Planning a new website? Prep before you hire a designer

Thinking of getting a website built?

Absolutely! I’m so excited to explore this with you! Before we jump right in, let’s take a moment to pause and reflect. Planning a new website is a thrilling journey, but diving in without the right preparation can be a bit like setting off on an adventure without a map, snacks, or fuel. While you may still reach your destination, it can lead to unnecessary stress and unexpected detours.

Throughout my years as a brand and web designer, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with wonderful clients. I’ve noticed that those who take a little time to prepare beforehand enjoy a much smoother, more enjoyable process, resulting in a stronger final product.

So, if you’re ready to launch your business online or refresh your current site, let’s ensure we have everything organised before we begin the design process. I’m here to guide you every step of the way, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us together!

In this article

1. A clear brand identity (yes, before the website!)

Your brand identity is the personality of your business. It’s how you look, sound and feel across every touchpoint—your Instagram, your email signature, your business cards, and of course, your website.

Before you start building your site, you should already have:

A logo (and ideally a few different formats, like square and landscape versions)
A colour palette that reflects your style or values
Fonts that are easy to read and suit your vibe
A few brand images or headshots that feel natural and professional

If you don’t have these yet, it’s OK! You can work with a designer (like me!) to get them sorted before starting the web design process. Think of it as setting the stage properly so the website can do its job.

Need help? Many designers (SOLO Creative included) offer full brand packages to help you define your style, tone and visuals before you ever get near a website brief.

2. Know Who You’re Trying to Reach

When planning a new website, it’s important to remember that it’s not actually for you; it’s for your audience. This means you need to be clear about who that audience is not just in terms of age or location, but also in understanding their interests, the problems they face, and how you can help solve those issues.

That means you need to be clear on who that is. Not just in terms of age or location, but what they care about, what problems they have and how you help solve them.

Ask yourself:

Who do I really want to work with?
What are they struggling with?
What kind of language do they use?
What would make them feel like this is the right place for me when they land on my website?

If you’re not sure, you could:

Look at your current or past clients, what do they have in common?
Ask a few trusted people what they think your business stands for
Even run a quick Instagram poll to get some insights

Tip: If this part feels fuzzy, a brand strategy session can help you dig into your audience and message before you spend money on design.

3. What do you actually want your website to do?

This sounds obvious, but many people start the website process without really knowing what they want the site to do.

Do you want people to:

Book your services?
Buy a product?
Get in touch for a quote?
Join your email list?

Each of these goals needs a slightly different setup. A product-based business might need an online shop. A coach might need a simple booking system or enquiry form. Someone offering creative services might need a way to showcase their portfolio.

Need help here? A good designer will ask the right questions to guide you through these decisions, but it’s helpful to have some basic goals in mind before you begin.

4. Your website copy (that’s the words, not just the pictures)

Here’s where many people get stuck when planning a new website, It’s easy to think a designer will handle everything. Most won’t write your entire website for you, unless you’ve agreed on that as part of the project.

Your copy is the voice of your business. it’s one of the most important parts of planning a new website. It tells your visitors what you do, who you do it for, why it matters and how they can take the next step.

You’ll need to write (or get help writing):

A homepage introduction
A clear services or offerings page
An About page (yes, people really do read this!)
Contact details
Calls to action like “Get in touch”, “Book now” or “Download your free guide”

If writing makes you want to hide under a duvet, don’t panic. Many designers work alongside copywriters or can recommend one. At SOLO Creative, I work with fab creatives who can help find your voice if you’re struggling to put your story into words.

5. Images & media (make it visual!)

A good website doesn’t just tell people what you do, it shows them.

Your site will look far more professional and trustworthy with high quality images. That doesn’t mean you need a fancy brand shoot (although those are lovely). It just means the visuals need to be clear, cohesive and on-brand.

Types of images to think about:

Headshots or photos of you doing your thing
Product photos or portfolio shots
Lifestyle images that support your message (e.g. behind-the-scenes, flat lays, location images)
Icons, graphics or illustrations that fit your style

Don’t have any images yet? You can book a local brand photographer, or I can help source royalty-free stock photos that feel true to your vibe.

6. Domain & hosting (the tech bit)

This is the bit many people find confusing, but it’s not as scary as it sounds.

Your domain is your website address (like www.yourbusiness.co.uk).

Your hosting is the place where your website “lives” online.

You need both before we can launch your site. If you already have them, great. If not, I can help recommend providers that suit your needs and budget.

Tip: Try to keep your domain name short, easy to spell and consistent with your business name. And always go for a professional email address like [email protected] rather than a Gmail or Yahoo one.

7. Page structure (AKA your website blueprint)

Before we build the actual pages, you need to know what pages you want and what needs to go on each one.

Here’s a common structure when planning a new website:

Home
About
Services or Products
Testimonials or Case Studies
Contact
Blog (optional)

We can always tweak this based on your needs, but it helps to have a rough idea of what pages you want, and what content should go where. It makes designing the layout so much easier.

8. Tech tools & functionality

Depending on what your website needs to do, there may be some tech tools to consider:

Contact forms or booking calendars
Email list sign-up forms
SEO tools to help people find you on Google
Google Analytics to track visitors and behaviour

None of this needs to be overwhelming. If you know what you need, brilliant. If not, that’s part of the design process. I’ll help you figure it out.

9. DIY or Done-For-You?

One final thing to think about: how hands-on do you want to be?

Do you want a website you can edit yourself once it’s built? Or would you prefer someone else to handle updates and changes for you?

At SOLO Creative, I offer both options. You can have a website built on WordPress that you can manage on your own, a content management system (with a training video to help), or we can book in monthly support if you’d rather hand that part over.

10. Final Checklist & What Happens After Launch

Before we go live, we’ll make sure:

Your site works perfectly on mobile
All links and buttons are tested
Your images are optimised to load quickly
SEO basics are set up so your site can be found on Google
You’ve got a launch plan (even if it’s as simple as an Instagram post and an email to your list)

Remember, launching is just the beginning. Your website will grow with your business. It’s totally normal to revisit and update it over time.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re thinking, “OK, I’m not 100% ready yet”, that’s totally fine. Most people aren’t. The good news is if you a planning a new website, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

I work with business owners to guide them through this whole process. From brand clarity to launch day. Whether you’ve got a clear vision or just a scribble in a notebook, I’d love to help you bring it to life.

Book your free 30 min intro call

A 30 min consultation to understand your business and goals.

Book a 30 min call

or text/ whats app / call 07368 392 650

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