How to Create a Website Design Brief

How to Create a Website Design Brief

Time for a new website? One thing we can say is that you need to know exactly what you want. The more specific you are with your brief, the better your web design company can build the perfect new website for you. This blog will give you a guide to enable you to draw up the best possible brief to give to your designers. It will help you answer all the questions they are likely to ask before you even make contact for the first time. This will make you more able to explain exactly what you need when the time comes for the briefing.

Company Details

Start with a short but relatively detailed description of the company. Give the designers a full idea of the following:

• What it is you do,
• The history of the company,
• The number of staff you have, and
• Both short- and long-term business goals.

The designers need to know who they are dealing with and how they can add value. Be sure to include your main contacts and their details, so these can be included in the Contact section of the website.

What Do You Want From the Website?

Explain why you want the new website:

• What are your goals?
• What needs to stay the same?
• What has to change?

Target Market

• What industries do you serve?
• Who are your main existing customers and who are the new ones you want to target?
• Who is the competition?
• How do you want your customers to interact with your site – inquiries, more info, make purchases?

Your Current Website

Give your designers as much information as you can about your existing site (if you have one). Include information such as:

• How long has it been up?
• What is your traffic like?
• What devices are your site designed for?
• Are you happy with the current traffic/sales, and so on?
• How would you like these to change?
• What are your concerns about the current website?
• What about the website do you like and want to keep as it is?

The New Website

Explain what your goals are with the new site, for instance:

• Is it just a redesign, is it a rebranding, or is it a bit of both?
• Do you want increased traffic or sales?
• How many pages do you want?
• What are the key features you need?
• What type of frequent updates will you need – newsfeed, blog, and so on?
• Will you do this in-house or would you want the agency to offer it as an additional service?
• What will the main call to action be, for instance, ‘buy now’ or ‘make contact’ or perhaps other options?

Also, remember to consider the future:

• How are you planning to grow the business?
• How can the website be future-proofed to keep up with the coming changes?

Content

• Do you simply want to transfer the content from the old site to the new or do you want to create brand-new content? The agency can offer you copywriting services if you need them.
• Do you have videos, downloadable documents and other content that you would like to add?
• If not, would you like to create some?

Design

• Give the designers a few links to websites you would like to emulate in some way.
• Also tell them what you want to come through in the visual elements, for instance, give them some key descriptors of your company that they can keep in mind when designing your look and feel.

Deadline and Budget

Tell the designers exactly what you need in terms of deadlines and tell them what budget you have to work with. You both then have a good idea of what can and can’t be done and how much leeway there might be with regard to money and time.

Contact WSI New Media Marketing for excellent website design.