7 Questions For Your Web Design Firm

With any new online project, you will certainly have a lot of questions for your prospective web designer or web design company. In the mad dash to get your company launched on the web you will often mistake the silence of what they don’t ask as a cue that they understand your needs.

A good designer or design company will have many questions for you as well. We consider the following questions the ones they must ask you in order for your project to succeed.

What features do you want your website to have?

It’s important to know what functionality you expect from your site before your web design firm begins work. Do you need ecommerce capability? What about a blog? There are myriad features you may want, and some others you may not realize you need. There may still be others your site doesn’t require. By getting a feel for what you expect and want your site to do, your web designer can better deliver on those goals.

What are your competitors’ websites?

A critical aspect of website planning is competitive analysis. You may think you have all the right ideas about what your website should be and how it should behave, but you’re probably missing something. Examining the sites of your competition will help weed out the bad ideas, and may give your web designer inspiration to do something better than the other guy or gal.

What websites do you like? Why?

Your company’s website is a reflection on you. You may have built your business from the ground up, and your site should be no different. Your personal preferences help drive business decisions like what clients or vendors you will work with, what products you will or will not carry, and so on. Your taste in websites can help your web designer realize your vision.

What do you consider are the deliverables or scope of this project?

Web design projects, sort of like road construction, are notorious for ending up behind schedule and over budget. Establishing a scope of work before work begins is the easiest way to keep time lines and budgets in check.

This project scope should also include agreed-upon rates for future updates once your website launches. Familiarize yourself with standard hourly rates for the various kinds of updates that may be needed, and agree on them up front.

What is the deadline?

Leaving a design project open-ended with regard to time and money is a costly mistake. You may have business goals that depend on your new site, such as launching a new product or service, or an accompanying advertising campaign with which your new website should be coordinated. Establishing time lines and budget help keep your web design project on track, and prevent cost overruns.

What is the budget?

Can you provide me with a list of references and are you listed with the Better Business Bureau ?

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