A new website is an exciting project, and a little preparation makes a big difference to how smoothly it goes. The businesses that get the best results are usually the ones who’ve thought through a few key things before the design work begins. Here’s what we suggest you gather.
Know what you want the website to do
Start with the purpose. Do you want more phone calls? Online enquiries? Bookings? Or do you simply need a professional place to send people so they can learn about your services? Your answer shapes everything else, from the pages you need to where the buttons go.
Think about who your customers are
Write down who you’re trying to reach and what they want to know before they contact you. Questions you get asked on the phone all the time are a great starting point, because those answers belong on your website.
Plan your pages
Most small business websites need fewer pages than people expect. A typical site might include:
- a home page that explains clearly what you do and who for;
- a page for each main service;
- an about page that introduces you and your team;
- examples of your work or testimonials;
- a contact page with your details, a form and a map if you have premises.
Start on the words early
Content is the part that holds up most website projects. You know your business better than anyone, so even rough notes about each service are incredibly helpful. Keep it simple and write the way you’d explain things to a customer face to face.
Gather your photos and branding
Collect your logo files (ideally the original high-resolution versions), your brand colours and any photos of your work, team or premises. Real photos almost always beat stock images, so it’s worth booking a photographer if you don’t have good ones.
Find your logins
This one catches a lot of people out. Before you start, track down the login details for your domain name, your current hosting and any email accounts tied to them. Knowing who has access to what saves a lot of time later on.
Look at websites you like
Note down a few websites you like and, just as usefully, a few you don’t. It doesn’t matter if they’re in a completely different industry. It helps us understand your taste and what you want your customers to feel.
We’ll guide you through the rest
You don’t need to have everything perfectly worked out before you call us. Our website service takes you through the whole process, from concept and design layouts to the finished site. These notes just help us get there faster. When you’re ready, get in touch.
