How to Prepare Before Contacting a Web Designer: Materials, Ideas, and Goals

Contacting a web designer without having at least a slight idea of what you want is like walking into a travel agency and just saying "I want to go somewhere": it can be done, but it will take much more time, more questions, and the risk of misunderstandings is high.

In this article, I will explain what is useful to prepare before contacting a web designer, so the project starts off on the right foot, quotes are more accurate, and you feel more confident in what you are asking for. And this is exactly the kind of preparation I help you focus on if we decide to work together.

Clarify Your Goals (Even Simply)

Before even talking about pages, colors, and platforms, it is essential to understand why you want a website or a redesign.

Useful questions:

• What do you want the site to do for you? (Generate leads, bookings, quote requests, sales, etc.)
• Who do you want to use it? (New clients, existing clients, collaborators, etc.)
• How will you know the site is working?

You don't need a perfect document: even a few lines are enough. When a client contacts me and already has a draft of their goals, I can tailor the project better to their needs and propose more suitable solutions instead of "guessing" what they need.

Define Your Ideal Client

A website shouldn't talk to "everyone": it should talk to the kind of person you really want to attract.

To prepare, you can:

• Think of 2–3 real clients you already have and would like to "clone."
• Write in a few lines who they are, what they do, and what problems they had when they contacted you.
• Note the language they use, the words they use to explain their problem to you.

When you come to me with this kind of information, I can design a site with copy, structure, and calls to action that actually speak to the right people, rather than remaining generic.

Gather Existing Materials and Content

Great preparation before contacting a web designer is putting together what you already have:

• Logo, colors, and brand materials (if they exist).
• Professional photos or at least decent photos of your business, your team, your products.
• Copy already used in brochures, old sites, presentations, social profiles.
• Reviews and testimonials from your best clients.

They don't have to be perfect, but gathering them saves a ton of time. In my process, when a client sends me these materials, I:

• Select and clean them up.
• Adapt them for the web.
• Suggest what needs to be rewritten from scratch and what can be salvaged.

Don't have your photos or copy ready yet? No problem, I can help you draft and refine your content. Discover my process →

Get an Idea of the Structure (Even If It Changes)

You don't need to know exactly how many pages your site will have, but it is useful to arrive with at least a draft of a structure, however simple.

For example:

• Home
• About Me / About Us
• Services (perhaps with subpages)
• Portfolio / Case Studies
• Blog / Articles
• Contact

When you contact me, we can start from this draft and decide together what makes sense to keep, remove, and add based on your goals and the kind of clients you want to reach.

Save 3–4 Sites You Like (and Explain Why)

Another easy way to prepare is to make a mini collection of sites you like or feel are "close" to what you would want.

You simply need to:

• Save 3–4 links.
• Note what you like about each one (e.g., colors, structure, photos, tone of voice, simplicity, etc.).
• Also note what you don't like, if there is something you want to avoid.

This isn't for copying, but for aligning tastes and expectations. When I work with a client, these examples help me quickly grasp the visual direction and tone they have in mind.

Think About Budget and Timeline

It's not the most fun part, but it's extremely important. Coming to a web designer with an indicative idea of your budget and timeline prevents misunderstandings and gets you more realistic quotes.

You can ask yourself:

• How much am I willing to invest in this project over the next few months?
• Do I have a specific deadline (e.g., an event, a season, compliance deadlines) or not?
• Do I prefer an "all at once" project or a solution that grows in stages?

When a client already tells me "I'd like to stay within this investment range" and "I'd like to be online by this date," I can be much clearer in proposing solutions, priorities, and workflow phases.

Decide Who Does What After the Launch

A website is not "finished" the day it launches: it must be updated, protected, and often enriched with new content. To understand all the steps needed for a successful launch, you can check out our website launch checklist before going live.

Before contacting a web designer, ask yourself:

• Who will update the content (texts, images, blog)?
• Do you want to handle technical details and maintenance yourself, or do you prefer to delegate?
• Do you want to learn how to use the site (with a short training session) or do you want someone else to handle it for you?

In my work, I clarify these aspects right from the start and can:

• Offer you basic training so you can be independent with simple tasks.
• Or propose a support and maintenance plan, so you can focus on your work and I take care of the rest.

Want to delegate technical maintenance and focus entirely on your business? Request a custom maintenance plan →

Prepare 2–3 Key Messages About Your Way of Working

More than just listing everything you do, it is useful to have clear the key messages you want the site to communicate about you or your business.

For example:

• "We are a small studio, but highly present and reachable."
• "We primarily work with local clients."
• "We focus on quality and not on the cheapest solutions."

When a client comes to me with these things clear, I can highlight them in the copy, graphic choices, and calls to action, so the site really resembles them and isn't just a generic "copy and paste."

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about Website Preparation

What materials do I need to provide to the web designer before starting?

You don't need to have everything ready immediately, but the core materials are your logo (if you have one), basic texts describing who you are and what you do, high-quality photos of your work/studio (or ideas for stock images), and your contact details.

What should I do if I don't have clear design ideas for my website?

No worries, guiding you is part of the web designer's job. A great way to start is to gather 3 or 4 links of websites you like (even from other industries) and note what you like about them (e.g., color scheme, clarity, contact forms).

Should I purchase the domain and hosting before contacting a professional?

No, it is usually best to wait and discuss it with the web designer. A professional can recommend the best hosting based on your performance needs and guide you through the purchase and technical setup to avoid errors.

What I Do With All This Information

It might seem like a lot of preparation, but you don't have to do it all alone and perfectly. My job is precisely to help you organize these ideas.

When you contact me:

• We start with a chat to clarify goals and audience.
• I guide you with simple questions to draw out materials, preferences, and priorities.
• I turn all of this into a clear structure, a sensible quote, and a concrete project.

If you arrive already with some of these things ready, we save time, you save money, and the final result is much closer to what you had in mind.