You’ve done the planning, the groundwork is set and you’re ready to commission some work. The excitement of a rebrand, new website or marketing project is real. It’s easy to get super interested in the details before you’ve looked at the bigger picture, and you want to make sure your project kicks off with a strong start and clear direction. Before we get started, here are the top 8 unmissable things to think about when we’re working on your project.
1. Goals
There’s a good reason this is number #1: without clearly defined goals, your project will be muddled before you start. What do you want to achieve? Do you want a brand new website, a refresh, a facelift or a full rebrand? It’s important to set out your goals so you know exactly what you want your project to achieve and measurements so you know when you will have achieved those goals.
2. Deadline
When your project is due is just as important as what you want it to achieve. All design projects take time and careful consideration, so make sure you’ve got a clear idea of your deadlines and when stakeholders need to review. More on that in Approvals.
3. Budget
The B word. It can be a delicate subject, but how much do you want to spend? Costs can vary widely, depending on what you’re looking for. With project costs coming in anywhere between £2000 and £200,000, make sure you know what your budget is and where the room is for any flexibility. We treat all jobs with the utmost care, regardless of your budget. We want what’s right for you and your brand.
4. Approvals
Before we start, make a list of everyone involved in the project and meet to decide on responsibilities. This will make it easier down the line when you’re confident of who is involved and when, and who the main stakeholders are and who has the final approval and sign off. Ensure everyone involved in the project is aware of their roles and responsibilities and the expectations are set early to avoid confusion. Let’s meet to introduce ourselves and meet your team too – we can do this face to face or over a video call.
5. Domain
If you want a website, you’re going to need a domain – that’s somewhere to host it. You may already have one – and if you do, great! If not, we’ll work together to get you a domain and hosting site that suits you best. If not, we can advise you on which provider will suit you best. We’ve worked in WordPress, Squarespace and Webflow, so we’ve got the know-how with these domains and developers ready to start your project. You can read more about why we love Webflow in this blog post.
6. Access
PS – if you do have a domain already, we’re going to need access to it. You can send logins and passwords securely or add us as a user so we can manage the build firsthand.
7. Imagery and media
What content is going on your website? If you have imagery, make sure it’s in a high quality format and suitable for use. Imagery and media, including videos, needs to suit your brand. If you need help sourcing or producing content, we can handle that as part of the project and produce bespoke photography and video for you. Bored of the same old stock images? Here are some tips for improving diversity in your content.
8. Copy
What do you want your website to say? Clear copywriting is more than just words on a webpage – it’s crucial for positioning your website in search results. SEO copy is a lot more subtle than it used to be, so don’t worry about stuffing in as many keywords as you can. Google is smart and algorithms are helping website search results more than ever. If you don’t have the copy nailed down, we’ve got writers ready and waiting to help you with your tone of voice and copywriting.
Check you’ve taken care of these 8 steps and your project will be a success. Ready to work together? Get in touch for a chat.
