Best Practices for Preparing your Website Content
Updated: 3 hours ago
Your website content helps establish the foundation for your site's structure, design, and functionality. Before beginning website development, gather and take inventory of your existing content to understand what materials are available, identify gaps, and determine what needs to be created or updated. While content can continue to evolve and improve over time, having a clear understanding of what is available from the start allows for more effective planning and prioritization throughout the development process.
A Google Drive folder can keep materials centralized and accessible throughout the website development process. Images should be uploaded as individual files, while written content should be organized by page in Google Docs or Word documents.
This list was designed to help you prioritize the essential content needed for the initial draft of your website.
About Description
Briefly summarize 1-2 paragraphs about your company and/or yourself. Provide any important background information that you want to share to let people know who is behind the brand. Summarize your services, why you are here, and who you serve.
List of Products/Services
Provide a list of products and services with any relevant titles, descriptions, and pricing. A bullet list of benefits can be a nice way to summarize what you do.
Photos
Horizontal images work best on websites because they can be stretched as banner images. This should be a .jpg or .png file. Use high resolution images and avoid use of screenshots, photos saved down from social media, and cropped photos. A picture of yourself can help make the site feel more personable. Wix provides use of free stock images that can be used to fill in where needed.
Social Media Links
Compile links to your existing social media profiles. If you haven't established accounts for your business, consider creating profiles on the platforms you plan to use to secure your preferred business name or username before it becomes unavailable. These profiles can then be linked to your website.
Contact Information
Determine how you want visitors to engage with your business, as this will influence your website's layout, navigation, and calls to action. Consider whether your primary goal is to encourage visitors to book services, purchase products, submit inquiries, or contact you directly. Identify which contact methods you want to make available, such as phone, email, contact forms, or in-person visits.
Logo Files and Variations
Provide full-color, black, and white versions of your logo, along with any alternate layouts or variations. SVG files are ideal because they maintain sharp image quality at any size without losing resolution. PNG files with transparent backgrounds are also able to be used for flexible placement throughout your website.
Inspiration
Explore websites and other sources of design inspiration to help define your brand's visual direction. Consider color schemes, layouts, and design styles that reflect the experience you want to create for your audience. A Pinterest board can be useful for organizing ideas and identifying preferences while developing a distinct visual identity for your website.
Keywords for SEO
Identify 3–5 primary keywords or search phrases relevant to your business, including your services, products, industry, and geographic location. Search these terms on Google to see which businesses appear in the results and review how competitors describe their offerings in page titles and headings. This initial research can help identify relevant search terms and guide your website's content and SEO strategy.
Legalities
Identify and prepare the policies and disclosures relevant to your business and website functionality. Common examples include a Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, Shipping Policy, Return Policy, and Accessibility Statement. Additional disclosures may be required depending on your industry, location, and applicable federal or state regulations. Review our guide to website policies and disclosures to better understand which policies your website may need.
Need Assistance Preparing Your Website Content?
Schedule a one-on-one support session with Small Business Startup Solutions for professional guidance on organizing your content, identifying missing information, and prioritizing what is needed for your website. We can review your existing materials, answer questions, and help establish a clear plan for the next steps in your website development.
