up-to-date anyway.

A useful lesson though (always check the links and make sure that enough of them work and lead to useful content).

Then again, this sort of thing can happen with really new sites too. I was using a webinar promotion website only last month (and paid for the promotion too!), and this month wanted to get the even more upgraded upgrade because it WAS getting SOME results.

And when I got there, the website still worked, but it has been completely reworked to be something else altogether...
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What Questions Should a Web Designer Ask Clients?

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