How to Prepare Your Content Before Starting a Website Project

Building a new website is exciting. But one of the biggest hurdles businesses face isn’t the design or development — it’s content. Clear, well-prepared content is the foundation of a smooth, efficient website project. When your content is organised before the build begins, everything else falls into place faster: timelines shorten, costs stay lower, and the end result is sharper and more effective.

Here’s our practical guide to getting your content ready before your website project kicks off.

1. Define Your Website Goals

Before you write a single word, get clear about what your website is meant to achieve. This sets the tone for everything that follows.

Ask yourself:

• What’s the primary purpose of the website? (e.g. lead generation, sales, showcasing work, credibility)
• Who is your target audience, and what do they need from the site?
• What are the key actions you want users to take? (e.g. book a call, fill out a form, browse products)

Having these goals defined helps us design and structure the site around real business outcomes — not just aesthetics.

2. Create a Simple Sitemap

A sitemap is essentially a content map. It doesn’t need to be complicated — a simple outline in Notion, Google Docs, or even a spreadsheet works.

For example:

Home
About
Services
- Service 1
- Service 2
Projects / Work
Blog
Contact

This gives you a clear picture of what pages you’ll need and helps us understand the structure early. It’s also a great tool for spotting content gaps before design starts.

3. Draft Core Page Content

Once your sitemap is locked in, start drafting core content for each key page. Don’t worry about layout or styling yet — focus on messaging.

For each page, aim to include:

• A headline that captures attention
• A clear intro paragraph explaining what the page is about
• Key sections or talking points (e.g. services list, testimonials, key stats)
• A call-to-action that aligns with your goals

We often provide content templates to make this part easier. This ensures your copy fits well into modern web layouts and keeps your messaging consistent.

4. Collect Your Visual Assets

Images and videos can make or break a design. Start pulling together all the assets you want to use on the site early.

This might include:

• High-quality team and product photos
• Logos in SVG or transparent PNG format
• Brand colours and fonts
• Video clips or background loops
• Iconography or illustrations

Avoid sending blurry screenshots or social media images — they usually don’t scale well on a website. If needed, we can guide you on commissioning professional photography or sourcing high-quality stock.

5. Gather Brand Guidelines & Collateral

If you already have a brand manual, tone of voice guide, or existing marketing collateral (e.g. brochures, PDFs, pitch decks), collate it all in one place.

These assets help us make sure your website reflects your brand consistently and saves time during design rounds.

6. Prepare Functional Content Too

Content isn’t just about words and images. Think about the functional elements your site will need:

• Forms (e.g. contact, sign-up, booking) — what fields are required?
• Legal pages (e.g. privacy policy, terms & conditions)
• Integrations (e.g. mailing list platforms, CRMs, booking tools)
• Buttons, downloads, or embedded content

Having this information ready from the start avoids delays during the development phase.

7. Organise Everything Clearly

A messy content handover is one of the biggest causes of project slowdowns. We recommend using a shared folder or Notion board with clear naming conventions.

For example:

/ Content
/ Home
- home-copy.docx
- hero-image.png
/ Services
- services-overview.docx
- icons.zip

This structure makes it easy for designers, developers, and copywriters to find what they need — and keeps the project flowing smoothly.

8. Plan for Gaps

It’s okay if you don’t have every single asset ready. What’s important is identifying what’s missing early so we can help fill the gaps — whether that’s copywriting support, photography, or strategy.

Final Thoughts: Preparation = Momentum

The better your content is prepared, the faster and smoother your website project will run. It allows us to focus on what we do best — designing and building a high-performing website that brings your brand to life.

If you’re planning a new site and need help getting your content organised, we can step in early to provide templates, checklists, and guidance. That way, by the time the build starts, your project is already ahead of the curve.

Key Takeaways

• Define your website goals before writing content
• Map your pages with a clear sitemap
• Draft core messaging early
• Gather all visual assets and brand guidelines
• Don’t forget forms, policies, and functional elements
• Organise content in a shared, structured way
• Identify content gaps early so nothing slows you down

Ready to start your project the smart way?

We help businesses plan, design, and launch high-performing websites with zero fuss.

Get in touch with us to kick things off.