What to get ready before your website build.
Gather the essentials once, so your project can start with the right information.
The short version
Prepare your business details, a service list, photographs and a clear idea of the action you want customers to take.
You do not need a folder full of polished copy to start a website. You do need a reliable set of facts about your business. A little preparation gives your designer something solid to work from, and it saves a fortnight of emails asking for opening hours.
Gather the basics.
Write down your business name, address or service area, contact details and opening hours. Include any seasonal changes that customers should know about.
Make a simple list of your main services or products. Note the questions people ask most often when they call or visit.
Choose your photographs.
Collect clear photos that show your premises, your team and the work you do. Keep the original files where possible - a picture sent through a messaging app has usually been shrunk too far to print across a screen.
Check that you have permission to use them, especially when customers or other people are identifiable.
Agree the scope.
Decide which pages you need and what a visitor should do next. Ask what is included in the build, who owns the finished work and how future edits are handled.
Keep domain registration, hosting and any third-party booking subscriptions visible in the discussion. Confirm responsibilities and ongoing costs before work begins.
Start with accurate information. The design has something solid to build on.
Your pre-build checklist.
0 of 3 checked
A few common questions.
I do not have any good photographs. Is that a problem?
It is worth solving rather than working around. A phone camera in daylight, on a tidy day, will do more for the site than stock photography of someone else’s shop. Say so early and it can be planned into the build.
Who should own the domain name?
You should, registered in your business name, whoever sets it up. Ask for the login. It is the one part of a website that is genuinely difficult to recover later.