The first step in renewal consultation,
Here are five points to keep in mind:

Hello. I'm Sakamoto from the BtoB team in the Marketing & Sales department.

Every day, our BtoB team receives inquiries about website creation and renewal for various industries. At the time of receiving the inquiry, in some cases the RFP (Request for Proposal) has already been prepared, while in other cases the renewal has already been decided and information gathering has just begun... Each person's situation is different.

So, this time we have compiled some key points from the production side for those in charge who are thinking, "I want to discuss renewal, but what should I sort out first?"

We hope this will be useful for those in charge who are thinking about getting a rough estimate for renovation soon, as well as those in charge who have no plans for renovation but would like to know for the future.

To ensure the renewal goes smoothly.

As a salesperson in the BtoB team, I consult with many companies about renewal, and there are five things I always ask the person in charge first.

By asking about these points at the beginning, the quotation and subsequent processes will proceed smoothly. We recommend that you first understand the internal situation regarding these five points before making an inquiry.

1. Background of the decision to renew

First, let's clarify the question, "Why are we renewing this?"
Renovations require a considerable budget and manpower. Behind the motivations of "We want a new design" and "It's been years since the last renovation" are likely the aims of the management team, the thoughts and stories of the people in charge.

Hearing about this will have a big impact on the concept that the production company will propose. If you have any thoughts or enthusiasm about the renewal, please let us know.

2. Purpose of the corporate website

The next important thing is to clarify your goals.
For reference, we have compiled the top answers to the question "What is the purpose of a corporate website?" from our "Corporate Website Operations Report," which we compiled by directly interviewing corporate web managers.

• Acquiring inquiries from new and potential customers
• Dissemination of IR information
• Providing information about products and services

Of course, in most cases there is more than one purpose for the renewal, but it is necessary to have a general direction. At the same time, it is also important to decide on priorities.

Every company wants to achieve this and that when they renew their site every few years. However, if you try to achieve everything, you may find that you don't have enough budget.

In such cases, by setting criteria in advance, such as "things that absolutely cannot be left out" and "things that they would like to do if possible," the production company can make proposals that make the most of the limited budget.

3. Budget

What a production company can offer can vary greatly depending on your budget.
For example, if you have a budget, you can hire a photographer to take new photos, or hire an outside writer to write articles and texts. You need to think about how much of your desire to "go this far" can be realized based on your budget.

Sometimes we are contacted with the request, "I don't care about the budget, just give us a proposal," but in this case, as a production company, we cannot give the best answer. If we don't know the scale of the renewal, we can't make an accurate proposal.

If the budget has not yet been decided, please let us know that you would like to know an idea of the budget or that you would like to consult with us at the stage of gathering information to set the budget.

4. Schedule

It is also important to decide when to start the renewal project and the desired release date. For example, check whether you need to coordinate with internal events, such as the end of the fiscal year, anniversaries, or hiring seasons.

This allows production companies to think specifically about when to start the project and what steps they should take to proceed.

5. Other current requests

Finally, there are various other matters. These may not be known at the time of inquiry, but if there are any that are known at this time, please let us know.

• Photography and article writing
• Always-on HTTPS (always-on SSL)
• CMS introduction (new/switching)
• Post-renewal operations (in-house/outsourced), etc.
  

First, let's have a consultation.

Asking us the above five questions is the first step in our consultation.

Corporate websites play an important role in branding and marketing. By keeping in mind the important points when consulting with a web production company, not only will the communication go more smoothly, but you will also be able to clarify your company's vision for renewal.

We also often hear people say, "We're still in the early stages."

• This is my first time in charge of a renovation and I have no specialized knowledge.
• I don't know when or what to prepare.
• The know-how and materials from the previous renewal have not been carried over

In such cases, some points may be clarified by consulting with us, so please feel free to contact us.