A website goes faster, costs less and turns out better when you arrive prepared. The most common cause of delay is waiting for content, which only you can supply. Use this checklist to gather it before you brief a designer.
Decide what the website must do
Pick one main action you want visitors to take: call, message you on WhatsApp, book, request a quote or buy. Every page should point towards it. A site with one clear job is quicker to design and easier to judge once it is live.
Collect your business basics
- Your business name, spelled the way you want it shown.
- Your address or the areas you serve, phone number, WhatsApp number and email.
- Opening hours, including public holidays.
- Registration details, if you want them in the footer.
Make these identical to your Google Business Profile. Matching details help local search.
Gather your brand
Bring your logo in the highest quality you have, plus your brand colours and fonts if you have them. If you do not have a logo yet, say so early. Logo design starts at R1,500 and a branding kit at R2,500, and it is better made alongside the site than squeezed in afterwards.
Write the words, or plan to commission them
Most sites need a short description of what you do, a paragraph on each service or product, an about section, and answers to the questions customers ask you most. Rough notes are enough to start with. If you would rather not write, copywriting starts at R500 a page.
Find your best photos
Real photos of your work, premises and team beat stock images, because visitors can tell. Phone photos taken in good light are often enough. Check you have permission to show anyone who appears in them, and keep the original full-size files.
List the proof you can show
Genuine reviews, client names you have permission to mention, certifications, memberships and years in business all build trust. Use only what is true and can be backed up. An empty proof section is better than an invented one.
Gather your accounts and logins
- Where your domain is registered, and who it is registered to. It should be in your name or your business's name.
- Your current website and its logins, if you have one.
- Your social media profiles, Google Business Profile and Google Analytics, if they exist.
Getting control of these early avoids the most painful delays. Our guide to choosing a web design agency explains why ownership matters.
Get the legal pieces ready
A website that collects names, emails or phone numbers needs a privacy notice under POPIA, and a store also needs delivery and returns terms. Our POPIA website checklist lists what to prepare.
Show two or three sites you like
Examples save hours of guessing. Note what you like about each, and share one you dislike too. Competitors' sites are worth a look as well, not to copy, but to see what customers in your market are used to.
Be honest about budget and timing
Say what you can spend and when you need the site. A good designer will recommend what fits, including a smaller start that you grow from. Our prices are on the pricing page, and our cost guide shows what the wider market charges. For how long things take, see how long a website takes to build.
How many pages does a small business website need?
Many small businesses are well served by about five: Home, About, Services, Contact and one more such as Pricing or Gallery. Foundation covers up to five pages and Structure up to 15.
Do I need professional photos before I start?
No. Clear phone photos in good light are a good start, and you can add professional photography later. Avoid stock images of people pretending to be your team.
What if I have no content yet?
You can still start. We plan the pages with you, and copywriting starts at R500 a page, but expect the project to take longer while the words are written.
Who should approve the design?
One person with the authority to say yes. Feedback from several people at once is a common cause of delay, so gather it first and send a single set of changes.