Reaching out to a web designer for a new website often happens in the middle of real life. Sometimes the website is part of launching the business, and sometimes it’s something that’s happening in the middle of day to day operations. It can be exciting, but it can also be a pretty hard thing to get your arms around when you’re already doing so much. And then there’s the whole part where you have to put things together before the project even starts, so that your designer isn’t shooting blind, trying to guess what you want everything to look like. Where do you even start beyond, “I know I need a website?”
We wanted to create a resource for anyone about to start a new website project, whether it’s your first time or not, to help you understand what really goes into the process and what it helps to have ready before you even reach out to a designer. Our hope is that it gives you a clearer picture up front, instead of feeling like you suddenly have just another thing added to the to-do list, and money on the line.
At Millworks, we believe a good website project starts before the build does. You do not need perfect copy or every detail figured out, but a little clarity goes a long way. When you reach out with some direction, goals, and materials already in place, the project starts with more substance and usually moves with a lot less back-and-forth. So, here’s a brief guide to help you prep for that initial kick-off meeting, and feel confident in the collaborative process between your design team and your dreams!
Design: a Piece of the Puzzle
To start off, there’s two pieces to what you should think through to get started. The first one is the more obvious one: how everything looks. People tend to think of the whole project as being central to how the new website will look. They think about layouts, colors, fonts, imagery, and a homepage that looks sharp. And you’re right to put real stock, time, and thought into what you’re dreaming up here, so let’s cover some things you can think through to make it worth your time.
The reason we choose to build websites with care and intention is because we believe that the way your website looks and feels determines what your potential customer believes about the quality of your work and the trustworthiness of your brand. A website is a tool, above all else. A communication tool, a trust-building tool, a sales tool, and more. Its job is not just to look good, its job is to clearly communicate what you do, who you do it for, why someone should trust you, and what they should do next.
So, you should absolutely dig around the internet for some examples of sites you do and don’t like! Design is half the process, after all. As you go through, really take time to figure out why your initial impression of a site, positive or negative, is coming to you. Do you like the layout, or do you just like the colors? Do you like the way it feels to scroll, but not the big bold banner, or the empty space along the sides? Does the layout feel intuitive, smooth, and easy to understand, or is it just that the chosen photography sending you a trustworthy message? Does the simplicity of the site align with the personality of the writing, or how much content is on the page? Little details like that may be the key to helping your designer understand the way that you want your website to feel, how you want people to remember your brand, and how they can clearly communicate who you are and what you do. How do you want people to understand your brand?
Figuring out these things before you sit down with a designer means that you’ll communicate with tons more clarity from the get-go, even if you never explicitly say certain things! And, it will give you confidence as you start the process that helps you feel more in control, which can make such a difference when life is already such a crazy ride.
Who You Are: the Other Half
The second piece of what you want to prepare for your designer is the part that has everything to do with who you are as an business and/or individual. While design informs how you appear to the world, the content that we design around informs why you’re choosing to appear to the world in the first place. It give your tool (your website) it’s function, purpose, and ability to work.
Here are a three simple questions that, if you can spend even 20 minutes thinking through, will help you gain clarity on what you want your website to do, how you want it to function, and what you want it to communicate to the world.
What does your business do, and who does it help?
This sounds obvious, but it is one of the places where clarity makes the biggest difference. Being able to describe your business in plain language is incredibly helpful. What do you offer? Who is it for? What problem do you solve? What do people come to you for that they cannot just get anywhere else?
What do you want the website to do?
A website might be there to generate leads, book appointments, request quotes, sell products, explain a service, or answer common questions. It can be a place to showcase past work, give people a place to learn before they call, or simply give your brand a clearer and more credible home online.
How do you want to be perceived?
Think through how you want people to experience your business when they land on your site. Professional, approachable, direct, calm, high-end, friendly, practical, warm. Those words matter, and they’re up to you. They shape the tone of the copy, the design direction, the pacing of the content, and the kind of first impression the site leaves.
If you can take maybe an hour of time over the course of a week or two to sit down and find a 2-3 website/branding examples that you do (or don’t!) like, and answer a few of these questions, you’re well over halfway done preparing everything a designer needs to make your dreams a reality. The last step would be anything specific to you that you might already have that can simply add to the initial conversation you’ll have, and that’s what we’ll touch on last.
What You Already Have: the Final Touches
Every business is unique! Depending on what your business does, there could be something specific that you want/need to be on the site; something as simple as a pricing chart or service list, or something a bit more complex like intake forms or certifications. Before you reach out to a designer, it helps to take stock of what already exists, what can be reused, and what still needs to be created. You do not need everything finished before you begin, but the truth is, having something real to hand over makes the process much easier to start, and saves both you and your design team lots of time—and can mean the project never hits a hold up!
So, think through what you may need that’s specific to you and your work that can contribute to the new project. Photography (of your space, team, or product for example,) team bios, testimonials, FAQs, brochures, PDFs, old website copy, product or service sheets, and any other information that helps explain what your business does and why someone should trust it.
A rough document is more useful than a blank page. A folder of real photos is more useful than a promise to track some down later. A few notes about what matters most to your business are more useful than expecting a designer to guess what should be emphasized. If you know you want professional photography, getting that scheduled early or having it completed before the project starts can keep the timeline much steadier. The same goes for any copy you already know you want written in your own words. It also helps to gather the practical things that often get overlooked, like logo files, brand colors, font files, domain access, hosting information, connected email services, and any existing integrations. Good organization does not make the project heavier, it helps everything run like a well oiled machine.
You do not need a perfect folder or a fully built-out content plan before reaching out. You just need to be grounded in your direction and dream so that your design team isn’t guessing things about you that might not be accurate. You don’t want (or deserve) that, and a good team cares to know who they’re working with so that they can create you a tool that helps bring you success. Plus, you’re paying them, and for that, we think it’s worth it to do everything you can to ensure you get your moneys worth out of a collaboration.
On Collaboration
A website project is collaborative by nature. You are the expert on your business, and we are the ones responsible for showing people what you do. That means your job is not to design the site or have every page figured out before you contact us. Your job is to bring the business knowledge, priorities, source material, and clarity that only you can provide. Our job is to organize that information, guide the process, and build something strong from it. When those roles are clear, the experience on both ends can be a breath of fresh air, and maybe even enjoyable amidst a busy life.
This all also means that a project timeline is shaped by more than the studio’s production schedule. It is shaped by how quickly materials come in, how clearly feedback is given, and how responsive the client can be once the project is moving. At Millworks, the people you’re sharing everything with are the people who end a call or read an email and then get right to work. There’s no middle man or lengthy process in between you and your goals. That means how you communicate with us can have a direct impact on your project. We take your business and time seriously and do our best to put real effort into understanding your dreams, and we can do that even better with some clarity.
All in One Place
We hope this guide has helped you feel a little more prepared as you take this next step in your business! Seeing a project come together from start to finish is one of our favorite parts of what we do, and the “seed” you provide us with once a conversation initially begins deserves its best chances to bloom!
To recap, here’s a quick checklist of everything we covered in this article, so you can start your project confident, and so both parties can give it the best chance to succeed.
- The ability to clearly say what your business does, who it helps, what problem it solves, and what makes it different
- A sense of what you want the website to do, whether that is bringing in leads, booking appointments, requesting quotes, selling products, building trust, or giving your business a stronger online presence
- A few words for how you want your business to be perceived online, such as professional, approachable, direct, warm, or high-end
- A few website or brand examples you like
- Notes on what you actually like about those examples, such as the layout, colors, photography, tone, personality, or overall feel
- A few things you know you do not like or want to avoid
- Any existing copy, notes, or rough written content you already have
- Real photos of your team, space, products, or work, if you have them, or a plan to get them
- Supporting materials like testimonials, reviews, brochures, PDFs, FAQs, certifications, or service sheets
- Brand assets like logo files, colors, font files, or anything else that already exists
- Any technical details tied to your current site, such as domain access, hosting information, or connected tools
- The kind of ongoing involvement that helps the project stay clear and on track
Final Thoughts
You do not need to have everything perfectly prepared before you start a website project, but a little preparation really can go a long way. When you take time to think through your goals, gather what you already have, and get clearer on how you want your business to come across, you give the whole project a stronger foundation. A website is often one of the first impressions your business gets to make, and we think that deserves real care.
We are not here to hand you a generic template and send you on your way. If you are ready to build something clear, thoughtful, and true to your business, Millworks is here to help.
Web Design