Website Planning Checklist: Questions to Answer Before We Begin

Understanding Your Business and Target Audience

Who are you and what do you do?

This might seem obvious, but articulating your business's core purpose in simple terms helps designers capture your essence. Are you a boutique accounting firm specializing in small businesses? A sustainable fashion brand targeting eco-conscious millennials? The more specific, the better.

Example: "We're a family-owned bakery specializing in gluten-free pastries, serving health-conscious food lovers who don't want to sacrifice taste for dietary restrictions."

Who is your ideal customer?

Create detailed personas of your target audience including:

• Age range

• Location

• Income level

• Education

• Pain points your business solves

• Online behaviors and preferences

Example: "Our primary customers are urban professionals, 28-45, with disposable income who are either gluten-intolerant or choose a gluten-free lifestyle. They're tech-savvy, research-oriented, and value quality ingredients and craftsmanship."

What sets you apart from competitors?

Identify your unique selling proposition (USP) and how it should be showcased on your website.

Example: "Unlike other gluten-free bakeries that use premade mixes, we develop all our recipes from scratch using heritage grains and traditional fermentation methods, resulting in superior taste and texture."

Defining Your Website Goals and Objectives

What is the primary purpose of your website?

Different goals require different designs. Common website goals include:

• Generating leads or sales

• Building brand awareness

• Showcasing a portfolio

• Providing information or education

• Building community

Example: "Our primary goal is to drive online orders for local delivery and pickup, with a secondary goal of booking custom cake consultations."

What specific actions do you want visitors to take?

Define concrete conversion goals like:

• Make a purchase

• Fill out a contact form

• Sign up for a newsletter

• Download a resource

• Book an appointment

Example: "We want visitors to (1) browse our product catalog, (2) place an online order, and (3) sign up for our monthly recipe newsletter."

How will you measure success?

Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your goals:

• Sales or leads generated

• Website traffic

• Time spent on site

• Return visitor rate

• Social shares

Example: "Success means 200+ online orders per month, an average cart value of $35+, and 50 new newsletter subscribers monthly."

Design Preferences and Inspiration

What brands or websites do you admire?

Collect 5-10 examples of websites that resonate with you, specifically noting what you like about each one.

Example: "We love [Competitor A]'s product photography style, [Brand B]'s clean navigation, and [Website C]'s shopping cart experience."

What impression do you want to convey?

Consider the emotional response you want from visitors:

• Professional and trustworthy

• Creative and innovative

• Warm and approachable

• Luxury and exclusive

• Playful and energetic

Example: "We want to come across as warm and artisanal while still appearing professional and reliable for custom orders."

Do you have existing brand elements?

Gather any brand assets you already have:

• Logo and variations

• Color palette

• Typography

• Image style guidelines

• Voice and tone guidelines

Functional Requirements

What essential features does your website need?

Common features include:

• E-commerce capabilities

• Blog or news section

• Customer account portal

• Booking/appointment system

• Image galleries

• Video integration

• Contact forms

• Social media integration

• Language options

Example: "We need an e-commerce system with online ordering, a blog section for recipes, an allergen filtering system, and an event calendar for classes and pop-ups."

What platforms do you need to integrate with?

Consider existing tools your business uses:

• Social media platforms

• Email marketing services

• Customer relationship management (CRM) systems

• Payment processors

• Inventory management systems

• Booking software

Example: "We need to integrate with Square for payments, Mailchimp for email marketing, and Google Calendar for custom order consultations."

What content do you have or need to create?

Take inventory of existing and needed content:

• Product descriptions and images

• Team bios and photos

• Service descriptions

• Company history/about information

• Blog posts

• FAQs

• Testimonials and reviews

Practical Considerations

What is your budget for this project?

Be prepared to discuss:

• Initial design and development costs

• Ongoing maintenance expenses

• Content creation needs

• Hosting and domain fees

• Add-on features or future phases

Example: "We have $7,500 budgeted for initial design and development, with $200/month for ongoing maintenance and updates."

What is your timeline?

Consider factors like:

• Upcoming product launches

• Seasonal busy periods

• Marketing campaign schedules

• Current website contract expirations

Example: "We need to launch before the holiday season begins in November, so ideally we'd complete the project by mid-October."

Who will manage the website after launch?

Determine who will handle:

• Content updates

• Product additions

• Blog posts

• Technical maintenance

• Security updates

Example: "Our marketing manager will handle regular content updates, but we'll need support for technical maintenance and adding new features."

Preparing for Your Design Consultation

When you've thoughtfully considered these questions, you'll be ready for a productive initial consultation with your web design team. At More Time, we use this information to create a customized proposal that addresses your specific needs and goals.

Remember that your website is an investment in your business's future. Taking time for this preparation ensures that investment delivers the strongest possible return through increased visibility, improved customer engagement, and ultimately, business growth.

Ready to get started? Contact us for a free consultation, and we'll help you transform these answers into a website that works as hard as you do.

More Time Design & Automation specializes in creating beautiful, functional websites for businesses of all sizes. Our client-centered approach ensures that every design not only looks great but also delivers measurable results.