Resource Guide
Website Planning Checklist
Proper planning is the foundation of a successful website project. Use this comprehensive checklist to prepare everything you need before starting development.
Why Planning Matters
The most common reasons for web project delays and budget overruns are scope creep and content readiness issues. By thoroughly planning your project upfront, you can avoid costly revisions, reduce development time, and ensure your website truly meets your business needs. This checklist covers everything you should consider before reaching out to a web development agency.
1. Define Your GoalsClarify what you want your website to achieve before starting development.
- Primary business objective (leads, sales, information, etc.)
- Target audience demographics and behaviors
- Key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success
- Competitor websites to reference (what you like/dislike)
- Timeline expectations and hard deadlines
- Budget range for the project
2. Understand Your AudienceKnow who you're building the website for to create a better user experience.
- Who are your ideal customers/visitors?
- What problems are they trying to solve?
- What devices do they primarily use?
- What actions do you want them to take?
- What questions do they commonly have?
- What would make them choose you over competitors?
3. Prepare Your ContentContent is often the biggest delay in web projects. Start gathering it early.
- Company description and about page content
- Service/product descriptions and pricing
- Team bios and professional photos
- Customer testimonials and case studies
- Blog posts or articles (if applicable)
- Legal pages (privacy policy, terms of service)
- High-quality images and brand assets
- Videos or multimedia content
4. Branding & Design PreferencesHelp your developer understand your visual expectations.
- Logo files in various formats (SVG, PNG, etc.)
- Brand colors (exact hex codes if available)
- Typography/font preferences
- Examples of websites you admire (with specific notes)
- Any existing brand guidelines or style guides
- Preferred tone of voice (professional, friendly, etc.)
5. Functionality RequirementsList all the features and functionality your website needs.
- Contact forms and lead capture
- E-commerce/shopping cart capabilities
- Appointment booking or scheduling
- User accounts or member areas
- Blog or news section
- Search functionality
- Multi-language support
- Third-party integrations (CRM, email marketing, etc.)
- Social media feeds or sharing
- Map or location services
6. Technical ConsiderationsTechnical requirements that affect development and hosting.
- Current domain name (or need to purchase)
- Current hosting provider (or need recommendation)
- Existing website to migrate content from
- Email hosting requirements
- SSL certificate requirements
- Expected traffic levels
- Specific security requirements
- Accessibility requirements (AODA compliance)
7. Post-Launch PlanningThink beyond launch to ongoing maintenance and growth.
- Who will update content after launch?
- Training requirements for staff
- Ongoing maintenance and support needs
- Marketing and SEO strategy
- Analytics and tracking requirements
- Backup and security monitoring
- Future features or phase 2 plans