How to Plan a Business Website: A 7-Step Checklist

A website works best when you plan it before anyone designs a single page. This checklist covers the seven decisions that matter most, whether you are building your first site or replacing an old one.

1. Define one clear goal

Decide what the website must do first: bring phone calls, collect enquiries, sell products or book appointments. Every page should support that goal.

2. Know who it is for

Write down who your ideal customer is, what they search for and what worries them before they buy. Use their words, not industry jargon.

3. Choose your pages

Most business sites start with Home, Services, About and Contact. Add a page for each main service so visitors and search engines find exactly what they need.

4. Prepare your content

Gather your text, photos, logo, testimonials and contact details early. Missing content is the most common reason websites launch late.

5. Pick the right platform

WordPress suits most business sites and lets you edit content yourself. Shopify or WooCommerce suit online stores. Custom code suits special requirements.

6. Make it fast and mobile friendly

Most visitors arrive on a phone. Check that text is readable, buttons are easy to tap and pages load quickly.

7. Set up search and measurement

Give every page a clear title and description (our SEO services cover this), set up your Google Business Profile if you serve a local area, and install analytics so you can see what works.

Next step

Once you have answered these seven points, you have a brief that any designer or developer can work from, and a much more accurate quote.