Why the work you do before we begin matters
A great website doesn’t just “happen” because you hire a good designer. The best results come when you’ve laid the groundwork – clarified your goals, gathered the right information, and made key decisions ahead of time.
Think of it like building a house. You wouldn’t tell the builder to “just start” without a plan, a budget, and an idea of how you’ll use the space. The same applies to your website.
1. Get clear on your goals
Ask yourself: What do I actually want this website to achieve? Your answer will guide every design and content decision we make. Common goals include:
- Generating more leads or enquiries
- Selling more products or bookings online
- Educating your audience about your services
- Building trust and credibility in a crowded market
If you have multiple goals, we’ll help you prioritise them so the site has a clear focus.
2. Understand your audience
The more you know about your ideal customer, the better we can design for them. Consider:
- Who they are (demographics, profession, interests)
- What problems they need solved
- How they typically find and interact with businesses like yours
- What would make them trust and choose you
This clarity helps us create a site that speaks directly to them, in both design and messaging.
3. Audit your existing content and assets
Before we start, review what you already have:
- Is your copy still accurate and relevant?
- Do your images reflect your current brand and quality standards?
- Are there testimonials, case studies, or portfolio pieces worth featuring?
Outdated content can undermine a new design, so this is the perfect time to refresh it.
4. Gather your branding elements
If you have a logo, brand colours, fonts, or visual style guidelines, make sure they’re ready to share. If not, this might be the right moment to invest in branding, so your new site feels consistent and professional from day one.
5. Think about functionality early
It’s not just about how your site looks, it’s about what it needs to do. Consider:
- Do you need booking forms, payment gateways, or membership areas?
- Will you run a blog or publish regular updates?
- Do you need to integrate with a CRM, email marketing tool, or other system?
Flagging these early helps us plan the build properly and avoid surprises later.
6. Decide who will create the copy
Great copy is just as important as great design. You can write it yourself, work with us to create it, or bring in your own copywriter. But deciding this up front avoids delays during the build phase.
7. Be ready to collaborate
The best projects happen when there’s regular communication. Agreeing on how often we’ll check in, who will sign off decisions, and how we’ll share files will keep everything moving smoothly.
The payoff for being prepared
When you’ve done this groundwork, the design and build stages run faster, smoother, and with fewer revisions. We can focus on what we do best: creating a beautiful, strategic, conversion-focused site, because you’ve already set us up for success.
If you’re planning a new website this year, we can help you prepare. Book a free consultation and we’ll talk you through exactly what to get in place before we start.
