The more a designer understands about your business before they start, the better the result and the fewer revisions you pay for in time. You do not need a formal document. Working through the points below before your first call is enough.
1. What the website needs to achieve
Be specific. More phone calls, more quote requests, online sales, fewer repetitive enquiries, or looking credible to overseas clients are all different goals, and they lead to different designs. Pick one or two that matter most.
2. Who it is for
Describe your best customers: where they are, what they search for, what they worry about before buying and what makes them choose you. A site for corporate buyers in London looks and reads very differently from one for shoppers on Instagram in Lagos.
3. The pages you think you need
A rough list is fine, for example Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Pricing and Contact. Your designer will refine it, but it helps estimate the size of the job.
4. Your content
Content is the most common cause of delays. Gather what you have: service descriptions, team bios, prices, testimonials, project photos and FAQs. If you need help writing it, say so early so it can be planned and priced.
5. Brand assets
- Your logo in its original format (SVG, AI or a high-resolution PNG)
- Brand colours and fonts, or a brand guide if you have one
- Good photos of your team, premises and work
If your branding needs a refresh, it is better to do it before or alongside the website, not after.
6. Websites you like, and why
Share two or three websites you like, ideally not just competitors, and say exactly what you like about each. The layout, the colours or the way they explain their services are all useful.
7. Access details
Know who controls your domain name, hosting and business email. Projects often stall waiting for a login nobody can find.
8. Budget, timeline and who decides
A budget range helps a designer recommend what is realistic. Mention any deadline, such as a launch or event, and who will approve the design so feedback comes from one place.
Ready to start? Send us your brief. Even a few lines on each point above is a great start, and we will help you fill in the gaps on a free discovery call.
