www.epnet-design.co.za
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Questions to answer before designing your website
New web design or web re-designing
Whether you are creating a new website from scratch or
remodelling an old one, you need to have a clear vision
of what you want in a website. This questionnaire will
help you clarify your thoughts so that you, or your web
designer, can create the best website for you business.
Complete it as best you can. If a question does not
apply, just skip it. There won't be a test. It is a lot
of work, but the more effort you put into this exercise,
the happier you will be with the finished product.
1. What is the purpose of your web site? For example: ·
A Brochure Site (a site that contains brief introduction
to your company)
An Informational site (a site that provides information
about your topic and about your company)
An Entertaining Site (a site that draws visitors through
entertainment while still providing information about
you)
A Community Site (a site that builds a community)
An E-commerce Site (a site that sells items directly or
through affiliate links)
2. Here are some common reasons for building a site.
Rank them in order of importance to you. Do you have a
reason that is not listed?
- To provide customer service.
- To sell a product. (E-commerce)
- To build familiarity.
- To provide general and/or product information.
- To build customer loyalty.
- To make an announcement.
- Show my business in a favourable light
- Develop a list of qualified prospects
- Encourage clients/customers to contact us
- Make money
- Name branding
- Stake my place on the web
3. What are your goals in having a site? List
both short term and long-term goals. Define the criteria
that will determine if the web site is a success.
4. Write a short description of your business. Clearly
and concisely describe what you offer, to whom you offer
it and why they should choose you. What does your
company do? What are the features of your products
and/or services? Is the company local, regional,
national or international? What areas do you want to
specifically appeal to?
5. Who is your target market? Be specific. This will
help you determine which site style will appeal to most
of your visitors.
6. What is your marketing battle plan? Circle any of the
following terms that apply to your vision of your site.
Do you have design elements in mind that portray these
terms to you and your visitors?
informative, lucrative, attractive, serene, honest,
mature, family, scholarly, educational, useful, popular,
clean, colourful, whimsical, humorous, serious,
profitable, unusual, cosy, clear-cut, warm/fuzzy, warm,
supportive, innovative, fast- moving
7. What is the most important message you wish to convey
to your visitors?
8. If you want an E-commerce site, what type of
e-commerce solution do you require?
Flat file page, non-interactive. Visitors must print and
fax order or phone order in.
Single page secure order form that sends each order as
an e-mail.
Multi-page secure order form with shopping cart,
visitors can pick products while continuing to look at
the site, change their order, preview order and submit
on-line. Order sent as e-mail or downloaded via FTP from
the server.
Full e-commerce shopping cart with automated real time
credit card processing, integrated with backend
database.
9. List all of the methods for payment options (money
order, cheque, internet cheque, various credit cards,
etc.) you will accept.
10. Do your customers have buying seasons? Does the site
need to be changed for each season? What will you do to
entice shoppers in the off seasons?
11. Do you have a brick and mortar or other off-web
location or contact point (like a mail order catalog)?
How do you see the web site and off-line business
working together? How will you integrate the web site
into the business on a daily basis?
12. Who are your competitors? List some of your
competitors web site URLs.
13. What do you like about your competitors websites?
What do you dislike?
14. What makes you better than your competition? Why
should someone use your site or purchase from you
instead of them? What unique content do you provide that
other sites do not? How can you add value to your
products and services? (free bonuses, lifetime warranty,
free shipping and handling, free upgrades, etc.)
15. If you do not already have a domain name, be sure to
choose one with your most important keyword in the URL.
Your domain name should be easily identifiable and easy
to explain over the phone and print on a business card.
16. Have you thought of a slogan or catch phrase for
your business?
17. Do you have a Logo? This is important for branding
purposes. Do you have company colors? Your company logo
and colors as well as the website URL and your slogan
should be used on every bit of information relating to
your company.
18. A well laid out site has no more than 6 to 8 topic
links to interior pages on the main page. The following
are typical pages and included information. Cross off
anything you feel does not fit your vision of your site.
- Home Page - do you want a splash page?
- Products and/or Services. Links on this page might be:
- Product Description/specifications / demos/samples
- Order Form
- Catalogs
- Prices
- Testimonials/ Galleries or reviews
- Shipping Information
- Purchasing/ Shopping Cart/Dealer List
- Product features & benefits. Tips and Tricks
- Parts list, schematics, assembly instructions
- Warranty & Return Policy
- Informational Pages
- Guest Book
- About Us/Contact Us
- Privacy Policy
- Free stuff - screensavers, wallpaper, contests, polls.
referral form (Giving your visitor a reason to return.)
- FAQ
- News and Events or other regional information
- Glossary of terms or Interesting Facts
- Articles/newsletter
- Links
- Customer Service
- Book Store
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19. How can your visitor contact you? How to you plan to
encourage feedback? Do you want to use a survey form to
gather information from your customers or visitors? If
so what questions would you like to ask and can you
offer something in return for filling out the form (a
free report, discount, etc.)?
20. Do you have an existing web site? What do you like
about it? What do you dislike?
21. List any related web sites that provide services or
information useful to your target audience. Reciprocal
links with these sites will be beneficial to both your
customers and your ranking in the search engine.
22. Do you need domain registration and/or an ISP to
host the site? What level of hosting will be required?
What is your budget for the completion of the web site
and yearly maintenance? If you do not already have a
domain name, be sure to choose one with your most
important keyword in the URL. Click here to see if the
name has been taken. Your domain name should be easily
identifiable and easy to explain over the phone and
print on a business card.
23. Do you have any custom graphic needs or will you be
able to supply all of the images required?
24. What types of components other than still photos and
text do you want to include (e-commerce, affiliate
programs, virtual reality images, java applets, backend
database integration, survey forms, feedback forms,
opt-in newsletter management, referral forms, etc.)?
What type of opt-in mail gathering do you want to use?
25. What type of security is required for the web site?
Will there be sensitive files that need to be protected?
Do you need a password protected area for dealers,
members and/or downloads? Do you need any digital
delivery systems to individually password protect each
customers download?
26. Please list and gather any existing materials and
information that will help design your site. Here are
some examples. Feel free to add any special needs or
components required that are not listed.
- Photos (prints, slides, negatives)
- Text
- Brochures
- Business cards
- Flyers
- Product shots
- Product samples
- Press releases
- Price and part lists
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Shipping and handling charges and constraints
- Warranty policy
- Privacy policy
- Return policy
- Guarantees
- Testimonials and/or endorsements
- Credits
- Bios
- History
- Education/Certifications/Awards
- Case studies
- Photos of yourself, staff and location
- Transcripts of interviews
- Industry recognition
- Map and directions from major airports, recommended
places to stay nearby (if people visit your location)
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27. By now, you should have a clear picture of your
website and your customers in mind. Please indicate your
top 10 keywords and your top 10 keyword phrases. These
keywords and phrases are the words search engines may
use to locate your site in response to an inquiry. To
rank well with search engines, your site should contain
quality content using the actual words and phrases your
prospects are searching with. These keywords will need
to be used in the text of your pages, so it is important
to select them carefully. |
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