Website Development Guide: From Brief to Launch

1. Define the business goal

Decide whether your website should generate enquiries, explain services, support bookings or sell products. The priority will influence page structure, content and calls to action.

2. Plan pages around visitor questions

Include pages that help visitors understand what you offer, see relevant examples and contact you. Make important information easy to find without forcing users through unnecessary steps.

• 2. Plan pages around visitor questions

3. Document content and technical responsibilities

Agree on who provides copy, photographs, translations, product information and access to hosting or accounts. Identify required languages, integrations, analytics and ongoing maintenance.

4. Preserve existing URLs during a redesign

If an older site is being replaced, inventory its important pages and map old URLs to their new destinations. Use appropriate redirects and check that existing internal links still work.

5. Compare like-for-like proposals

Ask agencies to show exactly which pages, features, revisions, SEO tasks, tests and support activities are included. A transparent scope makes price and delivery comparisons more meaningful.

• 5. Compare like-for-like proposals

Separate deliverables from acceptance tests

A feature listed in a proposal still needs testing. Check that forms reach the right inbox, old URLs redirect appropriately, unknown pages return 404 and the site owner can update content.