Website Project Brief Template

Copy this template into a document and fill it in. You don't need every answer. Even a half-finished brief makes the first conversation with a developer faster and the quotes you get more accurate.

1. About your business

• Business name:
• What you do, in one or two sentences:
• Current website (if any):
• Where your customers are located:

2. Goals

What should the website help you do? Pick the top two or three.

• Get more enquiries or quote requests
• Sell products online
• Take bookings or appointments
• Explain services and build trust
• Make it easier to update content yourself
• Other:

How will you know the website is working? (for example, "more contact form messages each month")

3. Your audience

• Who are your ideal customers?
• What questions do they usually ask before buying?
• What do they need to see to trust you?

4. Pages

List the pages you think you need. A typical small business site:

• Home
• About
• Services (one page, or one per service)
• Portfolio or case studies
• Blog
• Contact
• Other:

5. Features

• Contact or quote form
• Online store
• Booking or scheduling
• Newsletter sign-up
• Multiple languages
• Integrations (CRM, email marketing, payments):

6. Content

• Who will write the text? Me / The developer / A copywriter
• Do you have photos? Yes / Some / No
• Do you have a logo and brand colors? Yes / No

7. Look and feel

• Three websites you like, and why:
• Anything you definitely don't want:

8. Budget and timeline

• Budget range:
• Ideal launch date:
• Is the date fixed? (for example, tied to an event or launch)

9. After launch

• Who will update the site?
• Do you want ongoing maintenance and support? Yes / No / Not sure

Tips for using the brief

• Be honest about budget. It helps a developer suggest the right approach instead of guessing.
• Share examples. "Like this site, but simpler" is surprisingly useful.
• Keep it short. A clear page beats a long document nobody reads.