NEW WEBSITE CHECKLIST
10 Questions for Clarity
Know you audience
Make calls to action
Table of Contents
Being On The Same Page...1
1. Who is your target audience?...1
2. What actions do you want website visitors to take?...1
3. What features would you like on your website?...1
4. What do you NOT want on your website?...1
5. Describe how you differ from your competitors?...2
6. What three websites do you like and why?...2
7. Do you have a colour palette and branding in mind?...2
8. Will maintenance be handled in-house or outsourced?...2
9. Who will be the main contact person?...2
10. What is your budget and deadline for the website?...2
About the Author...3
New Website Checklist
10 Questions for Clarity
Being On The Same Page
So you need a website to promote your business, raise awareness of your cause, or share daily personal experiences. Whatever the reason, it's important to have a broader understanding of your project if you want it to be successful.
Of course, it's also of benefit that both client and designer are on the same page when it comes to project requirements.
Answer the following ten questions to build a multi-layered picture of your proposed website.
1. Who is your target audience?
Knowing audience demographics (e.g. age, gender, interests etc) will determine the design and feel of the website. For example, a site built for teenagers will be different to that for the elderly.
2. What actions do you want website visitors to take?
Your website must have clear 'Calls to Action' which guide visitors to perform a specific task. This could be, for example, making a purchase or completing an enquiry form. The answer will
determine site structure and functionality.
3. What features would you like on your website?
Deciding what features are needed will help in planning the amount of work involved. For example, if a lot of photographs will be included, will they be sourced from stock photography suppliers or provided in-house? Will video content be hosted on your company server or on a third-party site such as YouTube or Vimeo? Are contact forms required, and if so will they be simple, or more
5. Describe how you differ from your competitors?
It's important to make your website as memorable as possible, due to the immense competition on the internet. Knowing how you differ from your competitors can help in building a website that is original.
6. What three websites do you like and why?
Knowing what you like and dislike in a potential website is a good starting point. It's also helpful to remember that what works on another site may not necessarily work on yours.
7. Do you have a colour palette and branding in mind?
If you are an established business then you may have an existing brand, which you will want to carry across to your website. If you are considering re-branding, then thinking carefully about colour psychology and the palette will help in creating the right look and feel.
8. Will maintenance be handled in-house or outsourced?
Depending on what features you want on your website, you may or may not wish to outsource the maintenance of the site. Updating the website with a content management system, such as
WordPress, reduces the cost of outsourcing, however staff may require training which can be included in the project cost. Also, features such as forums and custom social networks require moderation, therefore a person or team would need to be on hand at specific hours.
9. Who will be the main contact person?
To reduce project delays, a person with decision-making status must be designated as the main contact along with a realistic response time for enquiries and requested materials.
10. What is your budget and deadline for the website?
Having considered the answers to questions 1 to 9, a realistic quote can be drawn based on your proposed budget and deadline.
About the Author
Kal Sabir is a web developer and founder of Rock-Solid Coding. He has been building websites since 2006 for a diverse range of clients, including film companies, recording studios, make-up artists and photographers. He now focuses on building responsive and mobile-friendly websites for social enterprises, businesses and charities which are working for positive social change.
Kal is also a professional actor and alumnus of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has many years of experience in theatre, short films, corporate events, radio and commercials.
Whether being creative on stage or when conjuring a website, Kal prides himself in attention to detail and exceeding client expectations.
Contact Kal
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MrKalSabir | @RockSolidCoding
Google+: plus.google.com/+RockSolidCoding
Facebook: facebook.com/RockSolidCoding
YouTube: youtube.com/RockSolidCoding
