How to prepare for a new website is one of the questions I’m asked most often by new clients. If you’re planning a new website, having a simple Website Preparation Checklist can save you a huge amount of time and frustration.
One of the biggest misconceptions about building a website is that the design comes first.
It doesn’t.
In fact, before I can design a single page, there are a few things I need from you. The funny thing is that most of them have nothing to do with websites.
If you’re wondering how to prepare for a new website, the good news is that you don’t need everything to be perfect before you get started. What you do need is a few key pieces of information that will help your project run smoothly.
How to Prepare for a New Website: What You’ll Need Before Your Project Begins
Before you get started, it’s worth gathering everything in one place.
How to Prepare for a New Website: #1 Your Website Copy
First, let’s look at your website copy….
Most people think they need perfectly written content before speaking to a web designer. That’s simply not true.
What I need is the information that’s already in your head.
Tell me about your business.
Tell me what you do.
Tell me who you help.
Tell me the questions customers ask all the time.
A rough draft is absolutely fine. Bullet points are fine. Notes scribbled on paper are fine.
The hardest part is getting started.
My job is to help shape that information into a website that makes sense to your visitors.
How to Prepare for a New Website: #2 Your Images
Next, you’ll want to gather your images.
That’s why genuine photos of you, your team, your products or your work are always more powerful than generic stock images.
You don’t necessarily need a professional photographer.
In fact, many of my clients provide excellent images taken on a smartphone.
How to Prepare for a New Website: #3 Your Branding
In addition, make sure your branding files are easy to access.
If you already have branding, great.
I’ll need things like:
- Your logo
- Brand colours
- Fonts (if you have them)
- Brand guidelines
If you don’t have a full brand package, that’s perfectly fine too.
After all, many small businesses start with a logo and a colour palette.
The goal is to create a website that feels consistent and recognisable.
How to Prepare for a New Website: #4 Access to Existing Accounts
If you already have a website, there may be a few accounts I’ll need access to.
This could include:
- Website hosting
- Domain name registration
- Email accounts
- Google Business Profile
- Google Analytics
Don’t panic if you don’t know where everything is.
Helping clients track down account details has become an unexpected part of my job over the years!
How to Prepare for a New Website: #5 Your Website Goals
This is the most important one.
What do you want your website to do?
Do you want more enquiries?
Do you want people to book appointments?
Do you want to sell products online?
Do you want to showcase your work?
A website should support your business goals, not simply look nice.
When I understand what success looks like for your business, I can design a website that helps you get there.
The Good News!
You don’t need everything to be perfect before we start.
In fact, waiting for perfection is often what causes the biggest delays.
The clients who make the fastest progress are usually the ones who provide a first draft, knowing we can refine things together.
That’s why I’ve created my Website Preparation Guide to help make the process easier.
It breaks everything down into manageable steps and helps you gather what you’ll need before your project begins.
Knowing how to prepare for a new website can save time, reduce delays and make the entire project run more smoothly.