Working notes
What to send when you need a website or data problem fixed
You don't need to write a technical specification. Tell me what is happening, what you expected and why the difference matters.
The short answer
You do not need to diagnose the technical cause. Send what is happening, what you expected, why it matters and a safe example.
Why it matters
A useful brief does not need to sound professional. It needs to make the problem understandable. A plain explanation and a safe example will usually get us further than a list of tools you think you might need.
Describe the current job
Explain who does the work, how often it happens and which systems are involved. For a data task, tell me where the information comes from and where it needs to end up.
For a website issue, include the address and the steps that lead to the problem. A screenshot can help, but the sequence is often just as important.
Explain the useful outcome
Say what you need to be different. Fewer manual updates, a reliable catalogue, recovered content or a report that answers a particular question are useful starting points.
Separate the essential result from ideas that would be nice later. It helps keep the first job manageable.
Send a safe sample, not everything
A small anonymised file showing the difficult cases is often enough to begin. Include an explanation of the columns and anything you know is unreliable.
Do not put passwords, personal customer records or confidential supplier material in the initial enquiry. We can agree a suitable access and data-handling route when the scope is clearer.
Tell me what you need to sort out
If you need this checked or fixed on a real site, send me the URL, a safe example and what you are trying to achieve.
Mention the constraints early
A fixed launch date, restricted supplier access, a previous failed attempt or a system that cannot be taken offline can change the job. So can uncertainty about who maintains it afterwards.
Read how I work, then send the enquiry. It is fine to say you don't yet know whether the answer is an import, code or a better process.
HAVE SOMETHING AWKWARD?
Tell me what you need to sort out
Send me the URL, what is happening, what you have already tried and what a useful result would look like. A small anonymised sample is enough to start - do not send passwords, credentials or sensitive customer data.