Thinking of getting a new website? Sorted out a domain name and branding? Great! But hang on – there’s a lot more to having a website designed and built than just thinking about the pages you need and the navigation. Here’s my simple website checklist to help.

This website checklist hopefully covers all the key questions to ask your web provider and points to consider in order to get a detailed and accurate estimate and save time and headaches.

Design Considerations

• Template vs. Bespoke: Bespoke is pricier; consider Squarespace or WordPress and hosting packages.

• Design Choices: Will you see multiple design options and live page previews?

• Revisions: How many visual design revisions are included?

• Photography: Commissioned photos or budget-friendly stock imagery? Check Unsplash for free images.

• Media: Need drone footage or a homepage carousel?

• Pages: Usual pages plus legal (Privacy Policy, etc.) and essentials like a 404 error page.

• PDF/Collaborative Tool: Will your site be available in PDF or via Figma?

Build Considerations

• Responsiveness: Ensure mobile and desktop compatibility.

• Browser Support: Compatible across major browsers and platforms.

• Social Media: Integrate with social media accounts.

• Email Marketing: Integration with your email marketing platform.

• Favicon: Create and embed a favicon for brand recognition.

SEO Considerations

• Keywords: Who’s handling your SEO keywords and phrases?

• On-page SEO: Seamlessly integrate keywords into headings and copy.

• On-site SEO: Optimize meta titles, descriptions, and image alt tags.

• Local SEO: Target local areas for geographically relevant SEO.

Analytics Considerations

• Google Search Console: Set up tools and reports for web presence management.

• Google Analytics: Integrate GA4 for traffic insights.

• Google Business Profile: Ensure potential clients can find you easily on Google Search and Maps.

Copy Considerations

• Copy Updates: Refresh existing copy to align with your brand.

• New Copy: Create a copy style if starting from scratch.

• Research: Will you provide background info or have the copywriter research?

• Revisions: How many copy revisions are included?

• Content Strategy: Plan blogs and social posts to keep content fresh.

Timeline

• Completion: How long will the entire process take?

Written by me! Kelsey McCartney, a freelance copywriter who can not only create a handy website checklist but also build and design said website.