Website content: what to prepare before you start

The number one cause of delay in a website project is not the design or the programming: it is waiting for the website content. Texts, photos, logo, contact details. A studio can have everything ready to start and stay on hold for weeks until the material arrives.

This guide is a checklist so that you arrive at the start of the project with everything prepared. It does not have to be perfect: a first version is enough. We adjust the rest together.

Why it matters to have the content on time

The timelines of a website project are usually counted from the moment the scope is approved and the content is delivered. If the material arrives late, the timeline moves. On top of that, designing with real texts and images gives a better result than filling in with sample text, because the design adapts to what you are actually going to show.

Website content: the texts

You need to have written, at least as a draft:

• Who you are and what you do, in a few lines. Think as if you were explaining it to someone who does not know you.
• Your services or products, with a short explanation of each one.
• Who you work for and what problem you solve.
• Why choose you: your experience, the way you work, what sets you apart.
• Frequently asked questions: the five doubts your customers ask you the most.
• A call to action: what you want the person to do at the end (write to you, book, buy).

Do not worry about writing perfectly. If writing is not your thing, send us loose notes or a voice message and we will put them in order. If you would like to define better what to say, a content strategy helps to organize your messages.

Images and logo

• Logo: in the best format you have. Ideally a vector file (for example, SVG or PDF) and a version with a transparent background (PNG). If you do not have a logo or it is out of date, we can work on it with a design and branding service.
• Your own photos: of the premises, the team, your finished jobs and your products. Real photos build more trust than stock images.
• Quality: one sharp, well-lit photo is better than twenty blurry ones. If you take the photos with a phone, look for natural light and a steady camera.
• Usage rights: only use images you are allowed to use. The ones from your supplier, from a free stock site or from another website may have conditions to respect.
• Colors and fonts of your brand, if you already have them defined.

Business details

Gather, with the exact spelling you want them to appear with:

• Business name or legal name.
• Address, service area and opening hours.
• Phone number, WhatsApp and contact email.
• Links to your social networks.
• Legal or tax details you have to display, depending on your activity (check with your accountant).

Use the same details across your whole online presence: on your website, your Google listing and your social networks. The more consistent they are, the better search engines understand who you are.

Access and accounts

Find out and keep at hand:

• Who is the holder of your domain and how to log in. Take a look at the guide on domain and hosting.
• Your Google account (to connect tools such as Search Console and Analytics).
• Access to your social networks, if the website is going to connect them.
• Your current email, in case it has to be migrated.

Share passwords securely, never in open messages, and change them once the project is finished if you prefer.

References: what you like and what you do not

Save three or four websites you like and three you do not. Not to copy them, but to understand your taste: colors, style, tone. Also tell us who your competitors are and what they do well or badly.

Quick checklist

• Texts in draft: who we are, services, frequently asked questions, call to action.
• Logo in good quality and your brand details.
• Your own photos of your business, jobs and team.
• Contact details, opening hours and social networks, written exactly as they should appear.
• Legal or tax information that is needed.
• Access and ownership of the domain.
• Visual references and competitors.

What if you do not have everything

Nothing happens: we can start anyway. What matters is to say so from the beginning, to agree which part we take care of (for example, copywriting or photography, which are quoted separately) and how the timeline is adjusted. What is not quoted at the start usually shows up later as an extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to write everything myself?

No. We can help you organize and write, but we need your information: nobody knows your business like you do.

Can I change the content later?

Yes, a website gets updated. For later changes you have options such as an hours bank or monthly maintenance.

What if my photos are not good?

It is better that we know at the start. They can be improved, replaced by a photography service or swapped for images with a suitable license.

What to do next

When you have the material ready, get in touch and we will put together the scope. If you are still choosing which type of site you need, take a look at landing page or corporate website: which to choose.