What to prepare before your website brief
Ten minutes of preparation saves a day of back-and-forth. Here is exactly what to gather before you start a website project.
A 48-hour website only works if the first hour is spent designing, not chasing files. The good news: everything I need fits in one folder, and most of it you already have.
Here is what to gather before you open the brief form. None of it has to be perfect. It just has to exist.
1. Your logo, in the best file you have
An SVG or PDF is ideal because it stays sharp at any size. A large PNG with a transparent background works too. A screenshot of your Facebook page does not, but tell me and I will work around it.
No logo yet? That is fine. I design one together with your website, included in the price.
2. The words, even as bullet points
Most people stall here, so lower the bar. I do not need finished copy. I need the facts only you know:
- What you do, in one sentence a customer would say
- Who it is for, and who it is not for
- Your services or products, with prices if you show them
- Opening hours, address, phone and the email that should receive enquiries
- The three questions customers ask you most often
That last one is the most useful line in any brief. The questions people ask on the phone are the sections your website is missing.
3. Photos you are proud of
Real photos of your place, your team and your work beat stock photography every time. Phone photos are fine if they are sharp and taken in daylight. Send more than you think you need; choosing is my job.
If you do not have any yet, I use carefully chosen stock photography for launch and you swap in your own later from the control panel.
4. Two or three sites you like
They do not have to be in your industry. Tell me one thing you like about each: the calm layout, the big photos, the way the menu works. Specific likes are more useful than a list of adjectives.
5. The one action that matters
Every good website has a single main job. Book a table. Request a quote. Call now. Decide yours before the brief, because it shapes every page I design.
If a visitor only does one thing on your site, what should it be?
What you do not need
- A sitemap or wireframes. I plan the structure.
- Hosting or a domain. Both are included for the first year.
- Technical decisions. You will edit everything from a simple control panel.
Have the folder ready? Start your brief. The clock starts when it is complete, and you will see your first design the next day.
