Website Design Client Needs Questionnaire

Successful website design is a collaborative process that hinges on an understanding of unique business goals and target audiences. 

This questionnaire serves as a roadmap to gather the essential information from you, the website design client, and ensure the final product aligns perfectly with your vision. 

Throughout this questionnaire, you’ll be prompted to consider various aspects of your website’s design, including its functionality, target audience, and visual style. 

Providing thoughtful answers to these questions will empower your website designer to create a website that is aesthetically pleasing and strategically designed to achieve your business objectives. 

Understanding Your Business and Website Design Needs

In a few sentences, describe your company, its mission, and the value proposition it offers to customers. 

For example, are you a local bakery specializing in handcrafted sourdough bread or a regional law firm known for expertise in corporate litigation? 

Understanding your target audience’s demographics, online behavior, and pain points is crucial for designing a user-centric website. Consider creating a buyer persona to profile your ideal customer. 

A buyer persona is a fictional representation of your ideal customer that captures their demographics, psychographics, and buying behaviors. 

To develop your buyer persona, here is what to consider: 

• Age 
• Location 
• Occupation 
• Interests 
• Needs and Challenges 
• Online Behavior (Social media platforms they use, websites they frequent)

Briefly describe your industry’s competitive landscape. Are there any specific design trends or features commonly found on your competitor websites?

Analyzing your competitors’  websites can give you valuable insights into what works well and what areas for improvement exist. 

Consider the following when examining competitor websites: 

• Overall visual design 
• Website navigation and user experience 
• Content quality and messaging 
• Functionality and features offered

Website Design Goals and Functionality

There are some things to consider when thinking of your website’s goals and functionality.

Website Objectives

What are your primary goals for the website?

If your goal is to generate leads, you might track the number of contract form submissions or newsletter signups. 

KPIs are quantifiable metrics that track your progress towards achieving your website goals. 

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. 

• How will you measure the success of your website? 
• What are your key performance indicators (KPIs) for website success? 

Desired Features

Are there any specific functionalities you envision for your website, such as contact forms, ecommerce shopping carts, or appointment booking systems?

• What actions do you want website visitors to take?
• How can the website’s functionality help you achieve your business goals?
• Are there any unique features that would differentiate your website from competitors?

Content Strategy

Content strategies are essential for attracting and engaging website visitors. 

Consider the topic of your website’s content. Are you hoping to offer various content formats (e.g., blog posts, articles, infographics, and videos)? 

How often will you publish new content? 

Who will be responsible for creating and managing website content?

Design Preferences and Inspiration

Having a clear understanding of your brand identity will ensure the website design reflects your company’s overall image and messaging. 

• Do you have a brand style guide or specific color palettes, fonts, and logos you want incorporated into the website design?

Sharing examples can help communicate your design preferences. Look for websites in your industry or with a similar target audience to grasp ideas that resonate with your brand. 

• Are there any existing websites you find visually appealing or functionally effective? 

Providing examples of websites with design elements you dislike can help your designer steer clear of those features and create a website that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also user-friendly. 

• Conversely, are there any website design elements you find unappealing or difficult to navigate? 

Website Design with WordPress

WordPress is a popular open-source CMS platform that powers millions of websites. 

User-friendly: WordPress offers a user-friendly interface for managing website content, even for non-technical users. 

Extensive Plugins: A wide library of plugins extends WordPress functionality, adding features like online stores, contact forms, and SEO optimization. 

Themes: Thousands of free and premium WordPress themes allow you to customize the look and feel of your website without extensive coding knowledge.