27 website requirements questions

A key part of the website development process is the initial stage of of requirements gathering from the client. This is where a web development agency will ask the various questions to find out exactly what the client wants or expects from a new website.

But what questions should the agency be asking? Below I’ve listed 27 that could be put to a client.

1. Do you already have a web site? Is this a redesign?
2. Why do you want a new or redesigned website?
3. What do you want the site to do?
4. What company services do you wish to prioritise?
5. How will you measure the site’s success? Number of visitors, sales, conversions etc? If there is more than one factor, can you list them in order of priority?
6. How do you want your customers to perceive you? What tone of voice should the site have?
7. Who is your target audience?
8. Is there a secondary audience?
9. Do you intend to include a call to action on the site, a phone number or contact form?
10. If you already have a site can you give us access to web site analytics? Do you have any other site research?
11. Can you provide us with a list of competitors?
12. What are your creative requirements for the site?
13. Please list five sites that you like. Can you tell us what you like about them?
14. Do you work with an existing web design or advertising agency? Who are they? Will we be working with them?
15. Do you have formal branding guidelines? Can you provide us with them?
16. What are your content requirements? Will you be providing web content – copy or imagery? Who will be responsible for maintaining it?
17. Will the site be in a language other than English? Do you require multiple language versions of the site?
18. Do you need any specific features on the site such as a blog, forum, RSS feed or e commerce aspect?
19. Is there a particular technology platform you want us to use on the site? Do you have a specific back-office or CRM system? Do you require a particular programming platform – ASP.NET, PHP or Java?
20. Will you be selling goods or services on your site?
21. Will you be taking payment over the site? Is there a specific back-office payment system that you will be using?
22. Do you have a search engine marketing strategy?
23. Do you have a domain name? Are you considering purchasing other similar or related domain names?
24. Will you be hosting the web site or would you like us to manage hosting?
25. If you currently have a hosting agreement with a company, who is it with? Will you want to transfer the site to another host?
26. What is the deadline for the project? Do require the site for any specific event or product launch?
27. Who will be our point of contact with your company? Do you have an IT or marketing department that we will liaise with?

You may not necessarily have to ask all of these questions and you may find that the answers you receive will lead to more questions being raised. This list is born out of my experience but there must be many more potential questions to ask so please feel free to leave a comment with those you have asked during client meetings.