5 min read
How to plan your website project in thirty minutes
The six things to gather before asking for a website quote: a simple brief checklist for a faster project, a clearer proposal and a fairer price. Read it first.
An accurate quote starts with a clear need. You don’t need a forty-page specification: thirty minutes and these six points are enough, whether you are a tradesperson, a consultant or a shop owner.
1. What is the main goal of your website?
“Get more quote requests”, “sell our gift boxes online”, “hire”. One single main goal, in one sentence: it will guide every decision, from the menu to the colour of the button.
2. Who are your ideal clients?
Who are they, what are they looking for, what makes them hesitate? Three lines are enough. Say where they are, too: local customers don’t search the way national or international ones do.
3. What do you already have, and what needs creating?
Domain name, logo, copy, photos, old website: list what you have and what will need to be created. If your brand could use a refresh, now is the time — see our brand identity service.
4. Which websites do you like, and why?
Pick three, not necessarily in your industry. What matters is what appeals to you: the mood, the clarity, an animation, the way prices are presented… Our portfolio can be a starting point too.
5. Which features are must-haves?
Booking, payment, client area, blog, multiple languages? Separate the essentials from the “nice to haves”. Torn between showcasing and selling? Read business website or online store: how to choose?
6. What budget and deadline?
A budget range commits you to nothing and avoids proposing a solution that is out of reach — or undersized. Same for timing: a trade show, an opening, a season?
Our quote form asks exactly these questions. Fill it in with your answers: we will get back to you within 48 hours with a clear proposal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a full website brief before contacting a web designer?
For a business website or a small online store, no: a single page answering the six questions in this article is enough. The studio then turns your answers into a sitemap and page designs.
What should a small business website include?
At minimum: what you do and who it is for, where you work, your services or products, proof (reviews, past projects), full contact details and one clear action (call, book, request a quote).
How long does it take to build a business website?
Usually four to eight weeks from the first call to launch. The timeline depends mostly on content: when copy and photos are ready, the project moves fast.
What if I have no copy or photos?
That's common. Copywriting and photography can be part of the project: just tick them in the quote form.