Website planning guide: How to plan a website from A to Z

Planning a new website can feel like standing at the base of a mountain, looking up at a distant peak. Whether you’re a business owner preparing to launch your first site or a marketing director overseeing a major redesign, the path forward might seem daunting. Yet, proper planning isn’t just about avoiding pitfalls—it’s about creating a foundation for success.

In our experience working with hundreds of businesses, we’ve seen how thorough planning can mean the difference between a website that drives business growth and one that becomes a constant source of frustration. This guide will walk you through every crucial step of the website planning process, whether you’re managing the project internally or partnering with an agency.

Part 1: Strategic foundation

Defining your website’s purpose

Before diving into design discussions or technology choices, you need to establish a clear vision for your website. This vision should answer one fundamental question: How will this website drive your business forward?

The most successful websites begin with specific, measurable objectives. Common examples include:

• Increasing online sales by 20% within six months of launch, with specific targets for both new and returning customers
• Generating 50 qualified leads per month through optimized contact forms and downloadable resources
• Reducing customer service inquiries by 30% through an improved self-service knowledge base and FAQ section

These aren’t arbitrary numbers—they’re strategic benchmarks that will guide every subsequent decision in your website project.

Defining your target audience

Understanding your target audience is crucial for success. While demographic data matters, diving deeper into user behavior and needs will inform better design decisions. Consider these key aspects:

• Professional Context
  • Daily responsibilities and challenges
  • Decision-making authority and process
  • Industry-specific pain points and needs
• Online Behavior
  • Preferred devices and browsing habits
  • Content consumption patterns
  • Technical sophistication level

KPI’s, KPI’s and more KPIs

Success metrics should directly align with your business objectives. Your measurement framework might include:

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Conversion rates for primary actions
• Average order value or lead quality scores
• User engagement metrics (time on site, pages per session)
• Mobile vs. desktop usage patterns

Pro Tip: Tailor your KPIs to your revenue model. E-commerce businesses should track metrics like cart abandonment rates and average order value. Service businesses should focus on metrics like lead quality scores and proposal conversion rates. SaaS companies might prioritize user activation rates and monthly recurring revenue growth.

Competitive analysis

Understanding your competitive landscape isn’t about copying others—it’s about identifying opportunities to stand out. Begin by selecting 3-5 direct competitors for a thorough analysis of their digital presence.

When evaluating competitor websites, focus on these key areas:

• User Experience
  • Navigation structure and ease of use
  • Mobile responsiveness and performance
  • Key features and functionality
  • Content organization and accessibility
• Content Strategy
  • Depth and quality of information
  • Tone and messaging approach
  • Unique offerings and value propositions

Market gap analysis requires looking beyond surface-level features. Examine your competitors’ websites through the lens of your target audience, asking questions like:

• What customer pain points aren’t being addressed?
• Which content topics are underserved?
• What features could streamline the user journey?
• Beyond direct competitors, consider indirect competitors who may approach shared audiences differently. Analyzing their strategies can reveal innovative ideas for content, features, or positioning.

Your USP

Your unique value proposition emerges from this analysis. Rather than simply matching competitor offerings, focus on how your website can deliver distinctive value to visitors. This might mean providing more detailed product comparisons, offering interactive tools, or creating more engaging content formats that better serve your audience’s needs.

Remember, your website isn’t just a digital brochure—it’s often the first and most important touchpoint between your business and potential customers. Every decision you make during the planning process should tie back to your strategic objectives and support your competitive positioning. The most effective websites don’t just meet current market standards; they push boundaries and set new expectations for what’s possible in your industry.

Part 2: Content and user experience

With a strong strategic foundation in place, it’s time to translate these business objectives into tangible user experiences. This section will guide you through the crucial process of structuring your content and designing interactions that engage your audience while advancing your business goals. Remember that every content decision and user experience choice should trace back to the strategic framework we’ve established.

Information architecture

The foundation of any successful website lies in its information architecture—how content is organized, structured, and presented to users. Think of it as creating a blueprint for your digital space. Just as a well-designed building guides visitors naturally through its spaces, good information architecture helps users intuitively find what they’re looking for.

Creating a comprehensive sitemap is your first crucial step. A visual sitemap helps stakeholders understand the planned structure and navigation of your site, showing how different sections will connect and relate to each other. This becomes particularly valuable when working with larger teams or external agencies, as it provides a clear reference point for discussions about site structure.

Wireframes translate your sitemap into visual layouts. Begin with low-fidelity wireframes that focus on fundamental elements like navigation placement, content hierarchy, and call-to-action positioning. Consider these your rough sketches—they should be quick to create and easy to modify based on feedback.

Key elements to address in your wireframes include:

• Primary Navigation Structure
• Content Block Hierarchy
• Call-to-Action Placement
• User Flow Indicators

As your planning progresses, develop high-fidelity wireframes for crucial pages like your homepage, product pages, or lead generation forms. These detailed wireframes will serve as the blueprint for your design team, whether internal or external.

Content strategy

Content strategy bridges the gap between your business goals and user needs. A well-planned content strategy ensures every piece of content serves a purpose and moves users toward their goals—and yours.

Start by conducting a thorough content audit of your existing site (if applicable). Review traffic patterns, engagement metrics, and conversion rates for different content types. Which pages drive the most valuable actions? Which content seems to fall flat? This quantitative data, combined with qualitative feedback from users and stakeholders, will help shape your future content strategy.

Your brand voice and tone guidelines deserve special attention. Define how your brand should sound across different contexts—is it professional but approachable? Technical but accessible? Create clear examples of appropriate language use and common pitfalls to avoid. For instance, a healthcare website might need to balance medical accuracy with patient-friendly language, while a tech startup might blend innovation with reliability.

SEO should be woven throughout your content strategy, not treated as an afterthought. Modern SEO tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz can help identify valuable keyword opportunities and analyze search intent. But remember—while keywords matter, they should guide your content creation rather than dictate it. Focus first on providing value to your users.

Pro Tip: Create a content governance document that includes templates, style guides, and approval workflows. This foundation can save countless hours during content creation and maintain consistency as your site grows. Include clear examples of properly formatted content, along with common pitfalls to avoid.

User experience planning

User experience planning ensures your website not only looks good but performs exceptionally well for your visitors. This critical phase addresses both technical and psychological aspects of the user journey.

Mobile optimization stands as a non-negotiable priority in today’s digital landscape. Your planning should start with mobile considerations, ensuring that navigation remains intuitive on smaller screens and that content is appropriately prioritized for mobile users. Key mobile considerations include:

• Touch-friendly interface elements
• Responsive layouts that adapt gracefully
• Strategic content prioritization for small screens

Page speed has become increasingly crucial for both user experience and search engine rankings. Rather than treating speed as an afterthought, build it into your planning from the start. Consider implementing:

• Comprehensive image optimization protocols
• Strategic caching mechanisms
• Code efficiency standards
• Content delivery network integration

Creating effective user flows requires deep understanding of both your users’ goals and your business objectives. Map out common journeys through your site, such as how a user might discover and purchase a product, or how they might find and consume your content. These flow maps should highlight potential friction points and opportunities for optimization.

Trust-building elements deserve careful consideration in your UX planning. Users need multiple reassurance points throughout their journey, particularly during high-stakes interactions like purchases or form submissions. Effective trust builders include strategically placed social proof, security indicators, and guarantees.

Part 3: Technical planning

While content strategy and user experience form the visible foundation of your website, a robust technical infrastructure is essential to deliver these elements effectively. The following explores the technological decisions that will support your content and UX goals, ensuring your website not only looks good but performs reliably. Think of it as building the engine that powers your digital presence—invisible to users but crucial for success.

Technology stack decisions

Choosing the right technology stack for your website is like selecting building materials for a house—it affects everything from construction speed to long-term maintenance. While technical decisions can seem overwhelming, breaking them down into key components makes the process more manageable.

The choice of Content Management System (CMS) stands as one of your most crucial decisions. WordPress, despite its ubiquity, isn’t always the best choice for every project. Consider how different CMS options align with your specific needs:

WordPress excels for content-driven websites and extensive customization, offering a vast ecosystem of plugins and themes that can accelerate development but also require diligent oversight for security and performance.

Shopify, on the other hand, is a more streamlined solution for e-commerce, with managed hosting and built-in features that reduce technical overhead—though at higher monthly costs and with some customization tradeoffs.

Finally, custom solutions are best suited for enterprises with unique requirements or significant scalability needs, providing complete control over functionality and performance at the expense of substantial initial and ongoing investments.

Your hosting infrastructure deserves careful consideration beyond just selecting a provider. Consider factors such as:

• Geographic distribution of your user base
• Expected traffic patterns and growth trajectories
• Backup and redundancy requirements
• Security and compliance needs

Functionality requirements

Success lies in clearly defining both essential and desired functionality before development begins. Rather than creating exhaustive feature lists, focus on capabilities that directly support your business objectives.

For e-commerce sites, core functionality typically centers around the shopping experience. A robust product search system with intelligent filtering options can dramatically improve conversion rates. Real-time inventory management becomes crucial for businesses managing physical stock, while order tracking capabilities help reduce customer service overhead.

Service businesses often require different priorities. An intelligent appointment scheduling system might take center stage, integrated with staff availability and service area mapping. Client portals can streamline ongoing client relationships, while contact forms need careful validation to ensure quality lead capture.

Integration capabilities often determine a website’s true business value. Modern sites rarely operate in isolation—they need to work seamlessly with:

• CRM systems for customer data management
• Marketing automation platforms
• Payment processing systems
• Analytics and tracking tools

Pro Tip: Before finalizing your technology stack, create a proof of concept for critical integrations. Test the most challenging connections between systems to validate your technical approach before committing to the full development. This small investment can prevent major roadblocks during implementation.

Performance requirements

Website performance has become increasingly critical in today’s fast-paced digital environment. Users expect near-instant responses, and search engines factor speed into their rankings. While specific requirements vary by industry and audience, modern web standards have established clear benchmarks for acceptable performance.

For most business websites, homepage loading times should stay under 2 seconds to prevent user abandonment. Product pages can be slightly more forgiving at 3 seconds, given their additional content and functionality. Search results demand particular attention—users expect these to appear almost instantly, ideally within 1 second. Mobile response times are equally crucial, with a 3-second target accounting for varying connection speeds.

These targets might seem aggressive, but they reflect real user behavior. Studies show that for every second delay in page load time, conversions can drop by 7%. This makes performance optimization not just a technical consideration, but a direct business concern.

Remember that technical decisions should always support your business objectives rather than dictate them. While it’s important to use current technologies, avoid choosing trending solutions just because they’re popular. Focus on proven, sustainable technologies that align with your long-term business goals and resource capabilities.

Part 4: Resource planning

With your technical framework defined, attention must turn to the practical aspects of bringing your website to life. Resource planning translates your technical and strategic decisions into concrete timelines and budgets. This critical phase ensures that your ambitious goals remain grounded in the realities of time, budget, and available expertise. By carefully planning your resources now, you can avoid common pitfalls that often derail website projects later.

Budget considerations

One of the most common questions in website planning is “How much will it cost?” The answer, while not simple, becomes clearer when you break down the various components and consider your specific needs. Website budgets typically fall into different tiers based on business size and complexity of requirements.

Small business websites typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. At this level, you’re often looking at template-based solutions with customization, basic e-commerce functionality, and essential content creation. These projects usually work best with streamlined decision-making processes and clear, limited scope.

Mid-size business websites generally fall between $25,000 and $75,000. This tier allows for significant customization, more complex functionality, and comprehensive content strategy implementation. The higher budget accommodates more thorough planning, custom design elements, and enhanced user experience features.

Enterprise solutions starting at $75,000 and reaching well into six figures reflect the complexity of large-scale business requirements. These projects often involve:

• Complex system integrations
• Custom functionality development
• Advanced security requirements
• Extensive content creation and migration
• Multiple stakeholder management

Beyond initial development costs, your budget should account for ongoing expenses. Consider allocating your total website budget across these key areas:

Initial development: 50-60%

• Design and development
• Content creation
• Technical implementation
• Project management

Ongoing operations: 40-50% A successful website requires continuous investment in:

• Regular content updates
• Security maintenance
• Performance optimization
• Feature enhancements

Pro Tip: Build a 20% contingency into both your budget and timeline. This buffer helps absorb unexpected costs like additional security requirements, accessibility compliance updates, or extended testing periods. Document all assumptions made during budget planning to justify the contingency.

Timeline planning

Realistic timeline planning helps manage expectations and ensure quality delivery. A typical website project progresses through several distinct phases, each requiring appropriate time allocation.

Discovery and planning phase: 2-4 Weeks The foundation of your project deserves careful attention. During this phase, your team will:

Develop detailed requirements documentation, interview key stakeholders, and establish project governance structures. Many organizations try to rush through this phase, but investing time here typically reduces complications later.

Design phase: 4-6 Weeks Good design evolves through iteration. This phase includes:

• Brand alignment discussions
• User interface design
• Interactive prototyping
• Stakeholder reviews and feedback

Development phase: 8-12 Weeks. Development timelines vary significantly based on complexity, but generally include:

• Core development
  • System architecture implementation
  • Frontend development
  • Backend systems integration
  • Content management setup

Quality Assurance is interwoven throughout development, with dedicated testing phases for each major feature release. Plan for multiple rounds of testing and refinement.

Content Creation and Migration Content often becomes a critical path item in website projects. Start content planning early, as good content requires time for:

• Research and planning
• Writing and editing
• Media creation
• Stakeholder reviews
• SEO optimization

Pre-launch activities require careful coordination across teams. A typical launch sequence includes:

Technical preparation

• Final security audits
• Performance optimization
• Backup system verification
• DNS and hosting configuration

Content readiness

• Final content review
• Meta title & description verification
• Image optimization checks
• Link validation

Your timeline should include buffer periods for unexpected challenges and stakeholder feedback. It’s better to plan for potential delays than to rush critical phases of the project. Remember that timeline compression usually leads to either increased costs or quality compromises—sometimes both.

Resource allocation across these phases requires careful balancing. Your internal team’s availability, external partner capabilities, and stakeholder schedules all influence timeline planning. Consider creating a responsibility matrix that clearly outlines who is responsible for:

• Decision-making at each project phase
• Content creation and approval
• Technical implementation review
• User acceptance testing
• Launch approval

Setting realistic expectations about time investment helps ensure project success. Make sure all stakeholders understand their required involvement throughout the project timeline. This transparency helps prevent delays caused by unexpected stakeholder time commitments or delayed decisions.

Pro tip: Potential bottlenecks include delays in content approvals, unexpected feature requests, or resource constraints during critical project phases. Proactively addressing these can save time and reduce costs.

Part 5: Working with agencies

With your resources mapped out, you may find that partnering with an agency is the best path forward for your website project. Whether you’re considering full-service support or specialized expertise for specific components, understanding how to select and work with agencies is crucial for project success. The following section will help you navigate agency partnerships effectively, ensuring your investment in external expertise yields the best possible results.

Agency selection

Choosing the right web design agency is as crucial as selecting the right technology stack or planning your content strategy. The agency you select will become an extension of your team, bringing not just technical expertise but also their creative process and communication style to your project.

Start your agency search by clearly defining what you need. Are you looking for a full-service digital agency that can handle everything from strategy to ongoing maintenance? Or do you need a specialized firm focused on specific aspects like e-commerce or content strategy? Understanding your needs helps narrow the field to agencies with relevant expertise.

Pro Tip: Request and speak with at least two recent client references from each potential agency. Ask specifically about how the agency handled challenges and scope changes during their projects. Focus on projects similar to yours in scope and complexity for the most relevant insights.

When evaluating potential partners, consider asking these revealing questions:

• “Can you share examples of similar projects in our industry?” Look for specific examples that demonstrate understanding of your sector’s unique challenges and requirements.
• “What is your approach to project management and communication?” The response should give you insight into their process, tools, and communication frequency.
• “How do you handle changes to project scope or requirements?” Their answer reveals their flexibility and problem-solving approach.

Beyond these questions, pay attention to how agencies engage during the proposal process. An agency that asks thoughtful questions about your business objectives and challenges is often more valuable than one that immediately jumps to solutions.

Managing the relationship

A successful agency partnership requires more than just signing a contract. Clear expectations and strong communication protocols form the foundation of productive relationships. The key lies in establishing these frameworks early while maintaining flexibility for inevitable project adjustments.

Communication framework: Effective agency relationships thrive on structured communication. A typical framework might include:

Regular check-ins provide rhythm to the project, but their format should match your project’s needs. Weekly status meetings work well for active development phases, while bi-weekly or monthly sessions might suffice during planning stages. The key is consistency and preparation—make sure each meeting has a clear agenda and documented outcomes.

Stakeholder involvement deserves careful consideration. While it’s important to have decision-makers available at key moments, too many voices can slow progress. Consider creating a steering committee with clear roles:

• Project Sponsor: Final decision authority on major issues
• Project Manager: Day-to-day decisions and coordination
• Subject Matter Experts: Input on specific aspects as needed
• Technical Lead: Oversight of technical decisions

Change management: Changes are inevitable in website projects, but how you handle them can make or break your timeline and budget. Establish a clear change management process that includes:

Impact assessment: When changes arise, evaluate their effect on:

• Project timeline
• Budget implications
• Technical dependencies
• Content requirements

The agency should provide clear documentation of these impacts before proceeding with any changes. This transparency helps maintain trust and keeps the project on track.

Quality assurance: Quality assurance in agency relationships extends beyond just testing code. Create a comprehensive review process that includes:

Design reviews

• Brand alignment checks
• Responsive design verification
• Accessibility compliance
• User experience evaluation

Technical validation: Ensure your agency’s technical deliverables meet your standards through:

• Performance testing
• Security assessments
• Code review (if applicable)
• Integration testing

Conflict resolution: Even in the best relationships, disagreements can arise. Having a predetermined process for handling conflicts helps maintain momentum. Consider a tiered approach:

First, address issues at the project manager level, where most challenges can be resolved through direct discussion. If needed, escalate to senior stakeholders from both organizations. Document all decisions and their rationale to prevent recurring disputes.

Success Metrics Define clear metrics for measuring agency performance. These might include:

• Project management
  • Meeting milestone dates
  • Budget adherence
  • Communication effectiveness
  • Issue resolution time
• Deliverable quality
  • Design consistency
  • Technical performance
  • Content accuracy
  • User feedback

Regular reviews of these metrics help identify areas for improvement and maintain alignment between your organization and the agency. Remember that the goal is continuous improvement, not perfect execution from day one.

Building a strong agency relationship requires investment from both sides. While contracts define the basic terms, successful partnerships are built on trust, communication, and mutual understanding of objectives. Take time to celebrate successes and learn from challenges—both contribute to a stronger working relationship.

Part 6: Pre-launch planning

With a strong agency partnership in place, you’re now positioned to bring your website vision to life. However, selecting the right partner and setting up workflows are only the beginning. The next critical phase—pre-launch planning—ensures that every technical, creative, and strategic element is fully tested and optimized before going live. In this section, we’ll cover the essential steps and considerations for a seamless, successful launch.

Quality assurance

The weeks leading up to a website launch are critical for ensuring everything works as intended. Quality assurance isn’t just about finding bugs—it’s about validating that your website will serve its intended purpose effectively. A comprehensive QA process combines technical testing, user validation, and content verification.

Cross-browser and device testing

Cross-browser and device testing forms the foundation of technical QA. While it’s impossible to test every possible combination, focus on the platforms your analytics suggest are most important to your audience. At minimum, verify your site’s functionality across:

• Desktop browsers
  • Chrome, Firefox, and Safari for Mac users
  • Chrome, Firefox, and Edge for Windows users
  • Multiple screen resolutions and window sizes
• Mobile devices
  • iOS Safari on iPhone and iPad
  • Chrome on various Android devices
  • Different screen sizes and orientations

Even though it’s impossible to test every configuration, focus on the platforms your analytics indicate are most important to your audience.

Performance testing

Performance testing requires attention to both technical metrics and user perception. Modern users expect quick loading times across all devices and connections. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to measure key performance indicators, but remember that real-world testing often reveals issues that automated tools miss.

As part of your performance testing, pay close attention to Google’s Core Web Vitals—Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). These metrics are crucial for both user satisfaction and search engine rankings. For instance, optimizing LCP involves ensuring large images and videos load quickly, while minimizing CLS requires stable layouts that don’t shift mid-loading. Monitoring these metrics helps you deliver a seamless, high-quality experience.

Accessibility verification

Accessibility verification has become increasingly crucial, both for compliance and inclusive user experience. Work through a structured testing process that includes:

Manual keyboard navigation testing ensures all functionality is accessible without a mouse. Screen reader compatibility checking verifies that all content is properly structured and labeled. Color contrast validation helps ensure readability for users with visual impairments.

In addition to color contrast validation, establish clear guidelines for text contrast ratios (WCAG 2.1 AA or AAA where possible), especially for headings, body text, and interactive elements. Ensure all critical functions are easily accessible via keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse or touch device. Provide descriptive alt text for every image—this ensures screen readers can convey essential information about visuals, helping you maintain an inclusive user experience.

Security testing

Security testing should intensify as launch approaches. Beyond automated vulnerability scans, conduct thorough reviews of:

User authentication

• Password policies and recovery processes
• Session management
• Access control mechanisms
• Data encryption implementation

Proactively identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities reduces the risk of post-launch security incidents.

Launch Preparation

A successful launch requires more than just pushing code to a production server. Create a detailed launch plan that coordinates all necessary activities and stakeholders.

Content migration strategy

Content migration is often more complex than expected. Develop a structured approach that includes:

• Pre-Migration Content Audit: Identify assets for transfer and note any required updates.
• Quality Checks: Ensure formatting, images, and links function correctly post-migration.
• URL Mapping: Preserve SEO value and avoid broken links by mapping old URLs to new ones.
• Redirection Setup: Implement 301 redirects for changed URLs to maintain search rankings and user experience.

Domain and DNS configuration

Domain and DNS configuration forms the backbone of your launch strategy. This isn’t just about pointing your domain name to a new server—it’s about ensuring a seamless transition that maintains your online presence and email communications throughout the process. A well-planned DNS strategy includes:

• Careful SSL certificate installation that preserves user trust and security
• Strategic DNS record updates that minimize disruption
• Proactive email service continuity planning to prevent communication gaps
• Redundant DNS configuration that protects against single points of failure

Each of these elements requires careful consideration and often benefits from a staged implementation approach. For instance, you might adjust DNS TTL (Time To Live) values days before the actual launch to ensure faster propagation when you make the final switch.

Tracking

Verify that all tracking tools are properly configured and collecting data. This includes:

• Google Analytics implementation
• Goal and conversion tracking
• E-commerce tracking if applicable
• Custom event tracking

The launch sequence

The launch sequence itself requires careful orchestration. Create a detailed timeline that includes:

• Pre-Launch Phase
  • Final content freeze
  • Complete backup of existing site
  • DNS TTL adjustment
  • Stakeholder notification
• Launch Execution
  • Server configuration verification
  • SSL certificate activation
  • DNS cutover
  • Initial monitoring
• Post-Launch
  • Performance and functionality checks
  • Quick-response protocols for immediate issues

Post-launch monitoring

The first 24–48 hours after going live are critical. Establish a monitoring plan that includes:

• Regular functionality checks: Confirm key features like forms, checkout processes, and critical workflows.
• Immediate response protocols: Have a system for triaging and resolving urgent problems.
• Continuous monitoring: Analyze server logs and error reports, plus gather user feedback.

Develop a post-launch support plan that defines:

• Response Times for various severity levels
• Escalation Procedures and communication channels
• Ongoing Review and Optimization schedule

Remember that no launch is perfect, but thorough preparation helps minimize disruption and ensure a smooth transition. Keep your emergency contact list updated and ensure all key stakeholders know their roles during the launch process.

Pro Tip: Create a detailed launch day runbook that includes not just technical steps but also stakeholder communication plans and rollback procedures. Share this document with all team members at least a week before launch, and conduct a dry run of critical procedures to identify any gaps in the process.

Conclusion

Website planning is a complex but manageable process when broken down into structured phases. Success depends on thorough preparation, clear communication, and attention to detail throughout each stage. Remember these key takeaways:

Start with clear objectives and user needs before diving into technical solutions. Invest time in proper planning to prevent costly changes later. Maintain flexibility while keeping sight of core project goals. Document decisions and processes for future reference.

As you move forward with your website project, use this guide as a framework rather than a rigid rulebook. Every project has unique requirements and challenges, but the fundamental principles of good planning remain consistent. Focus on creating value for your users while meeting your business objectives, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful website launch.

A well-planned website isn’t just a digital asset—it’s a growth engine for your business. Let’s start building your success today!

Appendix: Website planning quick-reference checklist

Strategic planning

• Define primary website objectives and success metrics
• Complete target audience analysis
• Conduct competitive analysis
• Document unique value proposition
• Set specific, measurable KPIs

Content and UX

• Create visual sitemap
• Develop technical XML sitemap
• Complete wireframes for key pages
• Establish content strategy and guidelines
• Define brand voice and tone
• Plan user flows and conversion paths
• Document accessibility requirements

Technical planning

• Select CMS platform
• Choose hosting solution
• Define security requirements
• List required integrations
• Document performance targets
• Plan backup and recovery procedures

Resource planning

• Establish project budget
• Create detailed timeline
• Assign team roles and responsibilities
• Plan content creation resources
• Allocate ongoing maintenance budget

Agency collaboration (if applicable)

• Complete agency vetting process
• Establish communication protocols
• Define approval processes
• Document change management procedures
• Set performance metrics

Pre-launch

• Complete cross-browser testing
• Verify mobile responsiveness
• Conduct security audit
• Test all forms and functions
• Verify tracking implementation
• Create launch day protocol
• Prepare rollback plan

Post-launch

• Monitor analytics and performance
• Collect user feedback
• Schedule regular maintenance
• Plan content updates
• Review and optimize SEO

Use this checklist as a starting point, customizing it to your project’s specific needs. Mark items as ‘Not Applicable’ rather than removing them—this ensures you’ve consciously considered each element rather than accidentally overlooking it.