What to prepare before you start a new website

Whoever builds your website, a little preparation makes the process faster and the result better. Use this checklist to get ready.

Decide what the site should do

Write down the one or two main actions you want visitors to take: phone you, book, request a quote or buy. Every page should help with that goal.

List the pages you need

Most small business sites start with Home, About, Services and Contact. Your plan determines how many pages you can have, so decide which ones matter most.

Gather your brand assets

• Your logo (a vector or high-resolution version if you have one)
• Brand colours and fonts, if you have them
• Photos of your work, premises or team that you have permission to use

Prepare your content

• Text about your business and each service
• Prices or "from" prices, if you want to show them
• Contact details and opening hours
• Customer reviews that you have permission to publish

Collect examples

Save links to two or three websites you like, and one or two you do not. Examples help a designer understand your taste faster than any description.

Know your accounts and access

Find out where your domain name is registered, who hosts your current site, and where your Google Business Profile and social accounts are managed.

Cover the legal basics

Most sites need a privacy policy, and a cookie notice if you use analytics or marketing cookies. Include your company details where the law requires it. If you are unsure, ask a qualified adviser.

Not sure where to begin?

You do not need everything ready on day one. When you start with Excelsites we guide you through onboarding and tell you exactly what we need.