Here at Big Red SEO we can’t stress enough the importance of being prepared when starting any web design project. Before we even get down to the nitty gritty of the design, we like to know how you and your business tick. We want to know what you want, what you want your website to do, and who you want to reach through the site.
Rather than overwhelming you with dozens upon dozens of questions, though, which can be daunting, we’ve compiled a shorter list of focused questions designed to give us the clearest idea of your expectations for the project. Here below are six questions we ask of our prospective clients, aimed at digging down to the core of your project.
1. Why do you want a website or want your current site redesigned?
This seems like an easy question but it’s worth the time to sit down and think about what you want to accomplish. Once you have a solid idea of how your website is important and what you want it to do, Big Red SEO, an SEO company in Omaha, can better guide the process to fulfilling your goals. In typical cases, a project becomes bigger with this question as “the sky’s the limit.” A redesign can quickly become an overhaul of design, functionality and processes.
2. What sets your business apart from the competition?
Many websites fail to include how they’re different, and instead rely on the sales team to close the deal and offer customers that “warm fuzzy” feeling. Since people on mobile devices in most cases make a purchase decision on their first visit to a website, it’s very important for them to know why you’re so special! Pinpointing what makes you stand out in the crowd can give you (and us!) valuable insight into what’s most important to you and your business. And, chances are, what’s important to you is also important to your potential customers.
3. Who are your prospective customers or visitors?
Every business is unique and so are its clients. Having a specific target demographic in mind going into a project makes it easy for Big Red SEO to tailor the design of your website to your intended audience. For example, a website designed to appeal to backwoods hunters is bound to be different in look, feel, and even usability than one aimed at urban professionals. We recommend creating your website for your “ideal” client. Many companies have a generic website, but if you’re “niched” the sale can close on its own.
4. What do you want visitors to do on your site?
Another seemingly easy question, but it’s incredibly important to have this nailed down before we start. Do you want your visitors to make a purchase? Sign up for a newsletter or service call? Or simply learn more about what you do? Site architectures and end user feel can vary drastically depending on what you want your visitors to do once you have their attention. Remember, your goal should be for visitors to find what they need on your site in three clicks or less. With that in mind, the sky is the limit!
5. What are your long-term plans for your site?
Right now you may just want a simple website with just a few pages and product descriptions, but it’s always a good idea to look toward the future. In a year or two you may want to expand to an e-commerce website, or start a company blog for marketing and research, and it’s important now to plan for those possible expansions to save you the headache and expense of having to start from scratch later. At times we can build for the future, and many clients will decide to go with a bigger site now due to the affordable cost.
6. What do you not want on your website?
Often it’s easier to come up with a list of things you don’t want than what you do. To help us get a clearer picture of your goals when coming up with positive answers is difficult, answering in the negative can be useful. And once you identify what you don’t like and why you don’t like it, we can start pointing out better alternatives. For example, some Omaha SEO companies, including Big Red SEO, prefer not to use the words “cheap” or “guaranteed” in describing services.
At Big Red SEO, a full-service web design and SEO company in Omaha, we are dedicated to exceeding our clients’ expectations, both in process and product. If you have any questions about getting started with search engine optimization or website design, feel free to give us a call at (402) 522-6468. We’re always happy to help!