Vital Questions to Ask an AV Client Needing Web Site Development

To scope an effective website for an Audio Visual (AV) client – whether they handle commercial integration, live events, residential smart homes, or equipment rentals – you need a discovery questionnaire that targets both general web requirements and industry-specific technical needs.

Phase 1: Business Goals & Target Audience

Primary Objective: What is the primary goal of the website? (e.g., generating commercial leads, booking event consultations, showcasing an integration portfolio, or direct e-commerce equipment sales?)
Target Market: Who are your primary clients? (e.g., B2B corporate office managers, high-end residential homeowners, event planners, or musicians/venues?)
Geographic Reach: Do you service a specific local area, nationwide, or international clients?

Phase 2: Design & Branding

Brand Identity: Do you have existing brand guidelines, logos, and color palettes, or does the brand need a refresh?
Visual Aesthetics: What style of website do you prefer? (e.g., sleek/minimalist tech aesthetic, high-energy live production feel, or corporate professionalism?)
Competitor Sites: Are there 2–3 competitor or industry websites you admire, and why?

Phase 3: AV-Specific Features & Functionality

Project Portfolio/Showcase: How would you like to display past AV installations or events? (e.g., categorized by sector like Corporate, Residential, Houses of Worship, or Live Stage?)
Interactive Tools / Calculators: Do you need custom features like a projection screen size calculator, home theater cost estimator, or system builder tool?
Booking & Consultations: Do clients need to book site visits, virtual consultations, or system design assessments directly on the site (e.g., integrated calendar scheduling)?
E-Commerce / Equipment Shop: Will you be selling or renting AV hardware directly on the site, or is it strictly a service-based lead generation platform?
Brand/Partner Logos: Do you want to showcase specific manufacturer partnerships (e.g., Crestron, Shure, Samsung, Kramer) to build authority?

Phase 4: Content & Assets

Project Media: Do you have high-resolution photography and video walk-throughs of completed installations or live setups?
Service Pages: What specific services need dedicated pages? (e.g., Audio Reinforcement, Commercial Automation, LED Video Walls, Lighting Design, Network Cabling?)
Copywriting: Will you provide the text for the services and company history, or will you need professional copywriting services?

Phase 5: Technical, Maintenance & SEO

Domain & Hosting: Do you already own your domain name and web hosting, or will those need to be set up?
CMS Preference: Do you have a preferred content management system for managing updates? (e.g., WordPress, WooCommerce)
Local SEO: Are you targeting specific geographic regions for local search visibility (e.g., map packs, localized landing pages)?
Ongoing Support: Will you require ongoing technical maintenance, security monitoring, plugin updates, or content changes post-launch?