10 Questions to Ask Before Starting Your Website Project

Building a new website is exciting – but it’s also one of the biggest investments your business will make. Whether you’re starting from scratch or redesigning an outdated site, asking the right questions up front will save you time, money, and stress. More importantly, it ensures you end up with a website that doesn’t just look good, but delivers real results.

At Media Village, we’ve helped businesses across Lancashire and the North West launch websites that perform – from schools like Stonyhurst College to startups like UniYou. Here are the ten questions every business owner should ask before starting a website project.

🧭 Jump to:

If you’re about to speak to a web designer or development agency, these questions will help you scope your project properly, avoid hidden costs, and understand whether the company you’re speaking to is the right fit.

1. What is the main goal of the website?

Every successful site starts with a clear purpose. Are you trying to:

• Generate leads?
• Sell products online?
• Share information or resources?
• Build credibility and trust?

Your goals influence design, structure, and functionality. Without clarity, you risk ending up with something pretty but ineffective.

2. Who is your target audience?

Websites work best when they’re built for a specific audience. Define your users by age, profession, industry, and pain points. Are they:

• Local homeowners looking for a trusted service?
• B2B buyers researching suppliers?
• Students and parents comparing schools or colleges?

The clearer the picture, the easier it is to design navigation, content, and CTAs that resonate.

3. What specific actions do you want visitors to take?

Your site should guide users towards clear calls to action (CTAs):

• Call now
• Fill out a form
• Book a consultation
• Make a purchase

These need to be visible across key pages – not hidden in the footer. At Media Village, we design and develop websites so your most important CTAs are always front and centre.

4. What content do you already have, and what needs to be created?

High-quality content drives both engagement and SEO. Take stock of:

• Existing copy (service descriptions, bios, case studies)
• Visuals (images, videos, graphics)
• Downloadable resources (brochures, guides, specs)

Identify what’s reusable and where new content is needed. If you need support, our in-house team can handle copywriting, photography, and website design.

5. Do you have a brand identity in place?

Your website should reflect your brand consistently – from colours and fonts to tone of voice. If you don’t already have brand guidelines, it’s worth investing in them before you build. They’ll save you time and prevent costly design changes later.

👉 Learn more: Brand Design Services

6. What functionality will you need?

Beyond the basics, think about:

• Online booking systems
• Secure payment gateways
• Membership or client logins
• CRM or email marketing integrations
• Accessibility and mobile responsiveness

Because Media Village specialise in WordPress development, we can extend functionality with plugins while keeping your site SEO-ready and secure.

7. How will you measure success?

Don’t just launch a site and hope. Decide upfront how you’ll track ROI:

• Enquiries submitted
• Sales made
• Downloads completed
• Traffic from Google

We install Google Analytics and Search Console as standard, so you’ll have the data you need from day one.

8. What’s your budget and timeline?

Budget dictates scope – from a simple brochure site to a full eCommerce build. Timeline matters too:

• Do you need to launch before a trade show?
• Is there a product release date to hit?

Being upfront helps us design a plan that balances priorities and avoids last-minute compromises.

9. How will you handle updates and maintenance?

A website isn’t a “set and forget” tool. It needs:

• Regular security updates
• Plugin and CMS updates
• Content changes
• SEO optimisation

You can manage these in-house (with training) or let us handle it via a retainer – keeping your site safe, fast, and compliant.

10. How will people find your website?

A great site is useless without traffic. Consider your plan for:

• SEO – so your site ranks on Google
• Social media and paid ads
• Email campaigns
• Offline promotion (events, print, signage)

We build sites with SEO foundations baked in, ensuring your digital presence works hand-in-hand with your wider marketing.

📌 Final Thoughts

By answering these ten questions before you start your website project, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and set yourself up for success.

If you’d like expert guidance, Media Village can help you plan, design, and launch a site that works as hard as you do.