Define the purpose of the site clearly

Before anything else, answer this question: what do you want your website to do? Not "look good" or "be professional" — those are attributes, not purposes. A clear purpose sounds like:

  • "I want visitors to call me to book a consultation" — then the primary CTA is your phone number
  • "I want to sell products online" — then you need a shop with integrated payment
  • "I want to generate quote requests" — then the contact form is the centrepiece
  • "I want to appear in Google when someone searches for my services in Swadlincote" — then local SEO is the priority

A site without a clear purpose becomes a pretty site that delivers no results. A designer can't prioritise correctly if you don't know what you want to achieve.

Prepare your content in advance

Content is the backbone of any website. Without copy, photographs, and graphic materials ready to go, the project will stall. Here's what you need:

Copy

Every page needs text: what you do, who you do it for, why you're different, what results you've achieved. If you can't write it yourself or don't have the time, discuss copywriting with your designer — but be aware it adds cost and time. An alternative: write rough drafts, even imperfect ones. They're far easier to edit than to write from nothing.

Photography

Authentic photographs — of you, your team, your premises, your products or services in action — make a massive difference compared to generic stock imagery. If you don't have good photos, investing in a professional photography session (£200–£500) pays for itself immediately through increased credibility.

Logo and brand assets

You need your logo in vector format (SVG or AI/EPS). Not a screenshot, not a blurry JPEG — a vector file. If you don't have one, now is the time to create it or update your visual identity.

Domain, hosting and technical considerations

Before commissioning a website, a few technical decisions need to be made:

Domain

Do you already have a domain registered? If not, choose something simple, memorable and easy to spell. For UK businesses, .co.uk is usually the right choice — it signals locality and credibility. Avoid hyphens and numbers in the domain. Cost: around £10–20/year from registrars like Namecheap or 123 Reg.

Hosting

Your designer can guide you towards a good hosting provider. Don't choose the cheapest option — poor hosting means a slow site, which loses customers and hurts your Google ranking. Quality hosting costs around £8–20/month and makes a real difference. Ask your designer what they recommend for your type of site.

Professional email

If you don't already have an email address on your own domain (e.g. hello@yourbusiness.co.uk), now is the time to set one up. A Gmail or Outlook address significantly reduces credibility in business communications.

Set a realistic budget

One of the most common problems: clients have £5,000 expectations on a £500 budget. Here are some realistic UK benchmarks:

  • Under £500 — no genuine professional website exists at this price. You're in DIY template territory
  • £500–£1,500 — a landing page or simple brochure site from a competent freelancer
  • £1,500–£3,500 — a complete brochure site with custom design and basic SEO
  • £3,500–£8,000 — a full business website or simple e-commerce store
  • Over £8,000 — complex projects with custom functionality, large e-commerce, platforms

If you have a fixed budget, state it clearly upfront. A good designer will propose what's achievable within that budget — not the cheapest, worst option, but the most strategic use of what you have.

How to evaluate quotes

When you receive quotes from multiple designers, don't look at price alone. Evaluate:

  • Portfolio — are the sites similar to what you need? Do they look good on mobile? Do they load quickly?
  • Communication — do they respond promptly and clearly? Do they ask intelligent questions about your project, or just send a generic quote?
  • What's included — design, build, basic SEO, training, domain, hosting? Or just the design?
  • Who owns the site — after launch, do you own the site and code completely, or does it remain with the designer?
  • Contract — is there a clear contract with timelines, deliverables, and payment terms?

Warning signs to watch for

A few things that should make you cautious:

  • No public portfolio, or the sites in the portfolio don't work
  • Promises of unrealistic timelines (full site in 2–3 days) or prices far below market rate
  • No questions asked about your business or the site's goals
  • No mention of SEO, speed, or optimisation
  • Refuses to work with a contract or dismisses it as unnecessary
  • Can't explain clearly what's included and what isn't

A good designer won't send you a quote before understanding what you want to achieve. If you receive a quote within five minutes without a single question being asked, that's a sign you'll receive a generic solution — not one built for your specific business.

If you'd like to understand how to put together a complete brief for a web project, read the article on what makes a good web project brief. And if you want to understand how long a project typically takes in reality, I've covered realistic website timelines here. When you're ready to get started, get in touch — I respond the same day.