O.k., this is my first time stopping in. I was wondering if anyone had a simple, yet effective questionnaire for new client work? This will be for a front-end design job for someone looking for a web site for their business. It happens to be my g/f's step mom who asked if I could build her a web site for her business, and this will be my chance to work on something for my portfolio. She want's to know how much I'll charge so I want to send her some type on questionnaire first, to get a better idea of what she's looking for, then I can go ahead and decide on what or how to charge her. This will also allow me to do things the correct way and learn.
Questionnaires won't (IMO) get you what you want. You have to sit down with the Client and TALK to them. A questionnaire designed by you will tend to get you answers that YOU think are important and your priorities will be different from the clients.
Ask them for some sites that are similar to the look and feel the way the client wants their site to feel. It doesn't have to be whole pages, it could be just a single element on the page. If they like something ask them WHY they like it.
An open-ended dialogue is many times better than a static questionnaire.
I'm personally a big fan of some kind of document like a questionnaire however it's not something I ever leave with the client or ask them to just "fill out". All it's used for is a basic template for me when we sit down. It makes sure I don't miss any details, but more importantly it gives the client the impression that you are very organized. I've had a number of people comment positively using systems like that. Then I can drop that into the client folder for reference if I need it.
Any suggestions, will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Casey.
Ask them for some sites that are similar to the look and feel the way the client wants their site to feel. It doesn't have to be whole pages, it could be just a single element on the page. If they like something ask them WHY they like it.
An open-ended dialogue is many times better than a static questionnaire.