7 things to prepare before you order a website

A web project moves faster and more smoothly when both sides know from the start what they are building. You don't need a long technical document. You need clear answers to a handful of basic questions. Here are seven things worth preparing before your first meeting with the studio that will build your website.

1. The goal of the website

What should the website do for your business? Bring in phone calls, bookings, online orders or quote requests, or simply show who you are? One clear main goal guides every other decision, from the structure of the site to the buttons on each page. If you have several goals, rank them by importance.

2. The customers you want to reach

Who will visit the site? Think about their age, where they are, the language they speak and the device they use most. A site for tourists looking for a hotel in Tirana has different needs from a site for companies looking for a supplier in Prishtina. Also write down the questions customers ask you most often: they usually tell you what belongs on the site.

3. Examples you like, and ones you don't

Collect three to five websites you like, from any industry, and note why: the colors, the simplicity, the photography, the way information is organized. A list of sites you dislike is just as useful. It saves both sides a lot of time during the design phase.

4. Content: texts, photos and logo

Content is one of the most common reasons projects get delayed. Before you start, check what you already have and what is missing:

• Your logo, ideally in a vector format such as SVG, AI or PDF.
• Texts about the business, your services or your products.
• Good-quality photos of the business, the team, the space or the products.
• Contact details, opening hours and address.
• Translations, if the site will be in more than one language.

If something is missing, that's fine, but say so early, so that copywriting or a photo shoot can be planned in.

5. The pages and features you need

Make a simple list of pages, for example Home, About, Services, Gallery and Contact, and of the features you need: a contact form, bookings, an online store, card payments, a blog, two languages. Then split it into two groups: what you need from day one and what can be added later.

6. Budget and timeline

Even a rough budget helps a lot, because it shows which solution is realistic. As a reference, at Hap Web-in a one-page presentation website starts from €450 and a multi-page business website from €950. Remember the yearly costs too, such as domain, hosting and maintenance. As for timing, think about whether there is a date that can't move, like an opening, a season or an event, and mention it from the start.

7. Who decides and gives feedback on your side

Choose one person who talks to the studio, gathers comments from everyone else and makes the final call. When feedback comes from many people pulling in different directions, the project slows down. Plan your own time as well: you will usually be asked to review the design and versions of the site several times along the way, and quick replies keep the project on schedule.

Before the first meeting

Your answers don't need to be perfect. Even short notes on each point make the first conversation far more useful and the offer you receive more accurate. A quick recap:

• The main goal of the site.
• Who your customers are.
• Examples you like and dislike.
• Texts, photos and logo.
• A list of pages and features.
• A rough budget and deadline.
• The person who decides on your side.