Short answer:Prepare the site's goals, your most important pages, texts, images, logo, domain and contact information before the project starts. The more you have ready from the start, the faster and cheaper the construction will be. Below you will find a concrete checklist in twelve points.
Why preparation is worth so much
Most web projects that become expensive or take too long do so for the same reason: materials and decisions arrive too late. When you prepare properly, you don't have to wait, and the agency can work at a steady pace. Think of this list as your packing list for the trip.
The checklist: 12 things to prepare
1. Set a clear goal
What will the site actually do? Give more quote requests, sell products, book appointments or build trust? The goal drives everything else, so start here.
2. Determine your target audience
Who should visit the site? A site for individuals often looks different than one for other businesses. Write down who you want to reach.
3. List the pages you need
Most companies get by with a start, about us, services/products, contact and maybe a blog. Write down your own list - it will be the site's framework.
4. Write or collect the texts
Text takes longer than you think. If you have drafts ready at the start, you often save weeks. If you don't know what to write, the agency can help, but then they need raw material from you.
5. Collect images and graphic material
Good pictures lift a site considerably. Collect photos of business, products and staff in a folder. If there are no images, you can buy licensed stock images - never use images you found via a search engine without knowing that you are allowed to use them.
6. Have logo and colors ready
Submit the logo in good quality (preferably as a vector file, such as SVG or PDF). Do you know your company colors? Write them down, preferably as color codes.
7. Determine domain
Do you already have a domain (your web address, for example dittforetag.se) or do you need to register one? Check that the one you want is available. In Sweden, .se domains are administered via the Internet Foundation.
8. Prepare company emails
A professional address such as namn@dittforetag.se gives a better impression than a free gmail address. It is related to the domain and is good to solve at the same time.
9. Think through functions
Do you need a contact form, booking, payment, newsletter or login? Write it down. Features affect both time and price, so the sooner they are known the better.
10. Keep track of the legal requirements
A Swedish website usually needs a privacy policy and manage cookies correctly according to the data protection regulation (GDPR). Also think about accessibility, so that more people can use the site.
11. Prepare contact information and tracking
Collect phone, address, opening hours and social media. Do you want to measure visitors? Then an analysis tool is needed, which should also be mentioned in your privacy policy.
12. Appoint a contact person
Decide who among you gives notice and approves. A clear contact person who responds quickly is one of the biggest reasons why a project flows.
Tip: create a shared folder where all material is collected - texts, images, logo and logins. Then both you and the agency have everything in one place.
Common question: do I have to have everything ready before starting?
No. You don't have to have every detail in place, but the more points you check off, the faster it goes. The most important are goals, page structure and at least draft texts. The rest can often be solved during the journey.
So ZORC helps you get started right
At ZORC, we always start with a preliminary study where we go through the checklist together with you. If something is missing, we will help you fill in the gaps - we can write text, develop a design and guide you through domain and email. So you don't need to be an expert; you just need to know what you want to achieve.
Need help preparing and building your new website the right way? Get in touch with ZORC and we'll take it step by step.
