What to Prepare Before Your Website Project Starts

Before design starts, prepare a clear description of your offer, rough page copy, usable images, genuine proof and the details visitors need to contact or buy from you.

Your content does not have to be perfectly written. It does need to contain the facts. At SimplisticWeb, I provide copywriting support to improve and organize your drafts; full writing from scratch is outside the standard package.

This checklist helps you turn scattered notes into material a designer can work with.

1. Explain your business in plain language

Start with four answers:

• What do you provide?
• Who is it for?
• What problem or need does it address?
• What should a visitor do next?

For example, “I provide bookkeeping for independent consultants. I help them keep their monthly records organized. New clients start with a short consultation.”

That is useful raw material. “We create exceptional solutions for ambitious people” leaves too much unanswered.

Also note anything a visitor should know before enquiring: your service area, project types, minimum requirements or how you deliver the service.

2. Give each page a job

Prepare a simple page list before writing long paragraphs.

This is an example structure, not a rule that every website needs five pages. One focused offer might work on one page. A business with several distinct services may need more space.

Use the website packages as a starting point, then agree the page list around your actual content.

3. Write rough copy that answers customer questions

For each service, write what it is, who it is for, what is included and what happens next. Include pricing if you want it public, or explain how a quote is determined.

A useful draft might read:

“Monthly bookkeeping for self-employed consultants. You send your records by the agreed date, I organize them, and we review any missing information.”

The wording can be refined. The process and responsibilities are already clear.

Add questions people ask before becoming clients. Their concerns often deserve space on the page: timing, preparation, payment, revisions or what happens after delivery.

4. Gather images you can actually use

Put your logo files, portrait, product photos and relevant work images into one organized folder. Keep original files as well as any smaller exports.

Give each image a clear label and explain where you expect it to appear. A portrait for an About page needs a different crop from a wide project image.

Check that you have permission to use the images. If something is missing, say so early rather than filling the folder with images you found online.

Image sourcing is not included in my standard packages. We can plan the layout around what you have and identify what you will need to supply.

5. Collect genuine proof

Gather testimonials in their original wording, with the name and attribution you are allowed to publish. Keep a note of any permission or restrictions.

For portfolio projects, include:

• The client's problem or requirement.
• What you were responsible for.
• The work you delivered.
• A result you can support with evidence, if available.

If you do not have measured results, describe the finished work accurately. A clear project explanation is more useful than an invented percentage.

6. Confirm the practical details

Prepare your public email, business name, contact information, booking link and social links you want to use. For an existing site, list the pages and content you want to keep.

For a store, also prepare product descriptions, prices, options and the delivery or returns information customers need. Make a separate list of tools the website must connect to.

Supply the policy content your business needs and identify who is responsible for it. Do not treat a copied policy as finished business documentation.

7. Agree how feedback will work

Choose the person responsible for approving the website. If several people are involved, combine their feedback before sending it.

Group feedback by page and explain the reason behind a request. “Visitors need to see delivery information before buying” is easier to act on than “this section feels off.”

My packages include three revision rounds. Consolidated feedback helps those rounds address the decisions that matter.

A simple handoff folder

You can organize everything like this:

• Brief: business, audience, main action and required features.
• Page copy: one document with a heading for each agreed page.
• Images: originals with clear filenames and usage notes.
• Proof: testimonials and project details.
• Links and details: contact information, booking links and required tools.
• Open questions: anything still missing or undecided.

Ask how account access should be provided. Use the platform's appropriate access mechanism rather than putting passwords into the content document.

At SimplisticWeb, the start date is confirmed once the scope and your content are agreed. Preparing this material gives us a clearer basis for both the design and the schedule.

Ready to plan the website? Send me your project details, or book a free 15-minute call if you want help deciding what to prepare first.