Answer these 12 questions before ordering a website. Avoid budget surprises, delayed projects, and websites that never get used. Essential for every business owner in Azerbaijan.
Why These Questions Matter
Every year, dozens of companies in Azerbaijan order a website — and end up dissatisfied with the result. The main reason: the right questions weren't asked before work began. Budgets overrun, timelines stretch, or the finished site never gets used. Answering these 12 questions upfront protects you from all of this — and sets clear rules of engagement with your developer.
1. What Is the Website's Purpose?
"I need a website" isn't enough. Define a concrete goal:
- Sales website — sell products/services, accept payments
- Business card site — introduce your company, provide contact details
- Corporate website — team, services, portfolio, blog
- Landing page — focus on one specific offer, convert ad traffic
- E-commerce store — many products, cart, payment system
Without a defined purpose, correct structure, design, and functionality cannot be determined.
2. Who Is Your Target Audience?
Who will visit your site? Age, profession, mobile or desktop user? Local Azerbaijani customers or international? These answers directly determine language choice, design style, and UX decisions. A website "for everyone" is a website for no one.
3. What Do Your Competitors' Websites Look Like?
Look at 3–5 competitor websites. What do you like, what don't you? Do you want to stand out or look similar? Competitor analysis helps give the developer a more precise brief and reduces wasted time.
4. Who Will Own the Domain and Hosting?
Don't leave this for later. In many cases, the developer buys the domain/hosting themselves — while you assume you're the owner. Make sure:
- The domain (e.g., rs-code.az) is registered in your name
- You have independent access to the hosting account
- It's possible to switch to another developer in the future
5. How Many Languages Does the Site Need?
Azerbaijani + English + Russian? Or just one language? A multilingual site requires more time and budget. But for B2B sites in Azerbaijan, 3 languages is already the standard. RS Code's own website operates in 3 languages.
6. Do You Have Existing Brand Assets?
Is your logo, colour palette, and font selection ready? If not, you can request a brand kit from your developer — or order a logo first. A website without a brand never looks professional.
7. What Features Does the Site Need?
The feature list directly determines your budget. Prepare a list:
- Contact form
- Online payment system (Kapital Bank, ABB)
- Blog / news section
- Live chat (WhatsApp, Chaport)
- Admin panel — to edit the site yourself
- Search functionality
- Social media integration
- Google Maps / address map
Drop the "we'll add it later" mindset — adding features later is always more expensive.
8. Who Will Manage the Site?
Once the site is ready, who will manage it? If you have technical knowledge, you might need developer-level access. Otherwise, request a simple admin panel (content editing, image uploads, blog posts). State this requirement upfront — it comes at a different cost.
9. What Are Your Target SEO Keywords?
If your site needs to appear in Google, keywords must be defined upfront. Specific phrases like "website development in Baku" or "SEO services in Azerbaijan." These words determine URL structure, headings, and content. Fixing this later is harder.
10. What Is Your Budget Range?
Don't hide your budget. Without knowing it, the developer can't propose the right solution. Website prices in Azerbaijan:
- Business card site: ₼500–1,500
- Corporate site: ₼1,500–5,000
- E-commerce store: ₼3,000–15,000+
- Custom functionality: ₼5,000–30,000+
11. Is There a Deadline?
Set a launch date — company anniversary, event, season start. A tight deadline may require extra cost. An unrealistic deadline creates stress for both parties. Set realistic timelines: standard websites take 3–6 weeks, complex projects 2–4 months.
12. Do You Need Ongoing Support and Maintenance?
After the site launches, who will apply updates, fix server issues, apply security patches? Choose a developer who offers a monthly support contract. RS Code offers a monthly technical support package with every project.
Summary: 12-Question Checklist
| # | Question | If unanswered... |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What's the purpose? | Wrong structure, wasted budget |
| 2 | Target audience? | You don't know who you're talking to |
| 3 | Competitor analysis? | Design out of step with market |
| 4 | Domain/hosting ownership? | You may not own your site |
| 5 | Number of languages? | Budget surprise |
| 6 | Brand assets? | Unprofessional appearance |
| 7 | Required features? | Adding later = more expensive |
| 8 | Who will manage it? | A site you can't control |
| 9 | SEO keywords? | Invisible in Google |
| 10 | Budget range? | Wrong solution proposed |
| 11 | Deadline? | Endless project |
| 12 | Technical support? | Broken site with no one to fix it |
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I prepare before ordering a website?
A logo (if you have one), colour palette, site purpose, target audience, 3–5 competitor site examples, a list of required features, and a budget range. With this information, a developer can give you an accurate quote.
How long does it take to build a website in Azerbaijan?
A simple business card site takes 2–3 weeks, a corporate site 4–6 weeks, an e-commerce store 2–3 months. Custom functionality extends the timeline.
What does website cost depend on?
Design complexity, number of features, number of languages, admin panel requirements, and SEO scope. In Azerbaijan prices range from ₼500 to ₼30,000+.
Can I manage the site myself after it's built?
Yes — if you request it upfront. A site built without an admin panel requires contacting the developer every time you want a change. Always include the admin panel requirement in your brief.
Who should choose the domain name?
You. The domain is your digital address — it should be registered in your name and under your control. The developer can only help with the registration process.