Initial Client Consultation Intake Form: Fill & Download for Free

What a great question! Thank you!I think screening potential clients is actually just as important (if not moreso) as the web design, internet marketing, SEO work, social media integration, planning, programming, and long-term return-on-investment for the client long after we developers depart.Why is that?Because as anyone who has read Clients From Hell can attest, there is very little (in the field of web design, anyway) that's more time-consuming or denigrating than working with (or trying to work with) someone who is just not a good fit, regardless of how kind or well-intentioned (or confused, sociopathic, micro-managing, or simply uninformed).There is a wealth of articles, videos, and advice blogs solely on the topic of how web developers should screen potential clients so as to stop wasting time explaining what web design is (or should be in most cases), what SEO is and why it matters, what responsive design and what that matters, why a custom site is superior to a DIY freebie template you fill in online, why websites are not single commodities but tools in a process, and so forth.Screening potential clients is invaluable for web developers as well as for lawyers, doctors, and just about any other service professional whose time (and work) matters to them. Lawyers use intake forms, hire staff to screen clients or take information. Doctors have staff screen patients over the phone or in-person. Veterinarians train their staff to do it, electricians do it, plumbers do it, mechanics screen potential clients, even handymen do it. And those that don't do it waste untold hours educating, negotiating, listening to stories, explaining, etc.And yet, when it comes to internet marketing, web design, SEO, it's (still) amazing to me how much detachment and misinformation there is.But to slow my digression here, some of the questions I ask potential clients are:Why are we doing this?What have you already done to this point? For example, have you already tried to build the site yourself, outsource work overseas, outsource a logo, etc?What's a realistic budget range for this project?Where will content come from?Will content and/or images be solely your own or will there be copyright issues? Who is your target audience?How important is SEO to you?Who are your competitors and what are they doing that you like?What are they doing you don't like?How have you tried to compete or work with other local businesses similar to your?Most new or small business owners or startup owners or "wantrepreneurs" (these are individuals who fancy themselves as entrepreneurs but upon inspection it's clear that their business ventures are more "ideas" than actual profit-driven ventures with structures) balk at having a discussion about their project. They want a price and then they want to shop that price around for the lowest, cheapest deal they can get. Quality, ROI, results, don't matter to them because there's no way for them to tell when or if they're successful with anything.I've had potential clients hang up on me in anger when I asked 2-3 questions about their business, had potential clients curse me out when I asked them to complete and submit an intake form, had potential clients tell me they couldn't figure out how to submit the form or that the form wouldn't work (when it had been tested moments earlier and worked fine), they couldn't "do forms" or "do" e-mail, or even respond to phone conversations.I had one potential client ask me why work had to be done on a schedule, only later to admit that she suffered from a severe mental and emotional disorder (that she was not taking prescribed medication for). When I very respectfully suggested that we might not be a good fit for each other at that admission, she began sending me multiple spam e-mails embellished with more expletives than an episode of "Hell's Kitchen."I had a pimp call and ask me to build a site for his business so that clients could select their desired escort, schedule appointments, pick location, receive pages and text messages, pay using bitcoin or PayPal, and even sell branded t-shirts. (He was actually very web savvy and relaxed, until I told him that morally I couldn't do what he wanted).I had an electronics recycling warehouse with thousands of physical items to inventory call and ask for a single price estimate for a site that would put all items online for sale, and add inventory to eBay and Amazon. After a few minutes talking, she told me that she expected it to cost no more than $500 since that's what other "developers" had quoted her.I had one potential client tell me that he expected me to come to his office, build the site in front of him (and pause whenever he had to take calls of course), teach him everything I was doing while doing it, and do it all within a 2-4 day period, for slightly above minimum wage.The list is endless. So it's vital to stop the negative experiences with tire-kickers, penny-pinchers, daydream entrepreneurs, those that see no intrinsic value in internet marketing or need to be convinced of its reliability, and help those who value and understand what we developers can truly do for them and can benefit the most from our work.At this time, I use an e-mail form to screen potential clients, and while some have complained that it's too long, confusing, or unfair, I've also had others complete it in its entirety and ended up with some great new clients or leads as a result. Whether the form is too long or too short, I encourage all web developers to ask more questions before working with clients, use contracts (or "agreements" or "understandings"), record conversations if it feels right (and you have client permission of course), and build more in the way of process refinement.I've seen developers insist on not using screening forms and then months later go out of business or choose another line of work; seen developers insist on using very short intake forms (or e-mail forms) only to confide later that they have to spend hours upon hours consulting clients they never end up actually working with later.My feeling personally is that you should be able to spend 5-10 minutes completing a form. If a potential client can't (or won't) do that, how would we work together on a quality end result and start a successful internet marketing plan that would build a business?

I have a particular protocol that I follow that seems to work well for my clients and for myself.When a potential client contacts me I ask them to read as much material as possible at my Lifesanswers website to see if they are comfortable with my approach to therapy. I have a great deal of material posted there and it should give them a good idea of my views, strategies, methodologies, qualifications and experience.If they are comfortable then they contact me by email or though the website. Often they will send me a couple of questions by email and I answer those. I send them a secure intake form to fill in and return to me.I evaluate the questions and intake form and if I feel that I can be of help then I will suggest we set up the first appointment. They can do this at the website or by email.Then we do an initial session via video conferencing.If we both feel there is a fit then I will add that person to my schedule of regular clients. If either of us feels that there is no fit then we will not schedule any further sessions.

Number 1: Even if you’re not an entrepreneur, you still need to think like one. Why? Because no one’s job is secure. You have to view your employer as your client. If that “client” decides not to continue working with you, you have to be in a good position to quickly land your next client. You do this by becoming a good salesperson of your skills. This is what I teach my clients how to do in a way that makes them stand out from their competition.Number 2: If you are an entrepreneur, then you need to think of each meeting with potential clients or potential investors as a job interview. For instance, I have a few initial consultations with potential clients each week. Therefore, I’m going on a few job interviews EVERY SINGLE WEEK of the year! I know I have to clearly express the benefits of my skills as a career coach.In either scenario, you not only need to sell your skills. You also need to treat the situation as a two-way street. You need to find out if your next job or your next client is going to be a good fit for you.This is why I suggest job seekers ask questions of their own during a job interview that help them determine if the company (i.e. “the client”) is who they really want to spend 40+ hours a week with for the next several years.***Check out Lori Bumgarner's answer to What are some interview hacks? to know what kind of questions you should ask.***For me personally as a business owner, I’m selective in who I take on as clients. Therefore, not only do I present the benefits of my services and make sure they’re a good fit for the potential client’s goals, but I also ask questions to find out if they’re the type of client I’ll want to work with.I start with questions in my intake form and also ask additional questions during the initial consultation. I’m looking to see how serious the person is about my coaching program, if they have a teachable spirit, if they’re open-minded, and if they’re courteous/professional/respectful. Someone who doesn’t possess these qualities is not a good fit for me or my company’s mission or programs.Before walking into an interview or a meeting, take some time to do an inventory of:your skills and strengths,how you uniquely demonstrate those skills and strengths,the benefits of your skills and strengths,your needs and wants,your deal-breakers,and the questions to determine any potential deal-breakers or to determine if the other party can meet at least 60% of your needs and wants (because you’ll rarely find a case that meets 100% of them! - BE REALISTIC!).To help you with the above, visit my Quora profile to read my responses to other career-related questions. Also, check out my company blog where you’ll receive more detailed advice (see link in my profile).