How to prepare for website development: a checklist for business owners
What studios and freelancers ask before starting, which materials and access to prepare, who should write the copy and how not to get lost between a designer, a copywriter and a developer.
Contents
A website rarely “breaks” at the design or coding stage. Most problems start before the project even begins: an unclear goal, no copy, photos found at the last minute and nobody to approve revisions. In this article, I’ve gathered what studios and freelancers ask before building a website, which materials are worth preparing and how to go through the process without unnecessary stress.
Who will build the website: a team or one responsible person
Before preparing, it’s worth understanding who you’ll work with. That determines how much you’ll have to gather and hand over yourself. A classic turnkey website involves several specialists:
When tasks are split between different people, you have to explain your business to each of them, pass mockups from the designer to the developer and make sure nothing gets lost. Often a separately ordered design is later “cut down” to fit the developer’s limitations, and the copy doesn’t fit the mockups.
A website built by one person from structure to code doesn’t fall apart at the seams: the copy is written for the design, the design for the task, and development doesn’t simplify what was planned.
Step 1. Define the goal of the website
Every brief starts with the goal. It determines the website format, the structure and what counts as success. Answer these questions:
- What should the visitor do? Send a request, book, call, buy.
- Where will they come from? Ads, Google search, social media or a referral.
- How will you know the website works? The number of enquiries, calls or bookings per month.
- Which format do you need? A landing page, business card website, multi-page or corporate website.
If you’re unsure about the format, start with the article “Which website to choose for your business”.
Step 2. Tell the contractor about your business and clients
The best copy isn’t made up — it comes from your answers. Prepare a short story, even as voice messages:
- what you do and which services or products you offer;
- who your clients are: age, city, businesses or individuals, what matters to them;
- how you differ from competitors and why clients choose you;
- which questions and objections clients raise most often;
- prices or your pricing principle, terms of work, guarantees.
Step 3. Gather your materials
This is what almost every studio asks for. The more is ready at the start, the faster the project moves:
- Logo — ideally in vector format (SVG, AI, EPS or PDF), plus PNG.
- Brand identity — colours, fonts and a brand book, if you have one.
- Photos — of the team, office, projects, products and work process. Your own photos inspire more trust than stock images.
- Work examples and case studies — with short descriptions of the task and result.
- Client reviews — text, screenshots or video.
- Certificates, licences, awards, if they confirm your expertise.
- Contacts — phone numbers, messengers, email, addresses and opening hours.
Step 4. Agree on who writes the copy
Many studios expect ready-made copy from the client — and the project stalls for weeks because there’s no time to write it. And copy written “however it turns out” often talks about the company rather than the benefit to the client.
With me, copy is part of the work: I run a short interview, analyse competitors and write a structure and copy that explain your value in plain language. You just approve and refine.
Clients don’t read a website — they look for the answer to their question. Your copy should give that answer faster than your competitors’.
Step 5. Pick example websites and competitors
- 3–5 websites you like, not necessarily from your niche. Write down what exactly you like: colours, presentation, animations, usability.
- 2–3 websites you don’t like — just as useful for avoiding unwanted decisions.
- Competitors’ websites — to understand how to stand out.
Step 6. Prepare access and technical details
If the website or services already exist, access will be needed. If not, we’ll set them up together:
- Domain — access to the registrar or DNS settings.
- Hosting — access to the control panel.
- Existing website — the admin panel, if it’s a redesign.
- Google Analytics, Search Console, Google Business Profile — if already connected.
- Meta Business and social media — for the pixel and integrations.
- CRM, email, online booking, payment systems — if the website needs to work with them.
Step 7. Don’t forget the legal side
- Privacy policy — required if the website collects names, phone numbers or emails through forms (in the EU, under the GDPR).
- Cookie banner — if you use analytics or advertising pixels.
- Terms and conditions and payment terms — if you accept payments on the website.
- Company details — for contacts and documents; in some countries, such as Germany, a legal notice (Impressum) is required.
Step 8. Agree on organisational details
- One person on your side who approves revisions. When five people share their opinions, the project stalls.
- Timeline and stages — what you’ll see and when, and how much time you have to approve.
- Scope of work and cost — fixed before the start so there are no extra charges along the way.
- Revisions — what’s included and what counts as a new task.
- What happens after launch — training, support, who updates the content and how.
How working with me goes
- Introduction and brief — we discuss your business, clients and the goal of the website.
- Technical specification — we fix the pages, features, cost and timeline.
- Wireframe and copy — a structure and copy that explain your value.
- Design concept — the first screen, so you can evaluate the style.
- Design of all pages in the approved style.
- Development and responsive adaptation — a working website for every screen.
- Technical setup and SEO — analytics, speed, indexing.
- Launch and handover — the website on your domain, all access and a video guide.
Checklist: what to prepare before you start
- The goal of the website and the result you want (enquiries, calls, bookings).
- A story about your business, services, clients and advantages.
- Logo, colours, fonts (if you have them).
- Photos, work examples, reviews, certificates.
- Prices or your pricing principle.
- 3–5 example websites you like, and your competitors.
- Access to the domain, hosting and services (if any).
- A contact person who approves revisions.
Conclusion
Good preparation saves weeks of work and money on rework. But you don’t need to become a project manager: it’s enough to state the goal clearly, tell me about your business and gather what you already have. I take care of the structure, copy, design, development and launch — from the first meeting to the finished website. Details and prices are on the pricing page.
