If you’re planning to launch a new website or undergoing a redesign of your existing site then you will need to develop a briefing document for your website designer. The website specification will detail exactly what you need from your website and what you would like it to do for your business.
We have a few top tips to help you write a brilliant website brief:
Invest time in the planning process
Writing a brief may seem like a tedious task that can be ticked off quickly but it’s important to realise this is a key opportunity to save time, effort and money by developing a detailed website specification before you start. Taking time to think about exactly what you want will focus your thoughts and may inspire new, innovative ideas in the process.
Speak to your team
Get input from the people who will work with or use the website. It’s important to understand what your team need from the site, what will help them to do their job effectively and their thoughts on what could benefit visitors. Think long term, not short term, so your investment will be worthwhile for the foreseeable future.
Format your website specification document clearly
At the very minimum your website specification should cover the following details:
Background on your company
If your designers understand your company and your culture, it’ll be much easier for them to develop something that suits your brand.
Information on your business goals
Without sharing sensitive information, explain your targets and objectives to enable the web designer to tailor your website accordingly. This could be something such as “to relaunch our company so that it appeals to a younger market of 16 – 25”.
Is the website a redesign or completely new?
This will have a bearing on timing and costs of the project.
Are you using an existing website address (URL)?
A new URL will require your designer to source and purchase one that is suitable. If you’re going to use a new URL instead of your existing web address, you’ll need your designer to set up a ‘301 Redirect’ from your old site. This will ensure that anyone who searches for your old website address will be automatically redirected to the new website. You will also need to arrange and pay for the hosting of your website. Your website designer should be able to advise you on what hosting arrangement is required and also help to get quotes from companies who offer this service.
What do you want from your new website?
Describe the role your new website will play in delivering your company objectives. For example, is it a showcase of your services or an eCommerce site which will generate 100% of your sales?
What do you want your site to look like?
Give your designers examples of the type of site you are looking for or certain features you want. Let them know what you admire in terms of content, functionality and design.
Make sure to ask for key features and website requirements
You should request for your website to be responsive, WC3 compliant, optimised for search engines and coded for analytics. A responsive website will adjust automatically when viewed on mobile devices and a compliant website will be accessible, functional and easy to navigate. An optimised website will help your site to rank higher in search engines and website analytics will give you vital information about the performance of your site. These should be standard good practice for a web designer but it’s helpful to have an awareness of these key factors of a good website.
How often will your website be updated?
Static content means your website doesn’t change very often, whereas dynamic websites change frequently. If your website will be static then you may prefer to get your web designer to do updates. However, nowadays most businesses have dynamic content that they carry out themselves through a content management system (CMS).
How will customers use your website?
Consider how visitors will journey through your website as it should be as smooth as possible. A sitemap is a diagram (similar to a flowchart) which will show all the proposed pages for your website and how users will be able to navigate from one page to another.
Be upfront about your deadlines and budget
Rather than refusing to give a budget in the hope of a better deal, give your designer a sensible range to work within. This could help you to get a good price in the long run.
Finally, get at least three competitive quotes
Once you’ve completed your website specification and had interest from a number of designers, review and pick the three best quotes. Choose someone who suits your budgets, understands your needs and you could develop a lasting relationship with as you may go on to work with the designer for years to come.
These tips should help you to develop a brilliant website brief that will, in turn, develop a brilliant website!