TL;DR
- Find 3 to 5 websites you like. Their look, feel, and homepage layout give us a starting point.
- Decide what stays and what goes on your current site.
- Gather real photos. Phone photos can work.
- Tell us about special features early, like job listings, a store, or shipping.
What to Gather Before Your Project Starts
- Websites you like. As Beth tells clients, “Find 3 to 5 websites that have the look, feel, and homepage layout you like.”
- A keep-or-cut list. For a redesign, go through your current site and decide what stays and what goes.
- Your logo files. The original files if you have them. See What Logo File Formats Do I Need for My Website and Print?
- Real photos of your team, your work, and your space.
- Your domain. Tell us if you already have a web address.
- Special features, like job listings, a store, or shipping.
Why We Ask for Websites You Like
Custom designs start with the sites you like. Examples show us the look, feel, and layout you’re drawn to.
Can I Use an AI-Made Mockup as a Starting Point?
Yes. A layout you made with AI is a fine place to start. Just know where it falls short.
AI can design layouts your website platform can’t actually build. If you’re not technical, you won’t know which parts are possible until someone tries to build them. One client sent us an AI mockup their existing website builder couldn’t reproduce. We ended up hard-coding the changes, which takes more time to build and to maintain. See Why Avoid Custom-Coded Features on a WordPress Site?
Content is often the bigger question: what each page will say. See Do You Write Website Content, or Do I Need to Provide It?
How Much Content Will I Need?
Enough to be useful. A service page under 500 words is usually too thin to answer your visitors’ questions. Plan for each main page to explain what you do, who it’s for, and how to take the next step.
What Webmaster For Hire Recommends
- Use real photos of your business wherever you can.
- Take both shapes of photos. Portrait (tall) and landscape (wide) shots fit different parts of a page.
- Keep your photos in one folder, with a note on which photo goes where.
:: Common Questions ::
Do I Need Professional Photos?
Not always. As Beth asked one client, “Can you use your phone to get me some real photos?” Take both portrait and landscape shots.
What Happens After I Gather Everything?
See What Happens During a Website Design Project, Step by Step?
Getting Ready for a New Website?
Request a consultation, or see our Website Design Services.
