Website planning · Studio journal
What to include in a website design brief
Define the audience, page content, enquiry journey and launch responsibilities before starting a business website project.
Describe the visitor and the task
Start with who the website needs to help and what that person should do. A service business might want visitors to compare capabilities and send a project enquiry. A catalogue might help buyers identify products and contact sales. Name the main action and the information someone needs before taking it.
Map real content to pages
List the proposed pages and assign an owner to the text, photographs and other assets for each one. Separate content that already exists from content that still needs to be produced. Service pages should explain the service, suitable projects and next steps. Portfolio entries should describe genuine work and your actual contribution, with permission to display the material.
Define what happens after an enquiry
Specify which fields are needed, who receives the enquiry and how the team follows up. An email link, a saved form submission and live chat are different workflows. Test the intended process with the people who will handle the messages. Avoid collecting information that the team does not need to respond.
Include mobile requirements early
Review navigation, readable text, image crops and contact actions on a small screen. Think about visitors using slower connections as well as those on desktop. Prioritise content that helps the visitor make a decision, and describe where video or animation adds value. Agree which devices and browsers will be checked before launch.
Plan redirects and measurement
If replacing an existing website, supply the old page list and identify equivalent destinations. Preserve useful URLs where practical and map changed ones deliberately. Decide which actions matter, such as a completed enquiry, and distinguish them from clicks that merely open a contact app. Explain analytics and cookie choices in the site’s privacy information.
Agree launch and ownership details
Confirm domain access, hosting responsibilities, content approvals, maintenance, backups and who will update the website after launch. Write down which assets and source files will be handed over. A clear brief helps the team estimate the work and reduces avoidable changes late in the project. Multivers Creation can use your page list, content and required features as a starting point for a website discussion.