How to prepare for an initial consultation
What to write in your first message, how to prepare for the initial consultation and how the meeting works.
Before you choose who will build your website, it pays to get a few basics clear. It helps you and us alike. The first conversation will be more specific, and we'll get to what your project really needs faster.
What to write in your first message
You don't need a finished specification. But if your first message answers at least some of these questions, we can prepare better for the meeting.
- Who will be the contact person on your side? Give their name and email.
- What stage is the project at? Are you starting from scratch, do you have a finished design, or do you already have a website that needs rebuilding?
- Who are the website's target visitors?
- Should the website be in several languages?
- Do you have text, images, videos or documents to be used on the website?
- Have you bought a domain?
- Do you need help choosing hosting or a server?
- When do you want to launch the website?
- What is your budget?
- Do you have any questions for us before the first meeting?
You can send us your message through the contact form or to [email protected].
Where the project stands
Do you have materials you can hand over that we can work with? For example:
- user research,
- wireframes,
- a functional specification,
- a logo or brand guidelines,
- a visual design,
- a marketing plan,
- a website strategy,
- Google Analytics data.
Type of website
Start by clarifying what the website should achieve and which customer needs it will meet.
- Online shop: you will sell products or services.
- Blog: you want to share information in the form of articles.
- Company website: you want to present your business, be easier to find and make it easier for people to get in touch.
- Combination: the website combines several of these roles.
Target audience
The website should be designed for your customers, so they can find everything they need and are looking for. Do you know them? Don't be afraid to ask what they would like to see on the website and what they expect from it. User research will help you get to know them better.
Content and design
Based on the type of website you need and what customers will look for on it, think through its content and appearance. Will there be a gallery showcasing your work? A contact form customers can use to ask you questions easily? For an online shop, don't forget payment and delivery options, for example.
Questions you may hear at the consultation
- Can you send us a design preview or other design materials?
- What business or marketing goals should the website meet, and how will you measure its success?
- When do you want to launch the website? Are marketing or other activities tied to the date?
- Do you want a complete solution including analysis, design, development, launch and management? Or is another agency covering part of it?
- How many language versions are you planning? Will the content be the same in every language?
- Do you have text, photos and other materials ready, or would you like us or someone else to provide them?
- Do you need help choosing hosting or a server?
- Are you interested in long-term maintenance and monitoring of the website?
- Do your users have specific needs that the design should take into account? For example a slow connection, limited technical confidence, language, or using the site only on a computer or only on a phone.
- Do you have a set budget, or at least an upper limit for the investment?
How the initial consultation works
The initial consultation is for getting to know each other. We start with introductions: you tell us briefly about yourself and your business, and we tell you how we work and what we have done.
What you'll learn about us
We'll tell you how our team works, which specialists it is made up of and what you can expect from us. We'll show you projects we have worked on, so you can see where our real strengths lie.
What we'll learn about you
We'll go through your expectations of the project and what you see as its most important parts. We'll agree on priorities and what can wait until later. We'll also talk about possible risks and constraints, and finally we'll agree on the next steps.
The first step is a short message.
Write us a few sentences about your project. We'll get back to you within 24 hours to arrange an initial consultation.