[ This article was cross-posted to Bristol Creative Industries from my blog. ]

Thinking about having a new website built or redesigned can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time working with a web designer or developer. You might not know what to expect or how to prepare. But don’t worry—most designers and developers (myself included!) are here to make the process smooth, enjoyable, and as stress-free as possible.

Here’s a handy guide to what you can expect during our first meeting, the kinds of things we’ll likely discuss, and how you can prepare to get the most out of it.

What We’ll Talk About

The first meeting is all about getting to know you, your organisation and your goals. It’s usually takes less than an hour and essentially amounts to a cup of tea and a chat, either in person or online. Here are some things we’ll likely talk about:

Your Business or Project

I’ll want to understand your business, project, or venture. What do you do? Who is your audience? What’s your unique selling point? This helps me ensure your website aligns with your goals and brand.

Your Goals for the Website

Is this a brand-new site or a redesign? What’s the main purpose of the site—selling products, promoting services, building a community? Knowing your goals helps shape everything from design choices to technical features.

Your Likes and Dislikes

Have you seen websites you really love? I can’t over-state how useful it is to have just a handful of screenshots or links to existing websites, even if it’s just a particular feature or tiny design touch. This really gives me a sense of your style and help us find a good jumping off point. If you already have a website, think about what your bugbears are with it, or what you like and want to keep.

Functionality and Features

We’ll talk about what your website needs to do. Do you need e-commerce functionality, an events calendar, a blog, or something more bespoke? It’s okay if you’re not sure, though. There may be features you don’t even know you want yet, simply because you might not know what’s possible—that’s what I’m here for!

Next steps

By the end of the meeting, you should have a good idea of whether you want to work with me on your project and I will be hoping I didn’t make a fool of myself. We’ll come up with a timeline for next steps, the first of which will likely be me writing up a quote for you.

Questions I Might Ask You

To tailor my work to your needs, I’ll likely ask questions like:

What’s your budget and timeline? Being upfront helps us stay realistic.
Who is your audience? This impacts design, content, and accessibility decisions.
How involved do you want to be? Some clients love to collaborate, while others prefer to step back and let me handle everything.
Who’s doing what? Will you be providing all the copy, images, videos and other content, or would you like me to source these? If we’re re-designing an existing site, will all of the blog posts and other similar content be kept?
Do you have branding? If you don’t already have a logo, fonts and colour palette, would you like me to work with you to develop these?

Questions You Might Ask Me

Your first meeting is also a chance to ensure I’m the right fit for you. Here are a few questions you might want to ask:

What’s your process like? I’ll happily walk you through how I work, from wireframes to the final launch.
What experience do you have? Feel free to ask about similar projects I’ve worked on.
How will we communicate? I prefer regular check-ins via email or video calls, but I’m flexible to your needs.
What happens after the site goes live? I’ll explain how I provide ongoing support or hand over the reins with training and documentation.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Honestly, I might not be able to answer this one. 🤷‍♂️

How to Prepare for the Meeting

I know it can feel daunting to put your ideas into someone else’s hands, but rest assured, my job is to make this as smooth and collaborative as possible. By the end of our first meeting, you’ll have a clearer picture of the process and (hopefully!) feel excited about the next steps.

In summary, here are a few things you can do ahead of our chat to help make it as productive as possible:

Think About Your Goals

What do you want the website to achieve? Are there specific challenges you’re hoping it will solve? The clearer your goals, the easier it is for me to deliver what you need.

Gather Inspiration

Take note of websites you like, even if they’re outside your industry. It could be their layout, colours, or how they handle navigation. Visuals help spark ideas and guide the design process.

Know Your Audience

Think about who your website is for. If you have personas, data, website analytics, or insights about your customers, bring them along. If not, even a simple description of your ideal audience can be a great starting point.

Have a Budget and Timeline in Mind

You don’t need to have all the answers, but a rough idea of what you can spend and when you’d like the project completed is helpful.

So there you have it. Doesn’t sound too scary, right? If you’re considering working with a web designer or developer, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re ready to dive in or just exploring your options, let’s chat and see where it takes us!

Viney