Embarking on a new website project can feel exciting but also overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time partnering with an agency. At Black Digital, we’re here to guide you every step of the way and ensure that your project runs smoothly. A great website starts with a solid foundation, and you can help us hit the ground running by providing a few key pieces of information from the beginning.
Here’s what we’ll need from you to get started and make sure your project is set up for success.
Defining Your Project Goals
At Black Digital, we believe that every successful website project starts with a clear understanding of your goals. What do you hope to achieve with your new site? Whether it’s boosting sales, growing your email list, or building brand awareness, having well-defined objectives will allow us to create a website that meets your needs.
A few questions to consider before our kickoff call:
- Who is your target audience?
- Are there specific actions you want visitors to take?
- What are the main messages or values you want to communicate through your website?
The more you can share about your goals, the better equipped we’ll be to bring your vision to life.
Gathering Your Branding Materials
Consistency is key to a memorable brand, so if you have any existing branding guidelines or assets, we’ll need those to create a website that aligns seamlessly with your brand’s identity. Here’s what’s most helpful:
- High-resolution logo files (SVG, PNG, EPS)
- Color codes for your brand (hex values)
- Brand fonts and any typography preferences
- A style guide or other notes on brand tone and personality
If you don’t have a formal style guide, don’t worry! We can work with any information you provide and even help you develop brand guidelines for the future.
Preparing Content and Copy
Content is the backbone of your website. If you have existing content from a current website or drafts of new copy, share those with us! We’ll also need any multimedia assets, like photos or videos, that you plan to use on the site. Here are some things to think about:
- Do you have existing text content that you’d like to update or improve?
- Any new copy drafts or outlines of what you envision for each page?
- Media assets like high-quality images or brand videos that showcase what you do?
If you’re unsure about your content needs, we can also help create and refine it as part of our process.
Sharing Domain and Hosting Information
If you already have a domain name or hosting provider, it’s essential to share that information with us early on. We’ll need access to these to start setting up the technical side of your site. Key items we’ll need include:
- Access to your domain provider (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap)
- Hosting provider details (we recommend WPEngine)
- SSL certificate information, if applicable
Not sure if you have the right hosting setup? No problem! We can help review your current setup or recommend hosting options that will best support your project.
Communicating Desired Features and Functionality
Every website has unique requirements. Maybe you need an e-commerce store, a booking system, or specific integrations with tools you already use. We’ll work closely with you to understand your needs, but to get things started, consider:
- What functionality do you envision? (e.g., e-commerce, blog, membership area)
- Are there specific integrations you need, like CRM software or payment processors?
- Do you require any custom features or unique coding?
We’ll suggest solutions to bring your vision to life, drawing on our experience to recommend the best tools for the job.
Providing Inspiration and Competitor Examples
To create a website that fits your vision, we’d love to see some examples. If there are competitor websites or designs that inspire you, please share them! This helps us align our design approach with your tastes and ensure we’re heading in the right direction.
A few notes to make these examples more helpful:
- Highlight what you like or don’t like about each example
- Share any color schemes, layouts, or design elements that resonate with you
- Tell us what you think would improve on those examples
With these insights, we can build something that’s uniquely yours but inspired by the best aspects of other designs.
Discussing Timelines and Deadlines
Setting realistic expectations around timelines is crucial for a smooth project. Let us know about any specific dates we should be aware of, such as planned launches or promotional events. While we’ll build a detailed timeline together, it’s helpful to consider:
- When do you ideally want the website to go live?
- Do you have flexibility in your timeline?
- Are there any events, sales, or campaigns to coordinate around?
We’ll work with you to keep the project on track, allowing buffer time for reviews and changes, so that we meet your deadlines stress-free.
Identifying Your Key Contacts
Effective communication keeps projects running smoothly. To avoid delays, make sure we have a primary point of contact who can answer questions, share feedback, and make decisions. We’ll also need a list of any other stakeholders who should be involved at key points in the project, like during design approvals.
Clear communication will keep things moving at every stage.
Ready to Get Started?
With these essentials in place, Black Digital will be ready to bring your website project to life. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out—our goal is to make this process as seamless and enjoyable as possible. By coming to the table with these materials, you’re setting the stage for a successful, efficient project that achieves your goals and gives your audience the experience they deserve.
Let’s build something great together!
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