How to prepare a website brief
A short brief helps you compare quotes, prepare content and agree who makes decisions.
Part of the series: Smart Decisions
Part 4 / 4
Contents
Before requesting a website quote, write down who will use the site and what they need to do. A developer can estimate a booking process much more accurately than a request for “something modern.”
A page or two is enough to start. You can add technical detail together later.
Five things to include
Your customers. Describe the main audience: tourists booking rooms, companies comparing suppliers or customers buying a product. Mention the languages they use and any accessibility needs you already know about.
The main action. Explain whether the site should generate calls, accept bookings, sell products or collect applications. Other actions can coexist, but clear priorities help organise the pages.
The material you have. List the logo, photographs, copy, domain, email accounts and existing site. Note what needs to be written, photographed or obtained from someone else.
What must stay. Include useful pages, existing URLs, integrations and brand elements customers recognise. Preserving these is part of planning a redesign.
Budget, deadline and approval. Give a realistic range and explain any fixed date, such as the start of the tourist season. Name the person who will gather feedback and approve the work.
Choose references with a reason
Two or three examples are enough. Say what you like about each: the booking steps, readable menu or photography. That is more useful than asking for a copy of another company’s site.
Separate essentials from later additions. If you are unsure about a feature, describe the problem it should solve rather than choosing the software in advance.
An example brief
We run a 12-room hotel in Vlorë. Guests need to compare rooms and enquire about availability. We need Albanian and English pages, room photos and a WhatsApp link. We will supply the room details but need help with English copy. We want to launch before the summer season. The owner will approve the work.
This gives enough context to discuss content, languages, scheduling and the next questions. A budget range and target date would make the estimate more useful still.
Our pricing guide and calculator can help with budgeting. Include maintenance responsibilities in the conversation too.
Send us your brief when you are ready. An unfinished draft is fine if it makes the open questions clear.