Getting ready to kick off a new website is an exciting time. You’ve got your sights set on a digital outpost that is going to boost your brand and profitability. It’s an investment in your business that you’re counting on to pay off quickly. At least, that’s the plan, right?

Here’s the rub. What if your vision of function, features and experience make sense to you, but aren’t necessarily what your customers need or want to see? Sitting down at the table with your web development team can be either a session of dreaming and scheming or it can truly plan out what will bring you revenue and help you avoid spending unneeded money. Or even worse, you might be investing in something that won’t do what you need it to do. Losing time, money and credibility is not a great way to launch a site and can mean failure for a business. Let’s look at what it takes to focus on success.

To set yourself up for success, it’s important to work with a development partner that is as motivated as you are to build the right base for your online presence. That means figuring out the right features and functions for your business AND for your customers, and creating a path to grow from.

We go deep with clients to understand what they want to achieve before producing a development plan, even if it means asking tough questions. Understanding our client’s needs, business model, organization and support systems is not only the first step, it’s the most critical. With that picture in place, our team can give sound advice on not just technology solutions, but business drivers as well.

So, business owner, let’s roll up our sleeves and do a little homework first.

Jump start your site

Building a website is not unlike working with an architect to design a building. It’s unlikely you would just show a photo of a house and say, “that’s what I want.” The example might drive your preferences and imagination, but the architect will work with you to define the square footage, number of rooms, finishes and other desired features. Then you’ll select the building materials that work best for your plan and budget, and maybe even go for that 6 nozzle shower that you’ve always dreamed of.

Clients often have an idea in mind of what they want their new site to look like and are eager to move forward. To propel the process, it’s critical to be prepared to answer these key questions at the kick-off meeting.

1. What is the story of your business? Where are you going?
2. What market(s) do you serve? Here’s a hint, if the answer is ALL OF THEM you need to do a little more research.
3. Where do you hold your inventory (for products) or how is your service delivered?
4. What are your goals for the website:

• Brand building
• Product demos
• Sales
• Lead Capture

5. What sales model do you want to support? (subscription, direct-to-consumer, wholesale, retail)

• What are the steps they will take to make the purchase the first time, the second time?
• How will they refer business to you?

6. How will you track orders?
7. What is your fulfillment model?
8. When will you hit capacity? What is the plan for epic growth?

The kick-off meeting is the first step in developing a website that fulfills your vision and your plans for growth. Doing your homework and being prepared to answer these foundational questions will empower you and your designer to start off with the right plan. The more prepared you are, the faster we can devise the best plan forward.