What to have ready before your website project
Published October 21, 2026 · By Digital Works ForgeSan Antonio, Texas
A website project moves faster when the main pieces are ready. This is the checklist we usually go through with a new client. None of it has to be perfect. A rough version is enough to start, and we help with the rest.
Your business details
Write these down once, exactly as you want them shown, so every page says the same thing.
- Your business name, spelled the way customers know it.
- A phone number that can receive texts, and the email address you want the public to see.
- One or two sentences on what you do and who you do it for.
- How you want customers to reach you: text, email or a phone call.
Hours, or “by appointment”
If you do not keep set hours, say so plainly: “by appointment,” with a text or email to book. That is honest and easy to keep up. If you do keep set hours, write them out once and use the same wording everywhere, including your Google profile.
Your service area
List the towns you really serve and whether you meet customers in person, online or both. If you work from home, your street address does not have to appear on the site. Our own approach is on our service area page.
Your logo and brand
Send your logo as the largest, cleanest file you have. If you have brand colors or a font, share them. If you do not have a logo yet, tell us. We can work with a simple wordmark for now.
Photos
Real photos of your work, your place and your team do more for trust than stock images. Phone photos are fine when they are sharp and well lit. Check that anyone shown is happy to appear on your site.
The words
- A short description of each service you offer.
- A few lines about your business and how you started.
- The three to five questions customers ask you most, with your answers.
- Whether you want the site in Spanish as well as English.
A rough draft is plenty. Writing the page together is usually faster than starting from a blank screen.
Accounts and your domain
- Your domain name, if you already own one, and who holds the login for it.
- Access to your Google Business Profile, if you have one.
- Links to your social media pages that you want on the site.
- A business email address, if you use one.
If you do not have a domain yet, that is fine. We go through the options with you. Prices for each package are on Pricing.
Decisions to make
- Who gives the final approval on the design.
- A few sites you like, and what you like about them.
- Any date you are working toward, such as an opening or an event.
Gathering all of this usually takes people about a week. When you are ready, you can start your project.