companies–some are good, some are bad and some we no longer speak of. What we’ve laid out, is how to prepare an RFP for your website and how to create a great one. After all, the more thorough you can be with your RFP, the more accurate your proposal will be.

When you need a website, the first thing you do is put together a web redesign request for proposal. Submitting your RFP to multiple agencies is common and always a good idea — it’s how you get an idea of what it will really take to bring your project and vision to life. After you’ve submitted your request, agencies will respond with a proposed solution that outlines the scope of work, timeline, and cost for your website. Typically, this exchange is followed up by a brief phone call and a question and answer session. Think of your RFP as a first impression to potential agency partners. A great RFP sets the stage for a great partnership. A great RFP is clear, concise and gets straight to the point. You don’t have to have the technical know-how to create an RFP. In fact, most of the best RFPs we receive have no mention of code or technical jargon (we hear enough developer talk on a daily basis). If you know what integrations you want to use (MailChimp, HubSpot, Marketo) then list them in your RFP email to vendors. If not, forget it. You don’t have to have all of the answers. After all, that’s why you’re hiring an agency in the first place, so leave it to the pros to figure it out.