February 11, 2021
4 min read
Prepare for your new website design with this comprehensive checklist of items you can start on today!
So you found a web designer to work with or you’re DIY-ing your website, you’ll still need to know what to gather before the build starts. This preparation process is not meant to be complicated or stressful. Instead, it should save you time from too much back-and-forth between your team and designers and ensure you accomplish your business goals with a comprehensive website plan.
So let’s get started!
First Things First
What is the Purpose of your Website?
First, reassess your business goals and what the purpose of your site is going to be. Is it converting E-Commerce sales or gaining newsletter signups? Maybe you’re informing perspective clients of your services, your completed portfolio, or booking appointments? Answer these questions:
What is the Purpose of your Website?
What will you consider a ‘Conversion’ on your site?
Next, Gather Your Assets
Prepare Brand Identity Elements for your Website Design.
In addition to answering these important questions, you’ll gather the necessary Brand Elements for your Website Designer. Here is a comprehensive list of the items you’ll need. As always, check with your professional website designer to get a full list of the items they will need for your build.
Brand Logo Assets:
- Your Main Full Logo
in EPS, JPG, PNG, SVG formats - All Logo Variations
this could be Horizontal, Vertical, Centered, etc. - Favicon Logo (minimal version)
Brand Identity Assets:
- Color Palette
in RGB or Hex Codes
- All Brand Fonts
Downloaded Zip files or Web References
- Brand Identity Guidelines
The Do’s and Don’ts of your Brand
Branded Photography:
In a similar matter, gather high-resolution images of your branded photography. No need to optimize your images for web just yet, since you’ll want to determine their placement before compressing the photos. Also, try to stay away from stock imagery unless it is REALLY on brand.
- General Brand Photos
JPG or PNG format
- About Page Images
These could be headshots, your team, your office, whatever fits the page.
- Specific Photos
For my ECommerce builds, these would be product images. For Portfolio friends, these would be your case studies and projects.
Say What you Need to Say
Prepare Your Copy for your Website Design.
Next, you can begin brainstorming about and writing your website copy. It’s good to start broad with your messages and then edit, edit, edit! I highly recommend getting a copywriter to proofread your work before sending it off to a website designer.
Copy Assets:
-
- Mission Statement
comes in handy for your site-wide messaging
- Mission Statement
-
- Call to Action Messaging
Pick one phrase for each action you want the user to engage with. For example: “Contact Us”, “Book Now” , or “Drop a Message” for contacting your business
- Call to Action Messaging
-
- SEO-Rich Home Page Copy
Do some research or hire an SEO Expert to compile home page copy that satisfies the search engines.
- SEO-Rich Home Page Copy
General Copy:
-
- About Page Information
define how you can help your audience achieve their goals or learn more about what you do
- About Page Information
-
- Business Information
Phone number, contact emails, location, etc.
- Business Information
-
- Technical Pages Information
Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Shipping Policy, Returns Policy, anything that seems boring but is necessary.
- Technical Pages Information
The Final Things
The Last Things to Prepare for your Website Design.
Lastly, these items shouldn’t be a the top of your priority list but will be very necessary before your website’s launch. Take note of them now or save this post for later so you don’t forget!
Platform Integrations:
-
- Social Media Profiles (and Logins)
Most plugins or apps will require you have the logins to activate them.
- Social Media Profiles (and Logins)
-
- Email Platform
Newsletter or Ecommerce Email Notifications are very important so start thinking about what email platform you want to use.
- Email Platform
-
- Google Analytics
Trust me, you’ll want to know what pages users are bouncing off of or looking at the most. Set up your GA Account before launch.
- Google Analytics
Other Things:
-
- FAQ Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions are good for SEO and your users!
- FAQ Questions & Answers
-
- An Idea of what Pages you’ll want
Your website designer should be able to create your navigation map, wireframe, and website plan, but it doesn’t hurt to have an idea of what pages you’ll want.
- An Idea of what Pages you’ll want
-
- Research and Create an SEO Strategy
I mentioned this briefly before – You can do the research yourself using tools like SEMRush or hire an SEO Expert to build a strategy to optimize Search Engine crawling.
- Research and Create an SEO Strategy
In Summary,
The process of building your website should be an exciting journey for you and your brand. I’m a Type-A over-planner so hopefully my checklist helps you with your website design preparations! Your website designer can thank me later. 😉
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