Posted by on May 11, 2009 in Web Design | 4 comments

Last week  I shared a blog post from James Paden which outlined several questions a small business owner should ask potential web site development firms. Today’s post,  looks at the process from the other side – What should a web designer ask a client?

  1. Why do you want a web site?  Because everyone else has one isn’t a good enough reason. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish with your site, you will need more or possibly less functionality.
    • Is it for credibility -then something as simple as a landing page to confirm you are a legitimate company may suffice.
    • Is it designed to be a step in the sales process?  If so you will need to offer visitors an opportunity to encourage people to read something, complete a form, ask a question or buy something.
  2. Do you want people to notice the website?  This question comes from a post by Seth Godin.  And the answer is not as clear cut as you might imagine.   It really boils down to form vs content.   Do you want people to be “wowed” by graphics and special effects or by what you have to say?  Unless you are in the business of selling web design and graphic services, Seth suggests you tone down the Wow so visitors notice what you have to say.  And I think he is right.  Too often, web developers add all sorts of extra’s because they can, not because the effect adds value to the site.

If you are a small business owner working with a web designer, and he/she doesn’t ask these questions early in the planning process, you should ask them yourself!

Please contact Roundpeg, an Indianapolis web design firm, with any questions.

 

More on This Topic

  • http://www.danfinney.com Dan Finney Design

    You would be surprised at how many companies cannot answer the question “why do you want a website?”. I have learned over time to ask the same question, but in a different way: What do you want your website to do?

    The art of building a successful business website is more about aligning the budget with the end-goal than creating pretty graphics and fancy widgets.

    Nice post!

  • http://www.roundpeg.biz Lorraine

    Dan,
    That is a great way to ask the question. I will give it a try and see if it gets me closer to the answer I need!

  • http://indyawesome.com Colin Clark

    Great points Lorraine. Here’s one more and I run into it all the time…

    So many people have tons of ideas about how to highlight THEIR business and what THEY do. I call this ‘building an online monument to yourself.’ Instead why not build a site that focuses on your current or potential CUSTOMERS.

    There’s nothing worse than a 10-20 thousand dollar site that is really just a big brochure for your company.

  • http://www.roundpeg.biz Lorraine

    It is sad when a busienss owner doesn’t know any better, and takes the word of a designer who doesn’t really build a site for the client.. But simply to showcase all the “cool stuff the designer can build.