Development Questionnaire

Q1: List the major purposes for the website, the reasons for building one (in order of importance, i.e. name branding, online brochure, e-commerce, reduce customer service workload, generate sales, etc.)?

Q2: List audience demographics - who you want to reach and how this will be accomplished. Be as specific as possible (geography, age range, profession, interests, etc.)

Q3: List a series of website URLs with designs or schemes that appeal to you and give reasons why.

Q4: List some of competitor website URLs:

Q5: Choose types of components to include other than still photos and text (e-commerce, affiliate programs, virtual reality ../images, java applets, backend database integration, survey forms, feedback forms, opt-in newsletter management, referral forms, etc.).

Q6: How often during the year do you anticipate updates to the website? What types of information will be updated? Employment opportunities, monthly specials, contests, new products, updated news all should be updated periodically. The less frequent a site will be updated, the more general a site should be.

Q7: List any primary color scheme preferences for the background, text and graphics (we recommend a white background with black text and 2 or 3 colors for highlights for most sites)? This is the easiest to build, maintain and read. Be mindful of visitors with poor eyesight or color blindness when choosing text, background colors and graphics. Many of the most successful sites follow a simple scheme such as this.

Q8: What is your budget for the completion of the website and yearly maintenance?

Q9: How do you intend to market your website using traditional marketing methods (Offline)?

Q10: Do you have any custom photography needs (still photography, product shots, stock photography, video, IPIX immersive virtual reality)? Will you supply all of the ../images required or will the developer be responsible for creating and acquiring ../images, graphics, logos, etc.?

Q11: Describe your vision for this site? How will visitors interact with it? Provide sketches or other mockups if possible.

Q12: If you do not already have a domain name (i.e. YourSite.com) choose 5 names. You're choices may already be taken. You can goto www.nameboy.com to search for names. Consider registering an alternative domain name if you want to use your company name, and it does not have have relevant keywords in it that describe your bussiness. Your domain name should be easily identifiable, easy to explain over the phone and print on a business card. Most short names are usually taken; long names can be good if they click in someone's mind. Try out your ideas on several people. Then ask them in a few days if they remember how to spell it. Try out the name on the phone to see if it is easily remembered and spelled by others. Resorting to lengthy explanations or spelling means problems.

Q13: Do you plan on selling products of services on your website that will require online e-commerce Shopping Cart solution?

Q14: List e-mail addresses you want associated with your domain name (info@cyber-sea.com, sales@cyber-sea.com, support@yoursite.com)

Q15: What are all the different ways visitors can contact you? For example, name, address, phone, fax, 1-800, e-mail addresses, international offices.

Q16: List any existing websites you want linked in your site. These should be sites that are related to your site and not direct competitors. Sites should be those whose services you use or that provide service or information useful to your target audience. Sites that cross-link with each other may increase both businesses targeted traffic.

Q17: List any problems experienced with your existing website (poor performance, graphics, load time, design, etc.).

Q18: List all of methods of payment options (money order, check, internet check, various credit cards, etc.).

Q19: Please list and gather any existing materials and information (including but not limited to):

• Photos (prints, slides, negatives)
• Text
• Brochures
• Business cards
• Flyers
• Product shots
• Product samples
• Press releases
• Price and part lists
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Shipping and handling charges and constraints
• Warranty policy
• Privacy policy
• Return policy
• Guarantees
• True and believable testimonials (clients, industry figures, pros) ask for them with quantifiable results ("I made $10,000" instead of "I loved how great it worked")
• Endorsements from known sources
• Credits
• Bios
• History
• Education
• Certifications
• Awards
• Case studies
• Photos of yourself, staff and location
• Transcripts of interviews
• Industry recognition
• Map and directions from major airports, recommended places to stay nearby (if people visit your location)

Q20: List hours of operation, time zone (PST, EST) and days closed.

Q21: Make a list of words or phrases that describe your business. Pick words/phrases relevant to your business. List all keywords that would link search engines to your website. Phrases should be both specific and general.

Q22: Are you a local, regional, national or international business? What areas do you want to specifically target?

Q23: List any special shipping and handling charges or constraints on international orders. How will shipping and handling charges be automatically calculated for on-line domestic and international orders?

Q24: How will sales tax be calculated for on-line orders? Will you need to know the tax rate for multiple states?

Q25: Do you have a business slogan or catch phrase?

Q26:Describe what your business offers, to whom it is offered and a succinct reason your business should be considered.

Q27: Give reasons why your business clearly beats the competition? What is your USP (unique selling proposition)? Customers tend to look for information as a priority over shopping on-line. They may surf at other sites, but they will continually return to the sites they trust intuitively and can solve their problems. A visitor may need to return many times before making a purchase (studies suggest as many as 5 times). What can you do to encourage customers to purchase now and abandon the need to continue to search?

Q28: List features of your products and/or services? Please specify a clear list of bullet items.

Q29: What does your company do? Who do you do it for?

Q30: List 6 to 8 major topics for your site (i.e. Products, Services, Information, How to Contact us, Galleries, etc.). Base these topics on the visitor's view of the division of information on your site. Major topics will be broken into sub topics (i.e. Information may be broken down into Links, Frequently Asked Questions, Tips, etc). From the tree below, mark major sub-topics of interest. This sample tree can be reorganized as needed. Add topics relevant to your site as needed. Too many choices is confusing. Trying to scan major portal pages and choose from 100 links is time consuming and confusing. 7 or 8 links is the maximum amount a visitor should confront. A site with hundreds of pages can easily be created using 7 or 8 general topics. Adding a few additional general topics (e.g., "Information" or "Products" will allow room for expansion under those headings.

• Splash pages
• Home
• Products and/or Services
• Menus
• Catalogs (Static or Rich Media)
• Prices
• Testimonials
• Purchasing / Shopping Cart
• Downloadable Products
• Product Overview / Specifications / Demos
• Product Features & Benefits
• Warranty & Return Policy
• Licensing
• Customer Service
• Training
• Contracting & Consulting
• Stock List
• Capabilities
• Portfolio
• Parts List
• Dealer List
• Assembly Instructions
• Schematics
• Classified Ads
• Credits
• Samples / Tear sheets
• Resume
• Bookstore
• Competitive Matrix
• Contact Us
• Jobs
• Overview
• Job Postings
• Recruiting
• Resume Submissions
• Benefits
• Customer Login
• Database Searching
• Information
• Links
• About Us
• Reviews
• Credits
• Copyrights
• Privacy Policy
• Our Team
• Case Studies
• Awards
• News and Events
• Newsletter
• Press Releases
• Media Coverage
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Alliance Partners
• Legal Notices
• About our Industry
• Glossary of Terms
• Regional Information
• Tech Notes
• Tips and Tricks
• Interesting Facts
• Articles
• Who's Who
• Site Map
• Help
• Site Quick Guide
• Galleries
• Intranet
• Human Resources
• Document Storage
• Internal News
• Finance
• Project Tracking
• Web site reports
• Free Stuff
• Downloadable Screensavers / Utilities
• Computer Wallpaper
• Contest

Q31: Who will maintain the site? If another business will do site maintenance, will they have the skills and tools to support it? Will training be required?

Q32: What can be done to add value to products and services? If your prices cannot be competitive, what other methods will showcase your products/services? The addition of free bonuses, lifetime warranties, free shipping and handling, upgrades, etc. will often be perceived by the consumer as value-added especially if a dollar value can be attached to these extras.

Q33: Will you use a survey form to gather information from your visitors? What questions would be included on this survey?

Q34: What are your delivery policies? Customers will probably buy if there is immediate delivery.

Q35: Do you have a brick and mortar or other off-web locations? How do you see the website and off-line business working together? Use the website to drive people to your physical location. To handle customer service support after hours, offer on-line coupons that can be printed and redeemed at the physical location (and vice versa) use the physical location to promote the website.

Q36: Are there any special needs or components required that are not already covered?