The best projects I’ve worked on had one thing in common. The client showed up to the first call knowing what they wanted the website to do.
You don’t need a full plan. You just need a few things ready, and the whole project moves faster and costs less. Here’s my checklist.
1. One clear goal
Ask yourself what a successful website looks like six months after launch. More phone calls? More quote requests? Fewer “what do you charge?” emails? Pick the one that matters most. Every design decision gets measured against it.
2. Who your customers are
Describe your best customers in a few sentences. Where are they? What problem brings them to you? What makes them hesitate before they call? This shapes the words and layout far more than colour choices do.
3. Your services, in your own words
List every service you offer and the ones you want more of. If one service makes you the most money, tell your designer. It should get more attention on the site.
4. Websites you like, and why
Send two or three websites you admire, even if they’re in a different industry. More useful than the links themselves is a sentence on what you like: the calm layout, the bold headings, how easy it was to book.
5. Your brand assets
- Logo files (ideally SVG or a high resolution PNG).
- Brand colours and fonts, if you have them.
- Photos of your team, your work and your space.
No logo yet? That’s fine. Read logo vs brand identity to see what you actually need.
6. Your current website logins
If you already have a site, make sure you know who controls the domain, the hosting and any connected tools like Google Analytics. Lost logins are one of the most common reasons projects stall.
7. A realistic budget and timeline
Share a budget range, even a rough one. It helps your designer suggest the right scope instead of guessing. If you have a hard deadline, like a launch or a busy season, say so early. My guide on how long a website takes will help you plan.
8. Who makes decisions
If a partner or manager needs to approve the design, bring them in from the start. Late opinions are the biggest cause of delays I see.
Questions to ask your designer
- Will I own the website and all the accounts?
- Who writes the content?
- Is basic SEO included?
- How many revision rounds are included?
- How do I make changes after launch?
- What happens if something breaks?
Have most of this ready? You’re in great shape. Book a call and we’ll turn it into a plan.
