Re: Re: Question about development

---- Jason Pruim <japruim@raoset.com> wrote: > > On Feb 12, 2008, at 1:03 PM, Nathan Rixham wrote: > > > Jason Pruim wrote: > >> Hi Everyone, > >> I know this isn't 100% on topic... But when is any post to this > >> list 100% on topic? :) > >> I've been doing some googling trying to find info on how to plan > >> for what a website needs. Stuff like Does it need a forum, live > >> support, database driven etc. etc. Does anyone have a form that > >> they use to give to the client asking them to outline some ideas > >> that they have about the website? > >> What I'm looking for is something that I could give to a potential > >> client and ask them to describe some basic aspects of their target > >> audience, a rough idea of what they want it to look like, or at > >> least other sites that they like. Stuff like that.. > >> Even if you don't have such a form, I'm sure you all have standard > >> questions you ask each client before giving a quote :) > >> Anyone want to share with the class? > >> If there is interest, I may even put it together on a webpage to > >> help future people :) > >> -- > >> Jason Pruim > >> Raoset Inc. > >> Technology Manager > >> MQC Specialist > >> 3251 132nd ave > >> Holland, MI, 49424 > >> www.raoset.com > >> japruim@raoset.com > > > > I always take the simple approach, ask them what they want to > > achieve/expect from the website. Then verbally work backwards with > > them to figure out what the website needs in order to reach the > > clients goal. > > > > (personally) In all honesty I'd stay away from any kind of form, as > > they'll just pick "nice to have" boxes and end up with something > > overpriced, not suited to there needs and you'll get complaints in 6 > > months time. > > > > hope that makes sense! > > > > ps: the only thing I've found useful that way after many years, is > > to make the base site structure with very short text descriptions on > > each page + links to the next page | and for god sake, leave the > > "home" page will very very last! > > > > Nathan > > Hey Nathan, > > Thanks for the reply. I'm just getting more and more into freelance > web work and have my first client asking for a quote. Before now, it's > all been internal applications, and the companies website that I have > worked on. Nothing for other people. > > I was actually thinking that the form would be for me to make sure I > covered the basics... I'm alot better if I have something written down > and I can ask the client "Do you need to support multiple languages?" > Which to me then, would lead me into using a database[1] for storing > the pages and using browser sniffing to find out what language > preference they currently had selected to display in that language :) > > > [1] As I was typing this I realized that maybe a database isn't the > best idea for that, but it's the only way I can think of. Anyone who > wants to give me another option is more then welcome to do so! > > > -- > > Jason Pruim > Raoset Inc. > Technology Manager > MQC Specialist > 3251 132nd ave > Holland, MI, 49424 > www.raoset.com > japruim@raoset.com <--Email and Googletalk/Jabber IM ID. > > -- > PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php I generally ask people what they are looking to do with the site. Are they just wanting to have an image out there, do they want a contact form, do they want to sell something, do they really care to translate it (blowfish), Then I go into how much $$$ do they want to spend, do they want to update it themselves, how they have worked on it in the past, etc. Generally that alone gives me a good base point. But I'm scatter-brained enough that I just write things down as we talk and that leads me to more questions to ask them. :) Wolf