A thin enquiryAnswers 3 of 10
We need a new website. It should be modern and help us grow. Budget is flexible, and we need it as soon as possible.
Missing: the outcome, who it is for, how to judge success, a budget, a fixed date and who decides.
Tell us what you need. The lead who would run it replies.
Use one form for a quick question, your project details or a request for a quote (RFQ or RFP). A named lead reads every message in full. You get questions, a time to talk or a clear no.
An example enquiry for "Your company", scored by the same check the form uses. Project details: Problem, Enquiries come from companies too small to serve; Scope, A new website, easy to find on Google; Outcome, Twice the useful enquiries within 6 months; Audience, IT directors, 200–2,000 people, UK and India; Budget, 50,000–100,000 USD; Timing, Live before the March trade show; Files, rfp-website.pdf · guidelines.pdf. Enquiry strength 84 percent, Strong: enough for a first scope. Next most useful: How you will judge it.
What are you sending?
-
-
-
Your enquiry
One form, as short or as full as you need.
Choose what you are sending. Only your name, work email and one line about the work are required. Each extra answer makes our first reply more useful.
What to tell us1 answer needs a look
Before this can be sent
What to include
What to tell us: the checklist our leads use.
The enquiry check beside the form uses this list. You do not need every answer: 5 clear ones beat 10 vague ones.
Fig. 01We read each enquiry for what it asks and what it leaves out.
Show scores for
Each answer's share of the score, for the kind of enquiry you send. It follows the form until you choose here.
Every message 3 answers
Any enquiry can give these in 2 minutes.
-
01
Who is asking
Your work email and company tell us which lead should reply.
A strong answerYour name, Head of Digital at Your company (400 staff, software firm).
10% of the score
-
02
The problem today
What is not working, in your words. Symptoms are fine. We will find the cause with you.
A strong answerOur website lists features, not results. Most enquiries come from firms too small for us to serve.
14% of the score
-
03
What you need
The services you think you need, or the plan you prefer.
A strong answerA new website that ranks on Google, for one fixed price.
12% of the score
Project details add 7 answers
The answers a lead needs to start planning the work.
-
04
The outcome
The business result you want, ideally with a number and a date.
A strong answerTwice as many useful enquiries from IT buyers within 6 months.
14% of the score
-
05
Who it is for
The people who have to notice, trust or use the result. The narrower, the better the work.
A strong answerIT heads at companies of 200–2,000 staff in the UK and India.
8% of the score
-
06
How you will judge it
The number you report to managers, and where you track it.
A strong answerEnquiries from right-size companies, counted in our sales system each month.
10% of the score
-
07
A budget range
A range lets us suggest the right size of project.
A strong answer50,000–100,000 US dollars.
10% of the score
-
08
Timing
When you want to start, and any date that cannot move.
A strong answerStart next month; live before the March trade show.
8% of the score
-
09
How the decision is made
Where you are in the decision and who else approves it, so nobody is surprised at the end.
A strong answerBudget approved; marketing decides and IT checks security.
6% of the score
-
10
What exists already
Your current tools, brand files, research and work you admire or want to avoid.
A strong answerThe current site runs on WordPress; brand guidelines are attached.
8% of the score
A quote request adds 1 answer
The rules a proposal is judged against, up front.
-
11
The rules the work must meet
Purchasing steps, the proposal deadline and your security and legal rules. Only a quote request needs these up front.
A strong answerSupplier sign-up and security questions; EU data law; proposals due 14 November.
—% Not counted for this kind of enquiry
Template
Write it offline first
The checklist as a text file, with an example for each answer. Fill it in, then paste or attach it.
Download the templateFor a quote, attach
- Your request document and any reply template
- How proposals will be scored
- The deadline for questions and the format
- Security questions and supplier forms
- Your NDA, if it must be signed first
The same enquiry, two ways
Same company, same need. The second takes a little longer to write and saves rounds of questions later.
A clear enquiryAnswers 9 of 10
We want twice as many useful enquiries from IT buyers within 6 months.04 Our website lists features, not results. Most enquiries come from firms too small for us to serve.02 It is for IT heads at companies of 200–2,000 staff in the UK and India.05 We think we need a new site that ranks on Google.03 Success is enquiries from right-size firms, counted in our sales system.06 Budget: 50,000–100,000 US dollars.07 It must be live before our March trade show.08 Marketing decides; IT checks security.09 The current site runs on WordPress, and our brand guidelines are attached.10
Numbers point to the checklist above. Item 01, who is asking, comes from step 1 of the form.
How it works
What happens next, in 4 steps.
Project details and quote requests follow different timelines. Each step shows when to expect it.
If you send it now
The office is closed: it is 05:37 IST, Sun 15 Nov. We count from 10:00 IST on Mon 16 Nov.
Working days are Monday to Friday, India Standard Time, excluding public holidays. Every date is a target.
Project details
-
01
Received
Instant
Sun 15 Nov, 05:37
A reference shows on screen, and your enquiry and files reach our inbox.
-
02
Read by a lead
Same working day
Mon 16 Nov
The lead for that area reads it in full. Work across several areas still gets one lead.
-
03
A reply
Within 1 working day
By Tue 17 Nov
Questions or a time to talk. If we are not the right fit, we say so and refer you where we can.
-
04
A call, then a scope
Within a week of the call
5 working days after the call
A 30-minute call, then a written scope with options, a team and pricing. We sign an NDA first if you ask.
The first call
- 0130 minutesBy video or phone, during your working day.
- 02With the lead who read itThe same person would run the work if you go ahead.
- 03A next step, in writingA scope with options, or a clear no with a referral if someone else fits better.
Quote request
-
01
Receipt confirmed
Within 1 working day
By Tue 17 Nov
We confirm receipt, name a bid lead and check that every document opened.
-
02
Bid or no bid
Within 3 working days
By Thu 19 Nov
If we will not bid, we tell you early and say why.
-
03
Clarifying questions
By your Q&A deadline
The date in your request
We send questions in the format you ask for, to the contact you name.
-
04
Proposal
By your due date
In your template, with security and purchasing answers in the forms you sent.
Illustration: an AI-drafted summary of a quote request, waiting for the bid lead's approval. It shows the due date, format and scoring, plus 3 open questions with their pages.
AI helps
For a long request, AI drafts a one-page summary and lists open questions, each with its page.
People decide
The bid lead reads your documents, edits the questions and decides whether we bid. A person reads everything before it reaches you.
Inboxes and offices
The right inbox, and when to expect a reply.
Not everything needs the form. Each inbox goes straight to the team it names.
-
New work
Projects, proposals and anything you would rather not put in a form.
connect@xterraedze.comAim: 1 working day
Or start a project -
Careers
Questions about roles. To apply, use the careers page.
careers@xterraedze.comAim: 5 working days
See open roles -
Press
Interviews, commentary and speaking requests.
press@xterraedze.comAim: 2 working days
Or use the form -
Security
Report a security flaw in anything we run. Please do not test live client systems.
security@xterraedze.comAcknowledged: 2 working days
Read the security policy
01 · Office Closed now · 05:37 IST
New Delhi
6 Worldmark, AerocityNew Delhi 110037, IndiaMonday to Friday · 10:00–19:00 IST
Open in Maps — New Delhi (opens in a new tab)02 · Office Closed now · 05:37 IST
Ludhiana
SCO-2, LGFSCO-1, 3rd Floor Noble Enclave, Opp. Hotel Park PlazaFerozepur Road, Ludhiana, Punjab 141001, IndiaMonday to Friday · 10:00–19:00 IST
Open in Maps — Ludhiana (opens in a new tab)03 · Office Closed now · 20:07 AST
Saint John
120 University AvenueSaint John, NB E2K 1Z3, CanadaMonday to Friday · 09:00–17:00 AST
Open in Maps — Saint John (opens in a new tab)By appointment
Talk first
A 30-minute call, booked straight into our calendar. You get an email to confirm it. Meetings at our offices are by appointment. Say so in your enquiry and we will send directions and a time.
Book a callQuestions
Before you send: privacy, budgets and files.
Something else? Write to connect@xterraedze.com.
01Will you sign a confidentiality agreement first?
Yes. Tick the box in the documents step and attach yours, or ask for ours. We sign before we discuss details, so keep your enquiry general until then.
02What if I do not know the budget?
Choose "Not sure yet". A range helps us suggest the right size of work. Without one, we offer 2 or 3 sizes and say what each includes.
03Can you answer a quote request in our format?
Yes. We answer in your template and keep to your deadlines for questions and replies. We also fill in supplier and security forms as part of the bid.
04What happens to the files I upload?
They are stored privately on our own server, outside the public website. Only our team can open them. Ask and we will delete them.
05Which files can I attach?
PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Keynote, RTF, plain text, ZIP, PNG and JPG. For spreadsheets or large files, zip them or share a folder link.
06Is the enquiry check run by AI?
No. It is a simple rules check that runs in your browser. It scores your answers against the checklist on this page and spots amounts, dates and services. Nothing is sent until you press Send.
07Do you work outside India?
Yes. We have offices in India and Canada and work with clients anywhere, in any currency. Calls fit your working hours. If a local firm would suit you better, we will say so.
08How do I apply for a job?
Use the careers page. Each open role has its own form for your CV. This form is for business enquiries.
Tell us what you need built.
You will talk to the lead who would run your work.