Defining the Scope: Website

The questions below are provided to help you define the structure, scope, and purpose of your new website. This is a very important step that must be completed in order for us to create a comprehensive quote, site plan, and implementation timeline.

Successful websites are built on strategy and planning. Your initial investment in planning at this stage will be a major part of the success of your website. This first step will help your organization or company to formulate its website objectives and requirements, allowing us to provide you with a detailed project projection and quote.

Please complete as much of this form as you can, the more detail that is provided the better we can understand your website needs.

N.B. All information you supply to us will be treated as strictly confidential.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Please provide us with the following details.
Name First Last
Company Name
Phone - (###) - ### ####
Email
Address
Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

Postal / Zip Code

Country
Describe your core products / services

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR COMPETITION

Learning about your competitors allows us to position your site competitively.
Where are your main competitors located?
Describe your competitive advantage. What is it that sets your company / product / service apart from the others?
List any competitor or related industry websites that you admire.

LET'S TALK A BIT ABOUT THE PROJECT
Provide a brief description of this project:

Example:
To launch an online store for the sale of our new range of high speed widgets. This store should enable website visitors to purchase our widgets using their credit card.
Describe the current stage of this project:

Example:
- We are in the initial stages.
- We are still in the planning stage.
- We are finalizing our website requirements.
Do you want a CMS for this website?

CMS means Content Management System and allows you to easily update/edit the content on your website. Platforms such as wordpress or expression engine is used as a CMS. Using CMS affects the timeline and budget for the project.

WHO ARE THE KEY CONTACTS FOR THIS PROJECT?

Information on the people we'll be involved with during this project.

Who has final approval on this project?
What is their preferred method of contact?

Example:
Office, Cell, Email, Facebook

LET'S DISCUSS THE OBJECTIVES FOR THIS WEBSITE

Defining your objectives for this website allows your website development to be goal orientated, it is important to have a yardstick so that you an measure the success of your website.

What are the business objectives for this website?

Example:
- Increase direct sales
- Increase brand awareness
- Lower customer support costs
- Improve staff productivity
- Improve information supply chains
Website Purpose: Promote Existing Products Announce New Products Generate Qualified Sales Leads Sell Products Directly Deliver Product Information Deliver Company Information Deliver information on Specific Topic Provide Customer Service Collect Customer Feedback Generate New Income Sources Access New Markets Enhance Company Image Communicate With Staff Build Customer Relationships Build Supplier Relationships Attract and Retain Staff Build Community
List any short term (within 6 months) outcomes that will indicate a successful project.

Example:
Receiving 100 unique visitors to the website per day
List any long term (within 12 months) outcomes that will indicate a successful project.

Example:
Generating 50 new sales leads per month.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE

Who will your website be built for? Knowing your audience and their needs will allow you to target your website design, content and features more effectively.

Describe the primary users of this website. Include their title and a brief description that includes any relevant identifying information (eg. Age, Gender, Location, Occupation) .

Example: Widget Buyer:
- Buyers of quality widgets, who will be located within Australia.

Widget Distributor
- Widget shops in countries around the globe looking for new suppliers
List the main actions for each of the users above.

Example: Widget Buyer:
- Browse catalog of products
- Search for particular product model
- Purchase products using credit card

Widget Distributor
- Download catalog
- Apply online for an account
Now using these actions list your desired action for each user.

Example:
Widget Buyer:
- Complete online purchase

Widget Distributor:
- Apply for an account

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LOOK AND FEEL

This will help to shape the look and feel of your website. Including addresses of sites that appeal to you in the space provided below is a good way to help communicate what it is visually that you would like.

List adjectives that describe how your users should perceive your website.

Examples:
Corporate, Professional, Established, Fun, Clean, Healthy, Alternative, Lively, Dynamic, Technology, Personal, Streamlined
Will this perception differ from how your business is perceived offline? If so please explain how your business if perceived offline.
Do you have a draft page layout or design completed that you would like to use?
Do you have specific colors / fonts that you wish to incorporate into the website?
Do you have existing media (brochures, business cards etc.) in a style / design that you would like carried over to your website?
List any identity development (logos, promotional material) you will require to be created for this website?
Give us a few websites that you love. They can be inside or outside your industry.

CONTENT IS KING, WE HAVE TO DESIGN WITH THAT IN MIND

List the kind of content you would like to include in your website. (This can include various types of content eg. Company info, product info, educational material, entertainment, promotional material, customer support)

Company Information Company Policies Case Studies Employment Opportunities Key Personnel Profiles Press Releases Customer Testimonials Newsletters Company Announcements / News Reminder System Login Area FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) Customer Support Information Blog / Articles Help Guides / Manuals Products / Services Features Product Specifications Product Catalog Videos / Music Promotions Affiliates Information Surveys / Polls Television Commercials Conference Audio and Video Virtual Tours Industry Links Photo Galleries Event / Calendar Information Maps Basic Shopping Cart Database Shopping Cart System Representative Listings Contact Contests Slideshow Intro Video Company Team Other
Other types of content:

Example:
Guestbook
Shopping Cart
etc
Where will this content be sourced from?

- Brochures
- Printed Advertisements
- Television Commercials
- Other Company Websites
- Newsletters
- In House Copy Writing
- Outsourced Copy Writing
- Affiliate Websites
- Electronic Documents (PDF, Word, Excel)
- Online Database
List any specific website text that will need to be created.
List any images, illustration or graphics that will need to be created.
List any other content that needs to be created for this website:

Example:
video, specific flash animation
List any sections that will be protected by username & password.
List any interactive features you would like to include on your website.

Example:
- Email This Page
- Email Page Link to a Friend
- Website Search
- Product Finder
- Retailer / Store Finder
- HTML Email Newsletter
- HTML Email Reminder System
- User Forums /Message Boards
Provide URLS (addresses) of any websites with interactive features that you would like. Describe the feature/s found at each website.

http://www.a-site-with-features-we-liked.com
- Email a friend button.

http://www.another-site- with-features-we-liked.com
- Online quote generator.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SITE LAUNCHES

The maintenance and updating of your website is a vital part in its continuing success. The information below will help us to determine what sort of content management solution you may require.

List any pages on your website that would require updating on regular basis.
Do you require require us to maintain the website?
If your staff will be maintaining the content, what is their general computer skill level?

Below Average, very little computer experience

Average Level, experience with programs such as MS Word/ Excel

Above Average, experience with basic web page updating using MS FrontPage or Dreamweaver

High, Extensive experience using HTML editing programs, FTP programs
Will your staff require training? What areas of training will they require?

Example:
- Website Maintenance
- Website Promotion
- Email Inquiry Handling
- Internet Etiquette
- Online Order Processing
- Email Software Use

DOMAIN AND HOSTING

Domain names are the online equivalent of a business name registration or product trademark. They should provide address that is easy to remember for your audience.

Web Hosting provides the delivery or serving of your website pages to your users, your required web hosting solution will depend on several factors including the size of your website, amount of traffic, required email boxes and other specific requirements.

List any domains that you have already registered for this website.
List any domain names you wish to register:
Do you require web hosting?

WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT COST AND DEADLINES

What is your initial website development budget range?
What is your deadline for the launch of this website? / MM / DD YYYY
The more flexible the deadline, the most it allows us to work within a flexible budget.
List any outside factors that may affect the completion and launch of the website.
Attach any required file.

Defining the Scope: Website

Defining the Scope: Website

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR COMPETITION

LET'S TALK A BIT ABOUT THE PROJECT

WHO ARE THE KEY CONTACTS FOR THIS PROJECT?

LET'S DISCUSS THE OBJECTIVES FOR THIS WEBSITE

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LOOK AND FEEL

CONTENT IS KING, WE HAVE TO DESIGN WITH THAT IN MIND

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SITE LAUNCHES

DOMAIN AND HOSTING

WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT COST AND DEADLINES