DGTL LABS / BUILD BRIEF
What do you need before building a business website?
Start with one business goal, a clear list of pages, the content you already have and the features visitors need. This checklist helps you bring a useful brief to a website designer—even if your idea is still taking shape.
Published by DGTL LABS, Dan Galea’s Toronto creative technology studio.
1. Choose the next step your visitor should take
Write down the main action: request a quote, book a table, buy a product, call you or explore your work. Pick one primary action per page. A restaurant’s menu and opening hours should be easy to find; a service business should explain who it helps and how to enquire.
2. List the pages and content you actually need
Start with your offer, an explanation of your services, relevant work and a contact route. Gather your logo, photographs, service descriptions and contact details. Mark what is ready and what needs writing or creating. Keep concept work labelled as concepts, and use customer quotes only with permission.
3. Decide between a website and a web app
A website usually presents information and helps someone take an action. A web app lets someone complete a task: sign in, manage a booking, calculate a result or follow a workflow. A simple enquiry form does not automatically require a custom app. If you need accounts, saved data or different user roles, describe those tasks in your brief.
4. Describe the integrations and access requirements
List existing booking tools, payment services, mailing lists and other systems the site needs to use. Record who owns the domain and hosting accounts, and whether email runs on the same domain. Keep passwords out of your project enquiry; account access can be arranged separately.
5. Set a realistic scope and launch target
Separate launch essentials from ideas for later. A five-page site with existing content is a different project from a store with product photography, payments and inventory. Share your preferred launch date and any fixed event behind it, then agree the scope, responsibilities and quote before building.
6. Agree what happens after launch
Decide who updates text, handles hosting renewals and checks enquiries. Ask what you will own, which accounts you will control and how changes are requested. If you need a content editor or ongoing care, include that in the brief.
A launch checklist you can use
- Check the main pages on a phone and desktop.
- Send a real test enquiry and confirm it reaches the right person.
- Check links, menus, contact information and any booking or payment journey.
- Confirm the domain uses HTTPS and the preferred address redirects correctly.
- Check page titles, descriptions, sitemap and search indexing settings.
- Keep private documents and internal pages out of public search.
Bring your brief to DGTL LABS
DGTL LABS builds websites and custom web apps for Toronto businesses and creatives. Share your goal, current website, essential features and target date. Dan can discuss the right next step and a project quote.