The Ultimate Pre-Website Design Checklist for Small Businesses

Launching a new website? Before you dive into colors, layouts, and logos, stop for a second. Designing a website without a solid plan is like building a house without a blueprint. You can do it — but it’s probably going to collapse halfway through or cost way more than it should.

Whether you’re working with a web designer or using a drag-and-drop builder, this guide will help you get your ducks in a row. It’s packed with practical steps every small business should take before touching a single pixel.

Let’s make sure your site works — not just looks good.

Why You Need a Website Planning Checklist

Design isn’t just decoration — it’s strategy. If you skip the planning phase, you’re likely to:

Confuse visitors with unclear messaging
Miss essential SEO opportunities
End up with a beautiful site that doesn’t convert

This checklist is built to prevent that. Use it to make smart, intentional decisions that move your business forward.

Define Your Website Goals and Purpose

Before anything else, ask: Why are you building this site?

Every good website starts with clear goals. That could be:

Getting more leads
Selling products online
Building authority in your industry
Providing information and support

Once you’ve got your purpose locked in, every design choice should support it.

Pro tip: Be specific. “I want to grow my business” is too broad. “I want to generate 10 new service inquiries a week” is actionable.

Know Your Audience Inside and Out

If you try to design for everyone, you’ll reach no one.

Think about your ideal customer:

What problems are they trying to solve?
What tone, visuals, and content will resonate with them?
What objections might they have before taking action?

Example: If you’re a local cleaning service, your audience might care more about trust and reliability than trendy graphics. Your design should reflect that.

Map Out Your Website Structure

Site structure = user experience + SEO gold.

Create a simple outline of your main pages:

Home
About
Services or Products
Contact
Blog (if applicable)
FAQ or Reviews

Decide what should go in your header and footer. Keep navigation clear and minimal.

Tip: Every page should have a purpose and a clear next step. If a page doesn’t help your user or your goal, cut it.

Gather and Organize Your Content

Design means nothing without content. If your pages are blank or your copy is scattered, your project will stall.

What you need:

A clear headline for each page
Short, benefit-driven paragraphs
Strong calls to action
Photos or graphics (real ones if possible)

Write first, design second. Don’t let lorem ipsum drive your project timeline.

Choose the Right Domain Name and Hosting

Your domain is your online address. Make it:

Short
Easy to spell
Relevant to your business name

Example: If you own Coastal Pet Grooming, something like coastalpetcare.com is clean and memorable.

As for hosting, don’t cheap out. You want speed, security, and reliability. Look for hosting providers with good uptime, customer support, and scalability.

Plan for Mobile Users From the Start

Over half of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site looks great on desktop but breaks on a phone, you're losing business.

Mobile-first design means:

Clear buttons
Large readable text
Fast loading pages
No clutter or pop-ups blocking the screen

Preview everything on phones early and often. Don’t assume it “just works.”

Decide on Branding Basics

You don’t need a full brand manual, but a few consistent visuals go a long way:

Logo (preferably vector format)
Primary and secondary colors
Font choices
Tone of voice

Use the same style across your site to build trust and recognition.

Example: If your brand is friendly and approachable, your website copy shouldn’t sound like a legal contract.

Consider SEO From Day One

Search engine optimization isn't just for big companies. Even small, local businesses benefit from ranking higher in search.

Before you design:

Research keywords your audience is searching for
Write page titles and meta descriptions
Use headings that reflect what people want to know

Build your site to be found — not just seen.

Prep for Conversions

A pretty website that doesn’t convert is a digital paperweight.

To boost conversions:

Include clear calls to action on every page (think: “Get a Quote” or “Book Now”)
Add trust builders like testimonials, reviews, or certifications
Keep forms simple — name, email, message is often enough

You’re not just showing off — you’re guiding visitors toward action.

Final Thoughts: Good Design Starts With Smart Planning

Your website is more than an online brochure. It’s your 24/7 salesperson, first impression, and customer experience hub all in one.

By following this pre-website design checklist, you’ll:

Avoid costly mistakes
Save development time
Launch a site that actually works for your business

Ready to build something that works? At Ocezy, we help businesses create websites that are as strategic as they are stunning.

Let’s turn your vision into a site that gets results.