A new website is a significant investment, and like any important project, good preparation leads to better results. Whether you’re replacing an outdated website or getting your company’s first brand new website, spending a little time planning upfront helps your website design project stay on schedule and better reflect your business.
If you’re a small business in Apex, Cary, or the great Raleigh area planning a website redesign, here are the steps we recommend before any design or development work begins.
Start with your business goals
Before discussing colors, layouts, or page designs, think about why you want a new website and how you’ll define success once the new website is live.
Ask yourself questions like:
- Do we want to attract more qualified leads?
- Do we need a more professional online presence?
- Is our current website difficult to update?
- Are customers struggling to find information on our current site?
- Do we want our website to rank better in search engines?
Your answers in this stage will help shape every decision that follows.
For example, a home remodeling company in Apex, NC might want to generate more estimate requests from local homeowners, an architecture firm may want to showcase its portfolio more effectively, and a professional services firm may focus on building trust through educational content and client success stories.
Research website design agencies
If you’re looking to hire a web design agency in Apex or the surrounding region, take time to compare your options. Most agencies tend to promise great websites, but the core differences usually show up in how they work, the types of industries they work with best, and whether their approach matches your expectations.
As you compare different web design agencies, ask questions like:
- Which content management systems do you build on (e.g. WordPress, Squarespace, Joomla, etc.)?
- How do you incorporate SEO into a new website?
- Do you specialize in website design, or is it just one of many services offered?
- What does your website design process look like?
- Who will I be working with throughout the project?
- Will you train our team to update the website after launch?
- What support is available after the website goes live?
- Do you have examples of web design work or client case studies?
- Do you provide transparent web design pricing or explain the factors that influence project cost?
Choosing an agency that communicates clearly can make the entire project run smoother.
Gather your marketing assets
A website is built around your brand, so it’s helpful to collect your marketing materials before the project begins.
When it comes to marketing materials, this can include:
- Logo files
- Brand guidelines
- Company photos
- Team headshots
- Product or project photography
- Videos
- Marketing brochures
- Sales presentations
Having these assets ready gives your web design agency more flexibility and reduces delays during the project.
Review your existing website content (if applicable)
A website redesign is a good opportunity to improve your messaging. Instead of copying every page from your old website, review each page with fresh eyes.
Ask yourself:
- Is this information still accurate?
- Does it answer common customer questions?
- Are we clearly explaining what makes us different?
- Is there anything potential customers have been asking us that isn’t explained on our website?
For example, a construction company might add more information about its project process, while a consulting firm could include detailed service descriptions and answers to frequently asked questions.
Removing outdated content often improves the overall user experience.
Organize your photos and visuals
If your existing photos no longer represent your business, schedule new photography before your website project begins.
Consider gathering photos of:
- Your team
- Your office or facility
- Products
- Equipment
- Completed projects
- Customers, when appropriate
For example, a home remodeling company benefits from professional before-and-after project photos, while a manufacturer should showcase its production capabilities and finished products.
Confirm access to your domain and website accounts
One of the easiest ways to delay a website launch is missing login credentials (ask me how I know this).
Before your project starts, confirm that you have access to:
- Your domain registrar
- Website hosting account
- Current website
- DNS settings
- Google Analytics
- Google Search Console
- Google Business Profile
- Email marketing platform
- Third-party integrations
If someone else originally created your website, take time to locate these accounts before the project begins.
Think about website functionality
Examples include:
- Contact forms
- Quote request forms
- Appointment scheduling
- Online payments
- Product catalogs
- Team directories
- Interactive maps
- Newsletter sign-up forms
- CRM integrations
Listing these requirements early helps prevent unexpected changes later in the project.
Identify your most important website pages
Think about which pages are most important to your potential customers. Ideally, your web design firm will handle the information architecture to ensure the pages are organized in a logical and easy-to-follow manner.
For many small businesses, the most important pages include:
- Home
- About
- Products or Services
- Industries
- Portfolio or Case Studies
- Blog
- Contact Us
A manufacturing company may also need detailed product pages, while an architecture firm may prioritize project galleries that demonstrate its experience.
Plan for SEO from the beginning
Search engine optimization tends to work better when it’s built into a website from the start.
As you prepare for your website redesign, think about:
- The products or services you want to rank for
- The cities or regions you serve
- Questions your potential customers frequently ask
- Existing pages that already receive search traffic
Providing this information early helps your agency build a stronger SEO foundation without having to revisit major decisions later.
Set realistic expectations
Building a high-quality website takes time. Gathering content, reviewing designs, testing functionality, and making revisions all contribute to a successful launch.
By having realistic expectations, you can reduce stress and give everyone enough time to produce a website that supports your business goals.
Prepare your team
If multiple people need to review or approve the website, give those folks a heads-up before the project begins. Having clear decision makers helps keep feedback organized and prevents conflicting revisions that slow the project.
It’s also helpful to decide who will be responsible for maintaining the website after launch.
Start your new website on the right foot
Preparing for a website redesign doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With clear goals, organized marketing assets, and the right web design partner, you’ll set your project up for a smoother launch and a website that serves your business for years to come.
If you’re planning a new website and would like an experienced partner to guide you through the process, explore Conversion Fox Marketing’s website design and development services. You’ll learn how we build SEO-friendly websites for small businesses throughout the Raleigh area, what our process looks like, and what to expect from kickoff through launch.