Guide
Prepare your website
Gather the essentials before starting the design.
Your objective
By the end of this guide, you will have the elements of a brief: objective, pages, content and contact journey.
Step 1 / 5
Choose the main action
Decide what visitors should be able to do: request a callback, book, buy or find information. For an initial service website, choose one priority action and give it a clear label.
Complete this sentence: “My website should help [audience] understand [offer] and then [action].”
Example: allowing a property owner to explore your renovation work, then request an initial conversation.
Step 2 / 5
Organise the pages you need
List the questions the website should answer: what do you offer, who is it for, how does it work and how can people contact you? Group the answers into pages that are easy to navigate.
Prepare a short list: home, services, completed work if you have any, and contact. Add a page only when it meets a real need.
A page for each service can be useful when the needs and content differ. Avoid creating numerous pages that are almost identical.
Step 3 / 5
Gather your content
Collect your text, contact details, visual identity and images you are authorised to use. For each service, describe the need, what is included and the next step.
Create a folder with one document per page, your visuals and a list of anything still missing.
Use real completed work and testimonials, with the necessary permissions. Missing content needs to be prepared, rather than invented.
Step 4 / 5
Prepare the contact process
Define what happens after a click or enquiry. Who receives the message? Who calls back? What information do you actually need to respond?
Describe the journey in three lines: the visitor chooses a service, provides the useful information, then receives a clear confirmation.
For a telephone callback, explain why you ask for a number. Distinguish required fields from optional details.
Step 5 / 5
Plan the checks
Before publishing, browse the website as a new visitor on a phone and computer. Check the text, links, contact details, form and confirmations.
Prepare your checklist and identify who will approve each item before launch.
Testing the form must include checking that the enquiry reaches the correct recipient. A button displaying “sent” is not enough.
Your checklist
Tick the points you have prepared.
Ticked items remain during your visit.
Your next action
Create a document with your objective, pages and the content already available. This will be your first brief.
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