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Help Desk
Before you begin a new website you should answer
all the following questions. This questionnaire will take a bit of
time to complete, but the information will help your new website
meet all your needs and be an asset to your business. We have
divided the questions into three pages. The first page concentrates
on your Website Goals. The second page is centered around your
business and may be skipped if this is a personal website. The third
page features design ideas for your website. It is much easier in
the long run to have all the information gathered before starting a
website. The questions will also help you focus on the goals you
want to achieve and make sure your new website contains all the
information needed to make it a success. If your are unsure on how
to answer a question or do not understand the question, just leave
it blank. Not all questions may apply to all website creations.
Web Site Goal & Objective Questions:
1) List the major purposes for the web site, the reasons for
building one (in order of importance, i.e. name branding,
e-commerce, because that’s what everyone else is doing, etc.)
2) Describe your vision for this site? How will
visitors interact with it? Provide sketches or other mockups if
possible. List any color preferences.
3) What are the specific goals for the web
site? (in the first 1 to 6 months, reduce customer service workload
by X%, generate X volume in sales)
4) Will you want to accept payments online? If
you will be selling items directly from your website, do you have a
PayPal, Google or other checkout service?
5) If you currently have a web site, how many
visitors do you receive each month? What is the expectation for
future traffic and is there a plan and a budget for scaling the web
hosting if traffic increases beyond its capabilities? Will you have
the capability to handle increased monthly costs for service? Have
you planned and accounted for possible additional costs?
6) Define the criteria you will use to determine
the web site’s success (i.e. Internet orders of a certain volume,
web site traffic of a certain volume (this should not be used as the
sole definition of success), X amount of sales as a percentage of
hits, decrease in customer service costs, increase in productivity).
There should be a trackable method to determine success.
7) Do you need domain registration and/or an ISP
to host the site? What level of hosting will be required (this may
need to be determined during the design)? Can you use a low cost
service ($10/month)? Do you need a higher end outsourced service?
Will you be hosting and managing your own web servers (this would
typically be for large companies as the costs can be very high).
What process will be used to integrate the web
site into the business on a daily, monthly, quarterly and yearly
basis.
8)Who will manage each aspect of the web site once it is
complete (i.e. e-mail management, system maintenance, new content,
testing forms periodically, marketing, etc.)? Will your business be
doing the editing of the site or will you want Website Creations to
edit and update the site as needed. (If so please estimate how often
the site will be edited or updated)
9) Please provide any additional information you
feel is important for the website.
Company Background Questions:
1) What does your company do?
2)Who do you do it for?
3) What are all the different ways visitors can contact you?· Name ·
Address · Phone · Fax · 1-800 · E-mail addresses
4) List hours of operation, time zone (PST, EST) and days closed.
5) What are the needs your business satisfies for your customers?
What words or images will impart those needs? It is important to
paint a mental picture for customers using words, colors and images.
What analogies can be used to explain offers in simple,
understandable terms?
6) Do you have a brick and mortar or other off-web locations or
contact point (like a mail order catalog)? How do you see the web
site and off-line business working together? What are the weak
points of each and the strong points that can be exploited?
7) How does your business and products benefit your target
audience? Please specify a clear list of bullet items of benefits.
What can your business offer your visitors, what’s in it for them,
how can you help them? What problems do your prospects have that
your business solves?
8) List features of your products and/or services? Please specify
a clear list of bullet items.
9) List 30 words or phrases that describe your business. Pick
words/phrases relevant to your business. List all keywords that
would link search engines to your web site. Phrases should be both
specific and general.
10) Write a 25 word description of your business to be displayed
and used in search engine submissions. Describe what your business
offers, to whom it is offered and a succinct reason your business
should be considered.
11) Write a 50 word description of your business to be displayed
and used in search engine submissions. Describe what your business
offers, to whom it is offered and a succinct reason your business
should be considered.
12) Do you have a business slogan or catch phrase?
13) Give reasons why your business clearly beats the competition?
What is your USP (unique selling proposition)? Customers tend to
look for information as a priority over shopping on-line
14) List some of your competitors’ web site URL's:
15) What is your budget for the completion of the web site and
yearly maintenance?
Design Questions:
1) If you do not already have a domain name choose 5 names.
You’re choices may already be taken. Your domain name should be
easily identifiable, easy to explain over the phone and print on a
business card. Most short names are usually taken; long names can be
good if they click in someone’s mind. Try out your ideas on several
people. Then ask them in a few days if they remember how to spell
it. How long (in years) will your domain be registered?
2) List e-mail addresses you want associated with your domain
name (info@###.com, sales@###.com, support@###.com).
3) In order for your site to appeal to your primary audience,
what style or “voice” will you use (conservative, hip and trendy,
etc.)?
4) Which web sites do you find are the most appealing?
5) List a series of web site URLs with designs or schemes that
appeal to you and give reasons why.
6) List any particular fonts to be used. It is unwise to use more
than 2-3 major fonts.
Begin Gathering the following : (as it applies to your site)
Photos (prints, slides, negatives,
Product shots,
Photos of yourself, staff and location )
Text,
Brochures,
Flyers &
Business cards,
Press releases,
History
Price and part lists,
Product samples,
Shipping and handling charges and constraints,
Warranty policy,
Guarantees,
Privacy policy, &
Return policy,
Credits
True and believable testimonials and endorsements
Bios,
Education,
awards,
Certifications,
Frequently Asked Questions
Map and directions from major airports, recommended places to stay
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