So, you know you need a new website.

You’ve been stalking website designers on Instagram, saving sites you love and mentally preparing yourself to finally retire the website you threw together three years ago.

But then comes the question:

What do I actually need before I hire a website designer?

Good news: probably less than you think.

You do not need to have every word written, every photo perfectly organized or every tiny detail of your website figured out before reaching out to a designer.

That’s part of what we’re here for.

But there are a few things that are helpful to think about before starting your website project.

Here’s what I recommend having or at least starting to think about before hiring a website designer.

(1) A General Idea of What Your Business Offers

You don’t need perfectly written service descriptions yet, but you should have a pretty good idea of what you’re selling.

What are your main services or products?

Who are they for?

How do people currently work with you?

Are there services you want to add or remove?

Your website designer can help you figure out the best way to organize and present everything, but having your actual offers nailed down makes the process a whole lot easier.

And if your answer is currently, “Well… I kind of do everything,” this might be a good opportunity to simplify before we start designing.

(2) An Idea of Who You Want to Reach

Who do you want visiting your website?

You don’t need a 17-page ideal client workbook detailing where she buys her coffee and what she watches on Netflix.

But you should know who you’re trying to reach.

Maybe you’re a photographer who wants to book more luxury weddings.

Maybe you’re a contractor looking for homeowners in a specific area.

Maybe you’re a therapist who wants to grow a private practice.

Maybe you’re a small business that’s ready to attract a completely different type of client than you did when you started.

Your website should be designed with those people in mind.

(3) Your Branding Or a Plan for It

If you already have established branding, amazing.

Gather your logo files, colors, fonts and any brand guidelines you have.

If you don’t have professional branding yet, that’s okay too.

At minimum, start thinking about how you want your business to feel.

Modern? Coastal? Bold? Minimal? Feminine? Editorial? Fun? Professional?

Pinterest boards and saved websites can be really helpful here.

And please don’t feel like you need to design your own logo in Canva the night before your website project starts just so you can check this box.

If you need branding, talk to your website designer about it first.

(4) Photos

Good photos can make a HUGE difference in your website.

If you’re the face of your business, professional brand photos are one of the best investments you can make before your website design.

Think beyond just getting one good headshot.

You’ll want a mix of horizontal and vertical photos, photos of you actually working, detail shots, your products, your space and anything else that helps tell the story of your business.

If you’re a photographer, builder, designer or anyone else whose work is highly visual, start gathering your best portfolio images too.

And if professional photography isn’t in the budget right now, don’t panic. Depending on your business, we can incorporate quality stock photography where it makes sense.

(5) Your Website Copy

Yes, eventually we’re going to need words.

Your website copy is everything from your homepage headline to your About page, service descriptions, FAQs and calls to action.

But this is where I want to make something very clear:

You don’t need all of this written before you reach out to a website designer.

In fact, please reach out before you’re completely ready.

Once we know what pages your website needs and how everything will be organized, it’ll be much easier to determine exactly what content you’ll need to provide.

If you’re writing the copy yourself, your designer can give you direction on what is needed for each page.

And if writing about yourself makes you want to close your laptop and walk away forever, hiring a copywriter is always an option too.

(6) A List of Websites You Like

This one is actually fun.

Start paying attention to websites you naturally gravitate toward.

They don’t even need to be businesses in your industry.

Maybe you love the layout of one website, the fonts on another and the overall feeling of a completely different one.

Send them over.

It helps your designer understand what you’re drawn to visually.

And equally helpful?

Tell us what you DON’T like.

Sometimes knowing you hate super-minimal websites or don’t want anything overly colorful tells me just as much as seeing what you love.

(7) An Idea of What Your Website Needs to Do

A website isn’t just there to look pretty.

Think about what you actually need people to be able to do once they’re there.

Do you want them to:

Fill out a contact form?

Book an appointment?

Purchase a product?

Join an email list?

View your portfolio?

Read your blog?

RSVP to an event?

Download a freebie?

Your designer needs to know what functionality you need so they can recommend the right setup and make sure the website actually works for your business.

(8) Your Domain – If You Already Have One

Already own your domain? Great.

You don’t need to transfer it or start messing with DNS settings before your project begins.

Please don’t.

Just make sure you know where you purchased it and that you can log into the account.

If you don’t have a domain yet, that’s completely fine too. Your designer can help you figure out what to purchase and where to purchase it.

(9) Your Timeline

Think about when you’d ideally like your website to launch.

Is there a specific event you’re working toward?

A new business launch?

A busy season?

The new year?

Or are you simply ready to get it done?

If you have a hard deadline, tell your designer before booking.

Website designers typically schedule projects in advance, and availability can vary depending on the time of year.

The earlier you reach out, the better.

(10) A Realistic Budget

Website design is an investment, and pricing can vary a LOT depending on what you need.

A five-page service-based website is going to be a very different project from an e-commerce site with 100 products.

Before reaching out, have a general idea of what you’re comfortable investing.

And don’t be afraid to ask about payment plans.

Many website designers — myself included — offer payment options that let you spread the investment out rather than paying for everything at once.

The Biggest Thing You Need? You Need to Be Ready.

Not perfectly prepared.

Just ready.

Ready to finally get the outdated website off your to-do list.

Ready to organize the photos.

Ready to write the copy.

Ready to answer the questions your designer sends you.

Ready to actually make the time to get the project done.

Because here’s the thing: you don’t need to have everything finished before you hire a website designer.

That’s why there’s a process.

When my clients book a website design with me, I walk them through what I need before their scheduled design date so they aren’t left wondering what to send me or when.

We’ll get your content together, organize everything and make sure I have what I need before I start designing.

You don’t have to show up on day one with a perfectly organized folder and your entire website mapped out.

We’ll get there.

Thinking About a New Website?

If you’ve been waiting until you have everything figured out before reaching out, consider this your permission to stop waiting.

You can contact me while you’re still gathering photos.

You can contact me before your copy is written.

You can contact me when your current website is a hot mess and you have absolutely no idea where to start.

That’s normal.

We’ll figure out what you need, what you don’t need and the best way to bring it all together.

Ready to get your new website on the calendar? Let’s talk.