The Initial Project Assessment

An initial assessment of your project is important because it gives everyone involved an opportunity to ask important questions and determine the requirements and expectations for the project.

The assessment is completely free of charge and typically lasts one hour.

During the assessment, I will welcome any questions that you have, and I'll ask some general questions about your company and the goals for your Website.

Don't worry about not having an answer to all of the questions! In many cases, the assessment will help clarify the questions that aren't yet possible to answer.

Some of the types of questions I might ask during an Initial Project Assessment include:

General

  • What is the name of your company?
  • Do you have an existing website?
  • If so, what is the Domain Name (Website address)
  • If none, what is your intended Domain Name?
  • Describe your company.
  • What is your estimated launch date?
  • Do you have a specific budget range for this project?
  • What are your objectives for this project?

Audience

  • Describe your target audience. (age, profession, etc.)
  • What is the action the user should take when coming to your site? (Make purchase, contact, search information)?
  • Describe your industry.
  • Who are your competitors?
  • What do you like/dislike about their Websites?

Current Website

  • What do you like/dislike about your current Website?
  • What features of the current Website would you like to keep?
  • Who desgined your current Website?
  • Where is this Website Hosted?

Theme

  • Use a few adjectives to describe how the user should perceive the new Website. (fun, friendly, cutting edge, simple, elegant, professional)
  • How is your company perceived offline? Do you want to carry the same kind of message through your Website?
  • What are some Websites that you really like?
  • What are some Websites that have a theme similar to the theme that you would like to have for this Website.

Logo

  • Do you currently have a logo or would you like a new logo designed?
  • What is the message you want to communicate with your logo?
  • What type of logo would you like?
  • List some logos that you like and explain why.
  • What colors and imagery convey the personality and tone of your company?
  • Will there be a tagline on the logo? If yes, please specify.

Technology

  • Are there any specific technologies (Blogs, Forums, Audio, and Video, etc) that you would like to utilize on the Website?
  • Do you require specific programming needs such as database, content management system, ecommerce?

Content

  • Describe visual elements or content that should be utilized from the site. (logo, color scheme, navigation etc)
  • Do you have an existing sitemap for the site structure?
  • Will this site use existing content?
  • Will the client be supplying content?
  • Will the content be supplied electronically?
  • Will the Website require professional Copy Writers?
  • Will the Website require Stock Photography or On-site Photography?
  • Approximately how many pages will your Website have?