By Tanya Ganian · · 3 min readTo prepare for a web design consultation, decide what you want the website to achieve (calls, quotes, bookings or sales), gather two or three websites you like and why, prepare your list of services, target customers, logo, budget and ideal launch date, and write down your questions about cost, timeline, ownership, SEO and maintenance. You don't need a finished plan; that's what the consultation is for.
Know what you want your website to accomplish
Short answer: your goals shape everything else. Ask yourself:
- Do I want more phone calls?
- Do I need more quote requests?
- Am I selling products online?
- Do customers need to book appointments?
- Do I want to explain my services more clearly?
Your goals matter more than your favourite colours.
Gather a few examples
Find two or three websites you like, in your industry or not. Note what appeals to you: the layout, the simplicity, the photography, how easily you found information. Also note anything you dislike. This saves hours of back-and-forth.
Prepare your business information
| Bring | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Your list of services | Shapes the pages and the SEO plan |
| Who your customers are | Guides the tone, content and design |
| Your current website, if any | Shows what works and what to keep |
| Logo and brand colours | Avoids redesigning what you already have |
| Your approximate budget | Lets the designer propose a realistic scope |
| Your ideal launch date | Sets a workable timeline |
Not sure what budget to give? See what's a good website design cost range.
Write down your questions
Ask about cost, timeline, ownership, revisions, SEO and maintenance. Our list of questions to ask a web designer covers them all, and how long website design takes helps you judge the timeline.
Think about language and location
If you serve Montreal or the rest of Quebec, decide early whether the site will be in French, English or both, and which areas you want to be found in. Both affect the number of pages and the SEO plan.
The bottom line
The more clearly you can explain what your business needs, the easier it is to build a website that serves those needs. You don't need all the answers; that's part of what the consultation is for.
Ready to talk? Contact Point7 Digital or start with a free audit of your current site.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to a meeting with a web designer?
Your goals, a few example websites you like, your list of services, who your customers are, your logo, an approximate budget, a target launch date and your questions.
Do I need to know my budget before a web design consultation?
An approximate range helps a lot. It lets the designer suggest what's realistic instead of guessing.
Do I need to have my website content ready?
Not for the first meeting, but content is the most common cause of delays later, so start gathering it early.