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How to Prepare for a Website Project: A Checklist for Clients
How to Prepare for a Website Project: A Checklist for Clients
Short answer: before you contact a web designer, prepare five things: your goal, a rough budget and deadline, examples you like, your content (texts, photos, logo) and access to your domain and current website. With these ready, you'll get accurate quotes and launch weeks sooner.
The checklist
1. Goals
What should the website achieve? (inquiries, sales, sign-ups, recruiting)
Who is your ideal client?
How will you measure success?
2. Budget and timeline
A budget range, even a rough one
A launch date and the reason for it (event, campaign, funding)
3. Inspiration
3–5 websites you like, and what you like about each
2–3 competitors and what you want to do better
4. Content
List of pages you need
Texts, or a decision to hire a copywriter
Photos, videos and case studies
Logo, brand colors and fonts
5. Technical access
Domain registrar login
Access to your current website and analytics
Tools to connect: CRM, newsletter, booking, payments
6. People
One person who gives feedback and approves each stage
Who will update the site after launch
Why this saves time and money
Most delays in website projects come from missing content and unclear decisions, not from design or development. A clear brief also lets designers quote a fixed scope instead of padding the price for unknowns.
FAQ
Do I need texts before the design starts?
Ideally yes, at least a draft. Design built around real content works better than design filled with placeholder text.
What if I don't know my budget?
Share a range you're comfortable with. A good designer will suggest what's realistic for that range.
What should a website brief include?
Goals, audience, pages, examples, content status, budget, deadline and the decision maker. One or two pages is enough.
Ready to start?
Send me what you have, even if the checklist isn't complete, and I'll help you fill the gaps.
Volodymyr Bogdanov, UX/UI Designer & Framer Developer at Studio Grid
Short answer: before you contact a web designer, prepare five things: your goal, a rough budget and deadline, examples you like, your content (texts, photos, logo) and access to your domain and current website. With these ready, you'll get accurate quotes and launch weeks sooner.
The checklist
1. Goals
What should the website achieve? (inquiries, sales, sign-ups, recruiting)
Who is your ideal client?
How will you measure success?
2. Budget and timeline
A budget range, even a rough one
A launch date and the reason for it (event, campaign, funding)
3. Inspiration
3–5 websites you like, and what you like about each
2–3 competitors and what you want to do better
4. Content
List of pages you need
Texts, or a decision to hire a copywriter
Photos, videos and case studies
Logo, brand colors and fonts
5. Technical access
Domain registrar login
Access to your current website and analytics
Tools to connect: CRM, newsletter, booking, payments
6. People
One person who gives feedback and approves each stage
Who will update the site after launch
Why this saves time and money
Most delays in website projects come from missing content and unclear decisions, not from design or development. A clear brief also lets designers quote a fixed scope instead of padding the price for unknowns.
FAQ
Do I need texts before the design starts?
Ideally yes, at least a draft. Design built around real content works better than design filled with placeholder text.
What if I don't know my budget?
Share a range you're comfortable with. A good designer will suggest what's realistic for that range.
What should a website brief include?
Goals, audience, pages, examples, content status, budget, deadline and the decision maker. One or two pages is enough.
Ready to start?
Send me what you have, even if the checklist isn't complete, and I'll help you fill the gaps.
Volodymyr Bogdanov, UX/UI Designer & Framer Developer at Studio Grid
