The Fastest Websites Start With Good Preparation
When a website takes longer than expected, the delay is rarely caused by the coding. It is usually because the developer is waiting for something: a logo, a photo, a price list or a decision. Every week spent chasing materials is a week your business is not online.
The good news is that you can avoid this. If you gather the right things before the build begins, your website will be faster, smoother and better. Here are five things to prepare, and a short checklist at the end you can follow.
A developer can build the frame, but only you can supply what makes it yours: your story, your work and your voice. The more you bring to the first meeting, the better the result.
— Serina Systems
1. A Clear Goal
Before anything else, decide what the website is for. Is it to get phone calls, receive orders, collect bookings, show your past projects or build trust with new customers? Many websites try to do everything and end up doing nothing well. Choose the one or two most important actions you want visitors to take, such as calling you, sending a WhatsApp message or paying online. Every page can then be designed to lead people towards that action.
It also helps to think about who your visitors are. A parent looking for a school, a contractor looking for materials and a tourist looking for a hotel all want different things, and your site should speak to them clearly.
2. Your Logo And Brand Details
Gather your logo in the best quality you have, ideally as a vector file or a high-resolution image with a transparent background. If you have brand colours or fonts, write down what they are. If you do not have a logo yet, sort that out first or ask your developer to include it in the project. Our guide on what makes a logo work for a small business explains what to look for.
Also collect a few websites you admire, from any industry, and note what you like about each. It might be the colours, the layout or the way they explain things. This helps your developer understand your taste far faster than a long description.
3. Good Photos And Videos
Photos are one of the biggest parts of a website, and nothing replaces real ones. Collect pictures of your premises, your team, your products or services and your completed work. Take them in good daylight, keep the phone steady and send the original files rather than copies compressed through WhatsApp, which lose quality.
If you cannot get enough photos, tell your developer early. Stock images can fill gaps, but visitors trust genuine pictures of your actual business far more. Use only images you own or have permission to use.
4. Written Content
Words are what turn a visitor into a customer, and writing them often takes the longest. Prepare simple, honest text for each page you plan to have:
- About you: who you are, how long you have been operating, what makes you different and who you serve
- Services or products: a clear description of each, with prices or packages if you want to show them
- Common questions: the questions customers ask you most, with short answers
- Proof: reviews from happy customers, names of clients you are allowed to mention and examples of past work
- Next steps: what a customer should do to order, book or get a quote
Do not worry about perfect writing. A developer or writer can polish your text, but they cannot invent facts about your business. Write the way you would explain things to a customer in person.
5. Practical Details And Accounts
Finally, collect the practical information a website needs, so nothing holds up the launch:
- Your business name, address, phone numbers, WhatsApp number and email address, written exactly as you want them shown
- Opening hours and your location, with landmarks if you are hard to find
- Links to your social media pages
- Your domain name (the web address), or a few names you would like to register, and any hosting or email accounts you already have
- If you plan to sell online, your payment details and your Paybill or Till number, as explained in our guide to accepting M-Pesa payments on your website
If you have a Google Business Profile, keep the details on your website exactly the same. Our guide on showing up on Google Maps shows why this matters.
A Few Extra Tips For A Smooth Project
- Choose one decision-maker. When several people give different opinions, the project slows down.
- Agree on a timeline and tell your developer when you will be unavailable.
- Give feedback in one batch rather than in small pieces over many days.
- Plan for after launch. Websites need updates, so decide who will keep your prices, photos and details current.
Your Quick Checklist
- I know the main goal of my website and who it is for
- I have my logo and know my brand colours
- I have clear photos of my business, team and work
- I have written the main text for each page
- I have my contact details, domain name and account information ready
Where To Start
You do not need everything to be perfect before you talk to a developer. Start by gathering what you can, and ask for help with the rest. If you are still deciding whether you need a site at all, read why every Kenyan business needs a professional website. When you are ready, Serina Systems will walk you through each step in plain language and tell you exactly what we need from you. Contact us for a free consultation and quote.