Developing a website brief is a crucial first step when hiring a web designer to create or revamp your website. A website brief fleshes out details of your project requirements, goals, and expectations. This document acts as a guide for the agency to refer to throughout the web design process.
Here are some tips on creating a comprehensive website brief to share with your chosen web designer:
Outline Your Goals
Start by clearly outlining the goals you want to achieve from the website project. Share details like the intended audience, types of conversions or actions you want users to take, and how it fits into your overall business goals.
Describe Your Users
Detail your target users - their demographic and psychographic profile, geographic location, behavior patterns, needs, and pain points. These insights help the web designer craft experiences suited for your audience.
Share Brand Guidelines
Any branding guidelines like logo, brand colors, fonts, tone of voice, etc. need to be provided so the website aligns with your brand identity. If no brand guide exists, the agency can help create one.
List Specific Pages Required
Outline the different pages and sections you need on your website. This includes home, about us, products/services, blog, contact, etc. Also, mention any microsites or landing pages you need to be designed.
Provide Content Requirements
Specify what kind of content you will provide - product descriptions, blog posts, videos, photos, testimonials, etc. This helps estimate work allocation between you and the agency.
Select Key Features
The features and functionalities incorporated into your website can make or break its ability to achieve your goals. Be sure to clearly communicate must-have features and integrations to the Singapore web designer. For example, if e-commerce capability is important, specify the need for a shopping cart, payment gateway integration, product catalogs, inventory management, etc. If lead generation is a priority, discuss requirements for email/SMS sign-up forms, contact forms, live chat integration, etc.
Set Design Expectations
Website design can bring your brand personality to life and influence user engagement. Convey your preferences and limitations upfront so the agency can incorporate them into its design process. Provide example sites, brand assets, color palettes, icon styles, and image genres you like or want to avoid. Screenshot appealing layouts, animations, menus, etc. as visual references.
Pick Technology Platform
The technology framework and platform you choose for your website will dictate what is feasible both design and functionality-wise. Inform the web designer if you have specific CMS preferences like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla or if you are open to their suggestions. For advanced customization, custom development may be recommended over templates and plugins.
Set a Budget Range
Be transparent with the agency about your approximate website budget. This helps set clear expectations on what is achievable within given constraints. If you have flexibility, let the agency know to open up possibilities. Setting a spending range also prevents sticker shock down the line.
Follow Up with Any Questions
Do not hesitate to ask the web designer any other questions that come up. Creating a website requires synthesizing multiple technical and creative elements into one cohesive experience. prolific two-way communication is key.
Creating a detailed brief upfront aligns you and your chosen web designer, leading to a website that exceeds your expectations within time and budget. Feel free to use this framework as a checklist for your next web project!
