Topic: what questions to ask?? (Page 1 of 1)

Here's the deal. I have someone I am doing a site for and am having some problems with them. I am not getting any info on what they want. Other than they don't like certain things about what I have done. Nothing specific, just..........I don't know if that is what we are going for and that kind of stuff.

All I know is:

1. It's a site for an online game based on Neverwinters Night.
2. They want some specific stuff for the forum (one log in name and being able to switch usernames after login)
3. Colors that are easy one the eyes.
4. Pages for screenshots and maps.

That's it. Asked him to send me some more info on what content is going to be there and this is what he sent to me:
linky

There's some info there that would be good for a FAQ I guess, but that's about it.

The other stuff that he has sent to me is just forums for other NWN based games. Not much help there.

So, I stayed up last night and did a "template" using some screenshots that I found and as best as I could for what info I have. Didn't like it....
So he says "Maybe use more "fantasy" like colors". Asked what that was supposed to mean and he said "I'll send you some links"

Now, I have no problem with him not liking what I have done so far but I have nothing to go on. Told him that it was like asking someone to build me a house and when asked what style to build it in, just a house. You know what a house is right? Just build me a house. Frustrating.

So after all of this, I ask you...what kind of questions do you ask your clients before doing a website for them?

Later,

C:\

Well...I know NWN well (I run a PW).

I have some questions for you.

Are you expecting them to tell you what to build?

Or

Are they expecting you to build it all?

In the first case (and it would seem that you are leaning in that direction) - you need the site colors, possible graphic ideas, and the content.

In the second case (and I suspect that they think that is how it will be done), you need to research first what you are building.

i've done more research than with any other site i've done. they expect me to build it all. i have asked for colors, they say "easy on the eyes" I ask for screenshots and they send me a link to free website building programs. not getting much help here. ask for content and i get the link i gave you above.

most of the NWN sites i've seen suck ass. so.........i guess i just sit and wait on them to get me content and tell me what they don't like about what i've done.

Later,

C:\

The client never knows what they want.

Take that above statement to the bank and approach every client in this way.

A good collary to this is that you must always have a contract to keep the client from changing their mind midway through a project. It doesn't matter if no money changes hands, you still need a contract which specifies exactly what you are going to do, and exactly what the client is going to do. You might not even want to call it a contract, call it an agreement, or even "The way I do things".

So after saying that here are the ways I approach a project.

1) Exploration. This happens before the contract. You will meet with the client and discuss what needs to happen. Something useful is to bring crayons (not markers not colored pencils crayons) and white construction paper. The reason for the crayons is that they are not seen as an artistic medium, they are for play. You talk to the client to get some ideas, give the client some information and if it is foggy have them do some sketches with the crayons. You should do no drawing at this point, you don't want to intimidate your client. Make sure to get a couple of different ideas. You should walk away with a general idea of what the client wants. If you are still confused r schedule another session. Ask the client to email you some links of similar websites that they like, or might want to emulate.

Some questions would be.

What is your favorite color, and you next favorite?
Do you have any existing material? anything from in print?
What objects shapes or figures do you think of when you say your organizations name?
What are the number one things you don't want to see in the design?

2) Mockups. At this stage you go and create you examples, between 3 and 5 are all that are needed. Have them pretty clean. Charge (set a milestone) for this work, tell the client that this fee is refunded if the proceed with the project, and also that they do not own the Proof of Concept work. If you give it away for free you are setting yourself up for disaster. You might think not but you are. If the client won't pay, you have a bad client. If the client rejects all of your sketches you need to take these and go back to number 1. The client will have to pay for new sketches, but only charge 1/2 or 1/4 what you charged for the first round. If you charge this makes sure the client has a vested interest in the project if you don't they will not value the work you are doing. (FYI, I am a terrible artist, but I still charge $100 for my example sketches). If this fails and the client is not happy it is time to recommend the go with a different artist, or that they get their own graphic designer and you will impliment their design. If you con not come to terms here you are in for a failed project. Take the money for you work and call it a wash, go on to your next client.

3) Write up the standart contract. Get it signed!!!

4) Begin work. Make the rough prototype. Review with the client. Make necessary small changes. Charge for massive changes (should be in the contract).

5) Rinse and repeate until done. (I figure the rest has bee covered elsewhere).

Dan @ Code Town

Well - NWN.

Primary color - Blue (a strong one, but maybe not too bright).

A nice Logo, that is related to the PW (I assume the Website will be for a PW, right?)

A nice gothic type text - or the NWN text.

then the content, with an easy to use Navigation system - are they also expecting you to create the forums, or do you just need to link to those?

Some cool server-side stuff, for seeing which players are online, and where they are in the PW "world" - on a map of the PW world. Make it Dynamic.

That is a good start...

good info there WarMage.

quote:

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The client never knows what they want.

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This statment is SO true for this guy. Bummer that it is a friend of mine. Getting info from him is like pulling teeth. I'll keep at it. Make a contract and go over it with him. Then start on more mock ups. I've done 2 so far but I will make more.

WS: as far as the logo goes, I have that done. the font that i am to use comes from the PW that the game is based on, Nordock I think it's called.

I still have not gotten any content so I am still not sure what pages are even going to be included. As far as the forums go, I have to do them. Probably going to use phpBB.

Thanks again for the info.

Later,

C:\

Check out this website - Dor Maeglin

Here are examples of good Server-Side support for NWN.

hmm.........that's pretty cool. those images look like they were scaned from the Players Handbook.

I am not sure if I can do that or not. My abilities may limit me on something that extensive. I'll give it a shot though

Later,

C:\

I wouldn't scan in the images (use your own, or take some screenshots from the PW!). But the Server-Side stuff is magnificent. Being able to show what players are currently playing on the PW, and where they are, are really cool features. The data is read directly from the PW itself (from the Data Base).

You could use some of the images from the game itself - that is ok (and allowed).

they have sent me some images from the game (screenshots). I would never use images scanned from a book, unless I did the images. The screenshots I have don't really lend themselves well to work with website graphics. mostly overhead shots. might be able to use parts of them though

Later,

C:\

Do you have NWN? If not...that is going to make image capturing much harder (not to mention, you don't have access to all the graphics of the game - and all the Community produced material).

In fact...without NWN, you are going to have a rought time, making a Website from scratch on a NWN PW. Have you been to the PW? Have you taken some jaunts on it, taken a look at it, got a feel for it?

If not, how are you going to communicate this to an audience, through a website?

Gonna answer these one at a time:

1. Q: Do you have NWN?
A: Just went out and got it and found out that you have to have like 3 other packs and some hacks to play their world

2. Q: Have you been to the PW?
A: No

3. Q: Have you taken some jaunts on it, taken a look at it, got a feel for it?
A: No

4. Q: If not, how are you going to communicate this to an audience, through a website?
A: I am a big fan of Fantasy style stuff. D&D, Forgotten Realms, etc, etc... I also have no idea about dog training but I've done stuff for that. I haven't much experience with electric guitar amplifiers, but I did a site for that. I don't know anything about real estate but I've done stuff for that too.

I understand what is going on in the game, so I really don't think that I necisarrily have to play "their" game to do the site. I think it is their responsibility to get me content, screenshots and what features they want. After that, it is up to me to put the peices together. I've started a new
mock up and I think I have found what they are looking for. Check the site reveiws page soon.

Later,

C:\

quote:

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I think it is their responsibility to get me content, screenshots and what features they want. After that, it is up to me to put the peices together.

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Ok, then that is the first catagory - you are expecting them to give you what you need to build the site - that is different than building the whole thing from scratch. My pardon.

In that sense, all of your examples are pretty true. It is possible to do a website without intrinsicly knowing the subject if you are being provided content, etc from those that want the site done. Looking forward to seeing the site in the site reviews forum.

Go get'em!

I too find this a great problem. I first ask the client for these things:

To tell me what they want the site for - what will it do,what is it's purpose

Give three examples of sites they like and want to emulate

Tell me three images that would sum up the type of organisation that they are

When I meet with them I start at the home page idea and ask them where I would go from there if I were visiting their site.

Ask them what they want the visitor to feel when they get to their siteeg, wow cool!, hmm professional, soothing whatever. This usually helps you with colour and layout issues.

Most clients don't think about what should be on the site till much later if they don't do this and then you usually have to start all over again when they realise they need another page with extra links etc

That is a great point:

"Most clients don't think about what should be on the site, etc, etc."

Part of your job is to jump start this process. You have to have them think about what they want for their site. You have to get them thinking about what their site's needs are. Many people will come to you with the idea that they need a website to stay competitive. But don't really know that they need one, they just know that other people have them, and that they do have the cool factor.

The goal of the site is very important. If it is a NWN site, is the point to create a repository of information about NWN, or is it a central location for the guild to meet and discuss. With any website you are trying to sell some kind of information to a user. You need to first figure out what information you are selling and then design the site so that you have an effective sell.

Dan @ Code Town