What to Prepare Before Hiring a Web Designer
Make your web project run smoother by preparing these essentials before kickoff. A checklist that saves time and money.
The best web projects start with good preparation. Here's what to have ready before your first meeting with a web designer — and what you don't need to worry about yet.
Essential: Must Have Ready
1. Clear Business Goals
What do you want the website to achieve? Be specific:
Vague goals like "look professional" don't help. Specific outcomes guide every design decision.
2. Examples of Sites You Like
Find 3-5 websites you admire. They don't need to be competitors — any site that captures something you want. Note what specifically you like about each:
3. Target Audience Understanding
Who are your customers? What do they care about? What problems are they trying to solve when they find you? The more you understand your audience, the better the site will serve them.
4. Competitor Awareness
Who are your main competitors online? What do they do well? What could be better? This helps position your site effectively.
5. Budget Range
Even a rough range helps. There's a massive difference between a £1,500 project and a £10,000 project — knowing your budget helps designers recommend appropriate solutions.
6. Timeline Requirements
Do you have a deadline? A launch date? An event the site needs to be ready for? Be realistic — rushing projects rarely ends well.
Important: Should Have Ready
7. Brand Assets
If you have them:
Don't have them? Not a problem — many designers can help establish these.
8. Content Outline
You don't need finished copy, but knowing what pages you need and roughly what each should cover is helpful:
9. Photography & Images
High-quality photos of your work, team, or premises make a huge difference. Stock photos can fill gaps, but real images build more trust.
10. Technical Requirements
Any specific needs?
Don't Worry About Yet
Detailed Copy
Final website copy usually comes after design. Focus on what you want to say, not the exact words yet.
Every Page Planned
You don't need to map every single page. Start with the core pages; the structure often evolves during design.
Technical Specifications
Unless you have strong preferences, let your designer recommend the technical approach.
Perfect Photos
Good photos help, but a skilled designer can work with what you have or recommend stock alternatives.
The Kickoff Conversation
With these essentials ready, your first conversation with a designer will be productive rather than exploratory. You'll get:
Time spent preparing upfront saves time (and money) throughout the project.
**Ready to start your web project?** Book a free call and let's discuss what you're looking to build.