How to plan a custom website before design starts

A strong website project starts before the first screen is designed. Clarify the audience, the business goal, the primary actions you want visitors to take and the content you already have.

Start with the outcome

Instead of listing pages first, define what the website needs to change for the business. That makes later design and development decisions much easier.

Map the essentials

Document the key user journeys, integrations, content owners and launch constraints. The goal is not a perfect specification. It is enough shared context to make confident decisions.