How to write a website brief
If you are thinking about having a new website, preparing a brief can save you time and money. Give your website developer a head start by providing a brief developed from the following questions:
Your current website
- What do you like about it?
- What works well?
- Do you have any feedback from customers about what they like or do not like?
- Are there parts of your website that you do not like? For example, do you find it difficult to upload photos or do people struggle to find your contact details?
How people are using your site
- How many visitors has your website received in the past year?
- What website browsers are people using?
- Do people view your website from a desktop computer or are more people visiting via a mobile device?
New website
- Who is it for? Who is your main target audience?
- What features do you want to see on your new website? Have a look at some competitors’ websites and choose the bits you like best.
- If appropriate, how about surveying some existing users to find out what they would like from your website?
- What sets your business apart from your competitors?
- Does the website need to complement existing branding?
- What impression do you want your website to give eg friendly, professional, formal?
- Will you include feeds from your social media accounts?
- Who will review the content and, if necessary, rewrite?
- What imagery do you plan to use?
- Who will update the new website?
Budget
- What is your budget for website design and development?
- Do you plan to budget for future updates and development? If so, how much?
Timescale
Post launch
- How will you promote your new website?
- How will you monitor how your site is being used?
- Could you ask customers for feedback?
Spending a short amount of time writing a brief will help you to achieve a website that meets your objectives and that is delivered on time and within budget.
Next steps
Writing a brief is just the start of getting your new website. If you need help, we can take on the project management of getting your new website up and running. This includes writing content, sourcing image and liaising with the website developer.
