Creating an effective business or nonprofit website takes teamwork and planning. While today’s tools and AI make the process faster than it was 25 years ago, developing a polished, high-impact site is still a complex endeavor.
It requires focus, a clear strategy, and consistent collaboration. You know your brand and customers best, while your web team knows how to bring that vision to life. Working together is where the results happen.
Below, our design and development experts share key tips to help your next website project go smoothly from start to finish.
Before You Get Started
Many teams rush straight to design and copy, but a cohesive website starts with preparation. The more you plan, the more effective the outcome.
Chart Out Your Goals and Vision
Before the kickoff meeting, define your goals. Do you want more leads, stronger brand awareness, or higher online sales? Outline priorities among your products or services to help your design team plan content hierarchy and visual emphasis. A clear vision from the start ensures your site engages the right audience and drives action.
Know Your Audience
Knowing your audience is critical. Your design team will ask for details like demographics, sales trends, psychographics, and customer feedback. The more you share, the more targeted and effective the design will be.
Think About Needs vs. Wants
It’s tempting to include every feature imaginable, but more isn’t always better. Divide your requests into must-haves and nice-to-haves. This helps keep the project within scope and ensures an uncluttered, focused experience.
Represent Your Brand
Your website should reflect your unique identity. Gather your brand guidelines, logos, colors, and fonts. If you don’t have formal assets, provide notes about your style. The more you share, the better your designers can weave your brand personality into the final product.
Identify Other Websites You Like
Bring examples of websites you admire—whether they come from your industry or not. These examples help your team understand your aesthetic preferences and desired user experience.
Read the Contract Carefully
Review your contract in detail so everyone is clear about expectations. Your agreement should outline objectives, deliverables, milestones, budget, payment terms, and content rights. Clarity upfront avoids confusion later.
Getting to the Actual Web Design Work
Once planning is complete, it’s time to begin design, content creation, and testing. Here’s how to keep things moving efficiently.
Be Timely with Reviews and Feedback
Throughout the project, your team will share drafts and mockups. Prompt, thoughtful feedback helps keep the timeline intact. Reserve time to review materials carefully and respond quickly.
Pick the Right Point Person
Choose one person to coordinate communication with your web agency. This reduces confusion and avoids conflicting revisions. Ideally, select someone with enough availability to manage details and a direct line to leadership for decisions.
Make Time to Create Great Content
If you’re writing your own copy to save costs, invest the time to do it well. Your content shapes first impressions. Poor writing can hurt your brand, so research, edit, and polish thoroughly. The same applies to images—make sure photos are high quality, well-lit, and on-brand.
Write with the Web in Mind
Online content should be clear, concise, and engaging. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and strong headings to guide readers. Remember SEO—incorporate recommended keywords so your site ranks well in search results.
Final Takeaways for Your Next Web Design
Your website isn’t static. As your business evolves, so should your online presence. A strong relationship with your web team makes future updates easier and more cost-effective.
Effective communication matters at every step. Share ideas, ask questions, and stay involved. While you’re the expert in your industry, trust your web team’s experience and best practices. Together, you’ll build a site you’re proud to share.