The options for building a new website are endless these days. With various website builders that can help you DIY it, and so many capable agencies that can help you build an entirely custom website, it’s important to ask yourself some key questions to determine the best route to go. DIY options through Squarespace, Wix, Shopify and more can certainly be the way to go. But, if you’re looking to customize the look and feel, you may want to consider hiring an agency or developer. Check out this article to learn more about various website builders and what might be the best fit for you.
1.Do you have a website currently?
Yes or no? Ie. is this going to be a website re-build, or are we starting from scratch?
2. If so, why the upgrade/change?
You’ll want to determine the main reason behind this change. Is your website currently not providing users easy navigation? Are they having a hard time finding the information they need? Or maybe you just need to modernize the look and feel? Determining this reason is essential to take the next steps.
3. Describe the thoughts / feelings you want someone to have when they land on your website.
Are you an interior designer that wants people to get a feel for your design style? Make sure you describe this to paint a clear picture for the agency or web developer.
4. What are the aspects of your current site you do not like? Please describe these.
So it is clear what needs to go!
5. What is the main objective of your website? (Leads, information, blog, sales?)
Are you a DIY crafter that wants to sell products online? Or maybe you’re a consultant looking to drive more inquiries for your services? This will help inform the structure of your website and determine what information needs to be most prominently displayed, and set up for data tracking once launched.
6. What websites do you like and why? Please provide 2-3 examples and define what aspects you like about each. (Look, navigation, structure, etc.)
This will be a key factor in determining if aspects you’d like on your website are entirely custom, or if they can done with a template already built in Squarespace, for example.
7. What features do you want your website to have?
Similar to above!
8. What are all of the pages you would like to have on your website? (About, products, testimonials, etc)
Helps the developer or agency, and yourself understand how big or small you want this website to be, and will influence the overall cost of building it.
Be sure to check out this incredible resource comparing the differences between Shopify, Squarespace and WordPress.
