Ask any web studio what delays projects most and the answer is rarely design or development. It's content: the logo that's "somewhere on an old laptop", the About page that's "almost written", the photos that still need taking. Getting a few things ready before day one can cut weeks off your timeline.
1. The basics
- Business name exactly as you want it shown
- Domain name, or the names you'd like to check availability for
- Logo in the best quality you have (SVG, AI or a large PNG with a transparent background)
- Brand colours and fonts, if you already use them
- Contact details: email, phone, WhatsApp number, address and opening hours if relevant
2. Your customers and your offer
A few honest sentences are worth more than a polished paragraph:
- Who is your ideal customer, and what problem brings them to you?
- What do you sell? List your main services or products.
- Why do customers choose you over alternatives?
- What should a visitor do on the site: call, book, buy, enquire?
- Which cities, regions or countries do you serve?
3. Content you already have
Gather whatever exists, even if it's rough: text from an old site or brochure, service descriptions, FAQs you answer often, testimonials, reviews, certifications, awards and case studies. Rough material is far easier to improve than a blank page.
4. Photos and media
Real photos of your team, workspace, products or completed work build more trust than stock images. Phone photos taken in good daylight are often perfectly usable. If you'll rely on stock images, say so up front so they're included in the plan.
5. Websites you like (and don't)
Share two or three sites you like and one you don't, with a sentence on why. "I like how clean this is" or "this one feels too busy" helps a designer understand your taste faster than any mood board.
6. Practical details
- Who on your side approves designs and copy?
- Any deadline, such as a launch, event or campaign?
- Logins for your current website, domain registrar and hosting, if you have them
- Any must-have features: booking, payments, multiple languages, blog
Copy-ready brief template
Business: [name] · [website, if any]
What we do: [one or two sentences]
Ideal customer: [who, and what problem they have]
Main goal of the website: [e.g. phone enquiries, bookings, sales]
Pages we think we need: [Home, Services, About, Contact…]
Areas served: [cities / countries]
Sites we like: [links + why]
Content ready: [logo / text / photos / testimonials]
Must-have features: [forms, booking, WhatsApp, blog…]
Deadline: [date, if any]
Budget range: [optional, but it helps]
You don't need every answer to get started. Send what you have, mark what's missing, and a good studio will help fill the gaps. If writing isn't your thing, ask for copywriting to be included in the quote.
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