Why My 'Getting to Know You' Questionnaire is the Key to a Smooth Website Project

When we start a website project together, one of the first things I ask you to complete is my "Getting to Know You" questionnaire. This questionnaire is my one source of truth for everything related to your website. It’s where I gather all the essential details that ensure I have everything I need to build a site that works for your organisation.

Let me walk you through why this questionnaire is so crucial for both of us:

1. It’s My One Source of Truth

When working on your website, having all your details in one place is essential. The Getting to Know You questionnaire includes everything I need to know: your business or charity’s name, registration number, address, and the point of contact for the project. It’s a central hub for key information like billing details, email addresses, and social media links. It makes sure everything is clear and organised from the very start.

This saves us time, prevents confusion, and means that you don’t have to repeat basic details across multiple channels.

2. It Clarifies Your Key Messaging

One of the most important parts of any website is ensuring your messaging is clear and on-brand. The questionnaire gives you the chance to clarify your charity’s mission, vision, and core values. This helps me understand exactly how to present your message on your website, whether that’s through the copy, imagery, or call-to-action buttons.

By taking the time to define your key messaging, we ensure that your website communicates exactly what you want to your audience.

3. It Helps You Specify Design Preferences

Design matters - a lot. And because every business or charity has a different vibe, style, and target audience, it’s important to make sure your website design aligns with your identity. The Getting to Know You questionnaire allows you to specify design elements you’d like to see on your site, whether that’s your preferred colour scheme, logo usage, or layout ideas.

By being able to list your preferences upfront, we can start working with a clear vision of how you want your site to look, ensuring we’re aligned from the get-go.

4. It Gathers Details on Fundraising Efforts

If fundraising is a key aspect of your charity, the questionnaire ensures I have all the necessary details to highlight that on your website. From donation forms to events and campaigns, I can make sure everything is set up to support your fundraising efforts and make it easy for supporters to get involved.

Whether you’re running regular campaigns, hosting fundraising events, or simply trying to boost one-time donations, having this information upfront helps me build the right tools for your charity’s fundraising needs.

5. It Helps Us Stay Organised and On Track

Starting a website can feel like a big task. There are so many things to consider: from functionality to design, messaging, and beyond. Having a clear and organised source of truth makes everything smoother.

The questionnaire ensures that we stay on track and that nothing falls through the cracks. It’s where I keep all the details of our project in one easy-to-reference document, so we’re never scrambling to find information later.

6. It Gives You a Chance to Reflect on Your Needs

Sometimes, filling out the questionnaire can help you reflect on what you truly need from a website. You might realise that there are features you hadn’t considered yet or areas where you want to focus more.

This document is an opportunity for you to really think through how your website can best support your goals.

7. It’s a Big Time-Saver

While it may feel like an extra step, the questionnaire actually saves us both a lot of time in the long run. By making sure I have all the necessary information upfront, we can avoid delays and confusion later on. This means we can focus on creating a website that works for your charity without having to go back and forth to fill in missing details.

The Backbone of Your Website Project

The Getting to Know You questionnaire may seem like just a set of questions, but it’s much more than that. It’s the foundation of your charity’s website project and the key to making sure everything runs smoothly from start to finish. With all your details organised in one place, we can stay on track, stay aligned with your goals, and build a website that truly serves your mission.