Questions To Consider

You have decided you need your existing website updated, or you need a new website. There are some important points to think about, as you get ready to embark on the process, so we will understand your needs -  as we begin the process of working together.

1. What do you need your website to accomplish?

Some questions to ask yourself?

Why do you think you need a website? If you already have a website, why do you think you need an updated one?

You want a new design, but why? Maybe you don’t like how your old website functions and need additional features. Or maybe you just no longer like the way your old website looks? Or are you taking your business in a new direction and want to re-brand? Maybe your current website is just old, with old outdated software that has become a security risk, or is no longer able to be effectively updated? Or maybe your current website is not "responsive" and is not able to resize as needed, to be best viewed on mobile phones and tablets?

If one or more of these issues applies to your existing site it is time for a new one.

2. How do you want your website to look and what do you need it to do?

Think about the websites or blogs, you have seen, and the ones you like. Getting a clear idea in your mind about what you like will help to communicate with your website designer during the web reconstruction and design process.

Pick out some random websites on the Internet and decide what you like about them. Is it colors, the layout, or various elements and functions that are used? Are you planning to only have a blog, or a website without a blog --- or maybe a website and a blog, as part of it? Is your brand a fun whimsy sort of look, or is your look conservative and more traditional? What things do you not like about websites that you see online? What elements do you see on other sites that you don't want on your website?

But most importantly, a website should serve the needs of your business, and also match the time and budget you have in terms of future content. For example, if you never plan to have the time to write blog articles regularly, then maybe your website does not even need a blog- maybe you only need a website with a few simple pages. Or perhaps you love dark black and bright red websites, but those colors don't work at all for the industry and brand of your business - then it is critical to reconsider color choices. You get the idea.

Getting a clear idea of what sort of 'look' best fits your business, brand, industry, and mission will go a long way to help get the process started as we design a new website for you.

3. What is your budget for your website?

It is absolutely critical to figure out your budget right away before jumping into trying to have a website designer help you with a new website and/or blog. Deciding on your budget is a huge issue to decide upon right away. I can't emphasize how critical this step is as you begin to think of getting a new website or blog or having your old site re-vamped.

Knowing what your budget is will save a lot of time and will let us have an idea of what is possible to be done that fits your budget, and can best meet the goals you have for your website.

As the saying goes, 'you can't have champagne on a beer budget'. You might want a lot of features and custom items on a website, but if your budget won't cover all these features, it is important to know right up front what is possible so we can come up with a plan that will best serve your business needs and match your budget. So sit down and decide what you can afford ... and with that information, we can help you get the best for your budget.

4. When do you need your website launched?

What time frame do you have, or what is the time frame when you would like to have your website project launched? Do you want it launched within a week, or in a few months? This information is hugely important.

Your timeline is a piece of information as important as setting your budget for the project. With website construction, like anything, some things are simply going to take longer than others to accomplish. Plus, we, like most designers who work on websites are often booked in advance, so that will need to factor into the plans.

5. Do you plan to supply content and images, or will need these handled as well?

Do you have content for your website that can be used and is already sitting in a Word/document file ready to be used? Or does all your content still need to be custom-created? How about photos or images? Do you have photos that you have personally taken, or will any needed images have to be obtained from a reputable third-party source? Do you have a logo, or will you need one created?

These are important issues to know before a new web project is undertaken. Developing custom content takes time and will need to be factored into the project/budget costs.

Any image used must be either something you own (have taken yourself) or that you have explicit written permission to use for your website project. No reputable web designer will knowingly use images that are questionable in terms of the copyright on a client's website. If you do not own suitable images, then factoring in the licensing fee for images that will be needed for your web project is something that must go into the budget.

6. Do you already have a domain name for your project and/or hosting

If you do not have a domain name or hosting, we can handle obtaining one for you if needed. But even if we do handle acquiring the domain, you will always own the domain. once it is obtained.

Depending on your needs and our contract for a particular project, we may either suggest handling the hosting as part of your website package or host the website separately.

These are elements that need to be reviewed so their costs are also factored into the budget.

7. Are you going to need ongoing website support and maintenance?

Do you consider yourself a DIYer who plans to get involved and post new content after your website is constructed? Or do you want ongoing help to maintain your website, handle software and security updates, and also post occasional new content to the website?

These are things that are important to know before a decision is made about the various tools that will be used to construct a website. Some tools lend themselves more to a DIYer getting involved at some point than do other tools.

 

Are you ready to begin? We look forward to hearing from you.