A website proposal can look impressive and still leave the important questions unanswered. Before you sign, find out what you are buying, what you will own, and how the site will work after the launch-day excitement.
Questions 1–3: Fit and scope
Ask: 1. Can I see relevant work? 2. What exactly is included? 3. Who supplies the words, photos, and product information? Look beyond visual style. Your project may need booking, e-commerce, content migration, or a specific editing workflow. Confirm those needs in the written scope.
Questions 4–7: Process and quality
Ask: 4. What is the timeline and what do you need from me? 5. How do revisions work? 6. How will you test mobile layouts, forms, and accessibility basics? 7. What SEO setup is included? Be wary of a vague promise to “do SEO” without a description of the actual work.
Questions 8–10: Ownership and support
Ask: 8. Who owns the domain and accounts? 9. What recurring costs and licenses apply? 10. What support and training happen after launch? You should understand how to access the site, request changes, and continue operating if your working relationship changes.
Your next steps
- Compare proposals against the same requirements.
- Get exclusions and recurring fees in writing.
- Confirm the handover and training plan.
- Save a copy of the agreed scope.
For further guidance, see Google’s SEO starter guide.
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