6 THINGS I NEED FROM YOUR NPO BEFORE I CAN BUILD YOUR WEBSITE
Yeah, its never easy to compile the items needed for a website, even a redesign. MANY clients underestimate the work and time it takes to compile everything. So why do I make you gather all the things below?
Because I am not as cool as you. You are the expert + angel who is making the world a better place through your cause.
YES, COULD I SPEND HUNDREDS OF HOURS LEARNING EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR CHARITY AND THEN PULL THIS ALL MYSELF, SURE… BUT THE COST WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE… So to pass on savings to you, I have streamlined the process to make it as painless as possible.
This week, I will walk you through all of the items I ask you to gather on a typical website project.
1. Branding Homework
Remember I let you have a sneak peek at this a few weeks back? We looked at that process and how in-depth we go. Feel free to look again at the questionnaire.
I suggest that it takes clients about 30-45 min to complete this if typing and about 25 if you want to submit it via a LOOM/Screencast. There may be about 10 min of research before/during. Many clients like to talk through their edits and submissions which is FANTASTIC. It allows me playback incase I need to reference something + allows them to get their thoughts and words out quickly without worrying about spellcheck and grammar.
2. Integrations Homework
The Integrations Homework helps ensure that I have the access that I need to make the magic happen. If I am trying to constantly ask for log in credentials on your host, account, PayPal or google… our project will not be efficient as possible. AND as delightful as I am, by the tenth 2-step verification code that is sent to your phone, you just might be annoyed by my requests. This homework questionnaire makes sure that I am set and you are left alone while I make all the connections that you need to let technology shine.
I suggest that it takes clients about 10 min to complete this and it must be completed in typing. This is not something that I can take dictated over Loom or screencast.
3. Writing Prompts Homework
Ah, My Writing Prompts. These guys are probably some of my favorite little mental exercises for any NPO. These Prompts really get down into what your messaging needs to be for your charity, what you need to say and how you need to say it. The best part?! These guys are apart of EVERY 3-DAY TEMPLATE purchase and I use a more in-depth version for my custom design clients.
I suggest that it takes clients about 40 min to complete this if typing and about 25 if you want to submit it via a LOOM/Screencast.
4. Files/Documents
If you have any files or documents that you want on your website, I will need to know that before we start laying everything out. We do not want to be finding a place for it to go later in the process. The best web design happens when I am given all of the elements and I can layout the most effective donor experience based on those pieces.
I suggest that it takes clients about 1 hour to look through all of your files and drop these into your personal google drive folder that I send to you.
5. Images
Honestly, images make a website. I recently had the privilege to produce and direct a donated photoshoot for a charity I work with. We finally got these beautifully branded images for our charity and let me tell you… applying these new pictures on the website gave it an instant 500k value lift. It was insane. NOW, not everyone can afford pictures OR get a photoshoot donated, in these cases I suggest you to go Unsplash.com and Pexels.com. I ask for at least 30 images that you want included. In some cases I might not use the exact image but the “spirit” of the image and having all of the images you like complied makes it easy to stay visually branded.
I suggest that it takes clients about 1 hour to look through all of your files and drop these into your personal google drive folder that I send to you.
6. Logos + Branding Guidelines
Logos and branding guidelines are the roadmap for consistent branding. And what do I always say? Consistency represents stability. I will need your logo files and branding guidelines for me to continue on with the existing look and vibe of your charity. If there are not any logos or branding guidelines established yet, I will ask for existing materials that are in circulation and your social media links.
I suggest that it takes clients about 20 min to look through all of your files and drop these into your personal google drive folder that I send to you.
