How to Prepare Content Before Hiring a Web Designer — A Practical Checklist for Small Businesses
Get organized before you hire a web designer. This practical guide helps small business owners prepare content, assets, and goals so the design process runs smoothly.
How to prepare your content before hiring a web designer
Hiring a web designer should feel exciting — not stressful. Whether you’re a creative entrepreneur in Maui, Hawaii, or running a boutique studio with clients in Berlin, Tulum, Lisbon, Paris, Shoreditch, Rio de Janeiro, or Cape Town, getting your content in order before the first meeting will save time, money, and headaches.
Below is a practical, step-by-step checklist you can use to prepare clear, useful content that helps your designer do their best work.
1. Clarify your goals and audience
Before any copy or images, define the purpose of the site.
Primary goal: Sell products, book services, collect leads, showcase a portfolio, or all of the above?
Target audience: Who are they, where are they (e.g., locals in Maui vs international clients in Paris), and what problem are you solving?
Success metrics: More bookings, newsletter signups, increased time on site, or SEO rankings?
Clear answers here guide page structure, tone, and conversion elements.
2. Audit existing content
Do a content inventory of your current website, social bios, brochures, and PDFs.
Make a simple spreadsheet: URL/filename, short description, keep/update/rewrite, owner.
Note high-performing pages (Google Analytics) and popular social posts to reuse.
This helps your designer and copywriter avoid reinventing the wheel.
3. Draft a sitemap and page list
Sketch the pages you want. A typical small business site includes:
Home
About
Services / Shop
Portfolio or Case Studies
Blog or Resources
Contact / Booking
For international clients or destination brands (think Maui surf schools or Lisbon creative retreats), consider language or location-specific pages.
4. Create page-by-page briefs
For each page, write a short brief that includes:
Page purpose and desired action
Key messages and tone (friendly, expert, playful)
Primary headline and 3 supporting points
Suggested sections (hero, benefits, testimonials, CTA)
Example page brief: Home — Goal: get v...