Planning resource
Make the important decisions before design begins. This checklist turns a broad idea into a website that can be scoped, quoted and built clearly.
Before design starts
There is no need to write a technical specification. Accurate business information gives the designer something real to organise, quote and build.
Begin with people
Name the main customer groups and the questions each group asks
Choose English, Spanish or additional languages from real customer needs
List services and genuine service areas
Decide whether every service is available in every area
Identify seasonal visitors, residents and overseas buyers where relevant
Home, service, about, work or evidence, contact and appropriate legal pages
A clear next step on every important page
Phone, enquiry form, booking or payment routes
Confirmation messages and who receives each enquiry
Information customers need before committing
Use real material
Assign an owner for every page. Gather accurate service details, prices where useful, frequently asked questions, team or business information and proof of work. List the photographs needed and confirm permission to use them. Avoid placeholder content when the real material will change the layout.
Confirm who owns and renews the domain
Choose who controls DNS and do not change it without a launch plan
List required business email addresses and devices
Agree administrator access and handover
Record hosting price, backups, maintenance and exit arrangements
Be findable for the right reasons
Use consistent business names, contact details, opening hours and genuine locations. Decide which page best supports each real service and area. Prepare accurate Google Business Profile categories, services and photographs. Do not create extra town pages without distinct useful information.
Know what the website collects
List every form, analytics tool, video embed, map, chat tool and advertising tag. Identify which cookies or personal data they use. Shops also need documented product, price, tax, payment, delivery, cancellation and returns information. Use the Spanish legal-requirements overview as a planning prompt and obtain tailored advice when needed.
Before work begins
Approved page list and functions
Named person supplying business facts and approvals
Review stages and decision dates
What is included, separately quoted or deliberately excluded
Redirect plan for an existing site
Browser, device and form tests before launch
Training, access and support after launch
Start with a conversation
Tell Jon what the business does and what you need the website to achieve.