The Client Questionnaire

Similar to my web design resource and tools list, over the years I have accumulated a healthy set of questions that I ask potential customers when I want to prepare an accurate quote and/or project proposal. Some of them are very generic or very specific and not all of these questions will suit you, your business or all of your potential customers. This list is purely to inspire and give you some ideas for making a questionnaire of your own.

Basic Information

What is your company name?
What is the address?
Who is my contact for this project?
What is their email address?
What is their phone number?
What is their preferred method of contact?
How available are they to answer questions during the course of the project?
Do you personally use any social media and may we connect on them?

Company

What is the main activity of the company?
What does it sell or promote?
How long has your company been in business?
What is the size of your company?
What is your company's reputation?
What market is your business in?
What is your typical customer like?
Who are your target market?
What are your company's strengths and weaknesses?
Do you have an existing website?
What do you like about it?
What do you dislike about it?
Do you have any existing marketing materials (logo, brochure, posters, ads and other documents) and can I have access to or have samples of these?
If necessary, will I have access to (your website/company-specific information/etc.)?

Competitors

Who are your largest competitors?
Do they have websites?
What do you like about them?
What do you dislike about them?
What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Project Specific

What is the purpose of this project?
What do you want visitors to do on your site?
How technical is this project?
Describe how you envision the finished project?
How many pages/screens are needed?
What do you not want on your website?
What sort of keywords / phrases do you want to be found for?
Are any specific colours required?
Can you provide a logo in digital format?
Who will be required to update the website?
Will you have any content that requires updating, i.e. a blog, gallery, etc.
Are there any specific project instructions?
Who will provide the copy for the website?
Do your customers have any special requirements or needs to be met by this project?
Can you show me an example something like what you have in mind?
Is it necessary to have any special software to complete this project?
Do you envision any potential problems with this project?
What are your long-term plans for your site?
What email addresses will you require?

Extras

What TLDs will be required?
Do you require hosting - If so, how much?
Do you wish to have Google Analytics?
Do you wish to do some social media marketing?
Do you wish to make use of Google Adwords?
Do you wish to start a link building strategy?
Do you require business card print and design?
Do you require flyer print and design?
Do you require letterhead print and design?
Do you require compliment slips print and design?

Work Agreement

What is your budget?
What is the deadline for this project?
How will you be making your payments?
Who should invoices made to?

Follow Up

How do you think the project went?
Do you have any suggestions?
Do you anticipate having any other projects based on this one?
Will this project need to be updated or revised at some point?
If the project needs updating, do you consider the updating or revisions to be a separate project?
Are there any other projects that I can do for you?
Would you be willing to give a testimonial on my work for my web page?

There you have it, 70 something questions to ask your potential customers before writing up a detailed proposal and/or quotation. I hope there's something for everyone to take from this.

If you have questions of your own that you think I've missed off, I would be more than happy to see your input and I may even add them to this list!

Posted: 21/2/2011
Categories: Hints And Tips / Inspiration