7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Questions You ask Your Clients before Beginning Work

by EloquentGentleman
6 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
Hello Warriors,

Wanted to get an idea of some questions people ask before starting work for a client. I've done freelance web design myself, but haven't in a while. However, I find myself hopping right back into it since I recently lost my job (No worries though I trust God to get me through ).

I remember when I was doing a bit of freelance work I never really had a concrete set of questions I asked my clients. Questions I remember asking though... How many pages do you need?, What style would you like your website (business, personal, etc.), Do you have your own logo/graphics?

How I even acquired the few clients that I did only God knows Lol

But I'd like to hear from other fellow warriors what type of questions do you ask before starting the work process in web design.

Thanks
#beginning #clients #questions #work
  • Profile picture of the author lanotdesign
    I ask the same questions same as you. Pure business. It's also good to know the deadline, if the client has a strict deadline or not. to know if I can squeeze that project in my schedule.
    Signature
    High Quality Mascot Designs / Web Designs and Logo Designs

    Skype ID : lanotdesign

    website: www.lanotdesign.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7730079].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    One of the most important questions that many freelancers forget to ask: what is your content and how will it be organized/structured.

    I remember asking the potential client to "draw" a diagram sketch on a paper to outline the main structure/hierarchy of the content. Most of the time, it also will force them to think over their vague ideas and to clarify their priorities... Also ask about the expected visitors (target group) and what should they do: click, subscribe, share etc.

    From there on, your job becomes easy:
    - you have the general structure of the site
    - you know what kind of functionality is required
    - you have the main navigation (hierarchy)
    - you know the key 'calls for action'

    ... so, what you call design, i.e. the visual aspect & layout = the "clothing" is the last thing to worry about. It will come naturally when you know where the whole is heading to.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7730190].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author EloquentGentleman
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      One of the most important questions that many freelancers forget to ask: what is your content and how will it be organized/structured.

      I remember asking the potential client to "draw" a diagram sketch on a paper to outline the main structure/hierarchy of the content. Most of the time, it also will force them to think over their vague ideas and to clarify their priorities... Also ask about the expected visitors (target group) and what should they do: click, subscribe, share etc.

      From there on, your job becomes easy:
      - you have the general structure of the site
      - you know what kind of functionality is required
      - you have the main navigation (hierarchy)
      - you know the key 'calls for action'

      ... so, what you call design, i.e. the visual aspect & layout = the "clothing" is the last thing to worry about. It will come naturally when you know where the whole is heading to.

      Hmmm the part where you mention about the target group makes so much sense. Never thought of that, but can you further clarify on having the customer outline the structure/hierarchy of the content? Do you mean like having the customer visually layout a general idea of how they want the site to look? Header, nav menu, body, sidebar, etc?
      Signature

      Get this Free Report on Listbuilding ===>Learn the Essentials of Building a Responsive Email List.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7730747].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    can you further clarify on having the customer outline the structure/hierarchy of the content? Do you mean like having the customer visually layout a general idea of how they want the site to look? Header, nav menu, body, sidebar, etc?
    Nope! Just as a flow chart that can be done in most word processors or manually put it on a sheet of paper. The client is NOT a web designer: they have no idea what a header, navbar body, sidebar is... Try thinking with their head - that's the art of keeping the customer
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7731050].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author EloquentGentleman
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      Nope! Just as a flow chart that can be done in most word processors or manually put it on a sheet of paper. The client is NOT a web designer: they have no idea what a header, navbar body, sidebar is... Try thinking with their head - that's the art of keeping the customer
      Very much true. Something I will definitely keep in mind. Have to get out of my own head and into the customers'. Otherwise it will be a one way street. Smh this is basic customer service skills (slaps forehead).

      And that would make sense using flow charts since they are something universal used for laying out goals in a step by step approach (slaps forehead again).

      So I think what I'll do is ask future customers to write out their goals for what they want their website to achieve and use those goals to figure out how I should lay out the structure of the sites being created.

      Example: Customer's goal is to build a blog with lots of content to be shared.

      Solution: Front page could have a slider showcasing top 3-5 posts and below their could be maybe 5-7 recent posts all with share buttons at bottom of post.

      Sounds about right?
      Signature

      Get this Free Report on Listbuilding ===>Learn the Essentials of Building a Responsive Email List.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7731712].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Customer's goal is to build a blog with lots of content to be shared.
    That's not really a "goal" in my books... it's a general (too broad wishlist).

    I'd concentrate (meaning: ask back very specific questions!) on that "lots of content".

    Ultimately, content is the most important part of the whole exercise... so, let's talk about the organizing principle or the structure of that content! That's where everybody should start their dreaming of the website

    Figure out the structure... and dress it up later!
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7731946].message }}

Trending Topics