AgoraNet Services

Developing your Website - Guiding Questions

1. Do you have an existing site or is this a new site?  If you have an existing site:
• Are you looking for a new brand?  New logo?
• Are you looking for an updated look?  Updated content?  Updated features?
• Are you looking for a facelift?  Starting over?
• Why now?
2. What features do you need on the site?
• E-Commerce Online Store where products are sold online to consumers
• Blogging / Discussion Forum / RSS Syndication (newsfeed of your posts)
• Customer Database to store information, e.g. customer information, form submissions, email addresses
• Newsletter signup
• Contact us form?  Will the questions on the form be different for different audiences or go to different recipient based on the need?
• Secure “Members Only” area / password-protected area
• Other?
3. What do you want your site to do for you?  (It is helpful to rank any items you want to include to help determine priorities.)
• Provide information about your services and/or products
• Capturing Leads for your Products/Services
• Building a Customer Database for marketing purposes
• Selling Products/Services Online, e.g. products, memberships, subscriptions
• Events Registration?  Paid, Free, or both?
• Building a Community around your Business, e.g. do you want your site users to interact with you and/or other users through the site?
• Provide “Member Only” content?  Implement member online services?
• Facilitate the collection and/or transfer of sensitive information, e.g. SSN, medical information, credit card numbers?
• Other?
4. Do you have other existing software or procedures that will complement the website features and/or need to be integrated, e.g. internal accounting system, internal membership software, bulk emailing system/software?  Which of these are set in stone, e.g. they are staying no matter what?
5. Are there any branding guidelines that must be followed, e.g. logo placement, color scheme, font usage? What colors and/or imagery convey the personality and tone of your business?
6. Do you have professional photos ready to use on your new site or should stock photos be purchased and used?
7. Who is in charge of producing/editing your new site content? Will you require a content management system so that your staff may edit your website without professional assistance?  Do you need help from a professional web content writer?
8. What is your time frame for the project?  Do you have any events that affect that timing, e.g. opening a new location, conference?
9. What is your budget range for the project, e.g. $1000, $2500, $5000, more?
10. What are the biggest priorities if we have to pick and choose on budget, e.g. higher quality/more artistic design vs more emphasis on content/features?
11. What other sites have you seen that you like or don’t like?  What other sites demonstrate the implementation of a feature you want in a way that you like or don’t like? Be specific about your reasons for liking/disliking, e.g specific page elements, colors, typography, photos, etc.
12. Who are your competitors? What do you like or don’t like about their sites?
13. How do you think most people find your site, e.g. search engine, your advertising, business card, other ads?  What words do you think people would use to search for your site online?