A clear website brief is the cheapest way to get a better website — it helps your designer build the right thing the first time, with less back-and-forth and fewer surprises. You don’t need to be technical; you just need to be clear about your business.
Start with the why
Before pages and pictures, answer the big question: what do you want this website to achieve? More enquiries? Online bookings? Sales? Looking credible? Everything else flows from this. Name one or two main goals and you’ve already done the hardest part.
What to include in your brief
- About your business: what you do, who you serve, and what makes you different.
- Your audience: who your ideal customer is and what they care about.
- Goals: the main action you want visitors to take.
- Pages you think you need: a rough list — home, services, about, contact, etc.
- Content you have: logo, photos, existing text, or note what you’ll need help creating.
- Examples: two or three sites you like (and why), and any you dislike.
- Practicalities: rough budget, timeframe, and your current domain and hosting.
Don’t over-engineer it
A brief can be a single page or a short email — clarity beats length. A good developer will ask questions to fill the gaps. The point is to start from your business goals, not a list of features you saw somewhere.
If you’d rather talk it through than write it down, that works too. We’ll turn a conversation into a plan and a proper site. See our web design or start your project.
FAQ
Do I need to know exactly what pages I want?
No — a rough idea is plenty. Part of a good designer’s job is recommending the right structure for your goals.
What if I don’t have photos or text yet?
Say so in the brief. Content can be created as part of the project — we offer copywriting and photography.
How detailed should my budget be?
A realistic range is enough. It helps your designer recommend an approach that fits rather than over- or under-building.
