What to prepare before building a business website

Start with what visitors should do

Before choosing colours or images, write one sentence explaining who the website helps and what visitors should do next. For a tradesperson, that might mean requesting a quote; for a clinic, finding contact details; for a manufacturer, checking whether its products are suitable. One main goal helps you decide what belongs at the top of the page and what can wait.

List the questions customers ask before working with you. Their own words provide useful starting points for page names and content.

Explain your offer and its boundaries

For each service or product group, explain who it is for, what need it addresses and how to proceed. Include what you do not usually provide. Visitors can then decide whether they are in the right place without understanding your internal company structure.

If you serve different customer groups, give concrete examples of their needs. Small jobs and substantial projects can both have a place on the same website.

Gather the materials you already have

Collect your logo, usable photographs, service descriptions and contact details intended for publication. For examples of your work, note what they demonstrate and whether you can publish them. You do not need every paragraph finished, but it helps to explain which materials you will supply and where you need assistance.

If you already have a website, record its address, important pages and the features customers use. Do not send passwords with a general project enquiry.

Choose the features you need

Separate immediate needs from ideas for later. A contact form, editing your own text and adding another language each affect the scope. For every feature, explain who will use it and why. Instead of asking for a modern website, write something specific: I want to update opening hours and add photographs of completed projects without needing help.

Plan for content after launch

Decide who will check contact details, add work examples and respond to enquiries. Discuss handing over access, explaining content management and any ongoing support when the proposal is prepared. Ask what the delivery includes and what is arranged separately. A website's scope covers more than its number of pages; it also includes content and everyday use.

What to include in your first enquiry

Explain what your business does, who you want to reach, what the website should enable and whether you already have one. Include available materials or links to websites, explaining what you like about them. If you do not know some answers, say so. A clear account of your needs is more useful for the first conversation than a list of technologies.