Client Interview Questions!

I would scrap "Do you know what hosting provider you want to use?" and replace it with:

"Do you currently have a hosting provider, if not would you like me to help you set up hosting with a good, affordable provider?"

Or something similiar.

Here is my generic list I tend to use give or take a few modifications depending on the client, but this list tends to give me a good background of what is required with the website, what is already done or needs doing, and gives multiple chances to upsell more services to the client.

1. Why do you want to have a new website, or have your current site redesigned?
2. What will happen if you don’t have a new website, or have your current site redesigned?
3. Please describe your organization in a few sentences.
4. What is there about you and your background that sets you apart for a special (niche) group of potential customers?
5. Why do you believe site visitors should do business with you rather than with a competitor?
6. Do you have a slogan or tagline that clearly describes what you offer in terms of benefits or features?
7. Please describe your potential customers. Pay special attention to their income, interests, gender, age, even type of computer they use, e.g., old with dialup account or newer with broadband. If your website is a business-to-business site, what sort of companies are you hoping to attract?
8. What is your deadline for completing the site?
9. Please list the names of five other sites that you like. Why are they attractive to you?
10. Have you researched your online competition so you have an idea of what you do and don’t want on your site?
11. What do you NOT want on your site in terms of text, content, etc.?
12. Where is the website content coming from? Who’s responsible for updating it? Is it ready for use on your website?
13. Do you have a logo and or branding?
14. Are you planning to do online sales? If so, what is the product, and how many items do you want to sell online?
15. If you’re planning to sell online, are you set up to accept credit cards?
16. If you were using a search engine, what words or phrases would you use to find your site?
17. Other than what search engines will produce, what methods do you have in mind to spread the word about your website?
18. Does your company use any form of social media such as Facebook or Twitter?
19. Do you have a domain name or webhosting account set up? If so do you have the information to access said webhosting or domain name server?
20. Is there anything else that the website requires that has not been mentioned in the other questions?