One of the most common reasons website projects stall, even free ones, is that the business owner wasn't ready. Not in a bad way. They just didn't know what they'd need to gather before things could move forward.
This post is the checklist I wish I had given every business owner before we started. If you're applying for a free website through Webspansion, getting this stuff together first will make everything faster and smoother.
Your business basics
Start with the fundamentals. You'll need your business name exactly as you want it displayed, your city and state or service area, your phone number or email for the contact section, and your hours if you have set ones. If you run out of a physical location, have the address ready. If you're service-area only, just know the area you cover.
This sounds obvious, but a lot of business owners aren't sure how they want to present this information, and that uncertainty slows things down.
A description of what you do
You don't need to write a full About page before we start. But you should be able to answer these three questions: What service do you provide? Who do you serve? What makes you different from someone else doing the same thing in your area?
Rough answers in a text message or a voice note are fine. I can shape it from there. But I can't write your story for you. Only you know it.
Photos, if you have them
Photos of your work, your space, your team, or even just you, they make a huge difference. People are much more likely to reach out to a business where they can see real work from real people.
Your phone camera is fine. You don't need a professional photoshoot. The best photo is the one you have. Send what you've got and I'll make it work.
If you have nothing, that's fine too. I can design around it and come back to photos later.
Any existing brand materials
If you already have a logo, send it, even if it's just a PNG from your phone. Same goes for any colors your business uses, a business card design, or an existing social media profile. You don't need anything polished. I want to match what you already have rather than guess.
Links to examples you like
If you've seen any website and thought "I want something like that," send it. It saves back-and-forth and makes it easier for me to understand your taste. You don't have to know anything about web design. Just share what looks good to you.
A list of your main services or products
Your website needs to tell visitors what you offer. Make a simple list: what do you sell or provide, what does it cost (if you want prices on the site), and are there different tiers or packages? Even bullet points in a Google Doc work fine.
What you don't need to prepare
You don't need to know anything about web design, hosting, domains, HTML, or code. You don't need to write copy or know how to structure a page. You don't need a professional photoshoot or a graphic designer. You don't need a domain before applying. We can figure that out together.
The whole point is that you shouldn't need to figure any of it out on your own.
Common questions about preparing for a website build
What information do I need to gather before my website gets built?+
Start with your business basics: your business name exactly as you want it shown, your city and state or service area, a phone number or email for the contact section, and your hours if you have set ones. If you have a physical location, have the address ready. Also have a rough description of what you do, a list of your main services or products, and any photos or brand materials you already have.
Do I need to write the copy for my website myself?+
No. You don't need to write copy or know how to structure a page. You should be able to answer three things: what service you provide, who you serve, and what makes you different from someone doing the same thing in your area. Rough answers in a text message or voice note are fine, and I can shape it from there. I can't write your story for you, though, because only you know it.
What if I don't have professional photos?+
Your phone camera is fine. You don't need a professional photoshoot. Photos of your work, your space, your team, or just you make a real difference, so send whatever you've got and I'll make it work. If you have nothing, that's fine too. I can design around it and come back to photos later.
Do I need a domain or any technical knowledge before applying?+
No. You don't need to know anything about web design, hosting, domains, HTML, or code, and you don't need a domain before applying. We can figure that out together. The whole point is that you shouldn't have to work any of it out on your own.
How can sending example websites I like help the process?+
If you've seen any website and thought you'd like something like it, send it over. It saves back-and-forth and makes it easier for me to understand your taste. You don't have to know anything about web design. Just share what looks good to you.
Read more: What every small business homepage needs.
When you're ready, here's how the process works for small businesses.