The best websites come from good preparation. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you hire a web designer, but a little planning makes the project faster, smoother and a lot more likely to bring in customers.
Here’s what to think about before you start.
1. Know what your website needs to do
This is the most important question. What should a visitor do after landing on your site?
- Call you
- Submit an inquiry or quote request
- Book an appointment
- Buy something
- Sign up for something
Your website should be designed around that action. If you only answer one question before talking to a designer, make it this one.
2. Know who your customers are
Who is your ideal customer? What are they worried about, and what do they need to hear before they trust you? A website for retirees planning their future should feel very different from a website for a high-energy fitness brand.
3. Know what makes you different
Why should someone choose you over a competitor? Your experience, your process, your guarantees, your personality. Write it down. These are the things your website should make obvious.
4. Gather your branding
- Your logo, ideally in a high-quality format
- Brand colors and fonts, if you have them
- Any brand guidelines
Don’t have a logo or brand colors yet? That’s fine. Tell your designer up front so it’s part of the plan.
5. Collect websites you like
Find two or three websites you love, in any industry, and note what you like about each. Maybe it’s the layout, the colors, the photography or how easy it is to use. This is one of the most helpful things you can share, because it turns vague ideas into something concrete.
It’s just as helpful to note styles you want to avoid.
6. Prepare your content
- The text for your pages, or rough notes if you’d like help writing it
- Photos and videos of your business, team, products or work
- Testimonials, reviews, certifications or awards
- A list of pages you think you need
Professional photos make a big difference. If you don’t have good images, ask your designer about options.
7. Find your technical details
These are the things people forget until launch day:
- Who your domain is registered with, and your login
- Who your current hosting is with, if you have a site
- Who provides your business email
- Any tools your site needs to connect to, like booking software or email marketing
Not sure? That’s okay. A good web designer will help you track them down.
8. Decide who approves the website
Who will review designs and give feedback? Projects move fastest when one person, or a small group, can make decisions.
9. Have a timeline in mind
Is there a launch date, event or season you’re working toward? Share it early. Firm deadlines shape the plan.
Make it easy on yourself
When you work with me, my onboarding form walks you through all of this in about 15 to 20 minutes, and you can upload your logo, photos and files right in the form. You don’t need every answer. Tell me what’s missing and we’ll figure it out together.
Ready to start? Schedule a quick Zoom call and we’ll talk through your business.
