What to prepare before building a website
Content, photos, features and access details that help define a website for a small business or holiday apartment.
Start with the visitor’s task
An electrician’s website and an apartment website serve different needs. One visitor needs services, coverage and a phone number; the other wants accommodation details, booking conditions and an availability inquiry. Write down one main goal before choosing the design.
Prepare content for each page
- For each service, explain who it is for, what is included and what the customer should prepare.
- Include accurate business details, contact information and actual service areas.
- Choose photos you have permission to publish. Show the actual property or work.
- For every language, check contacts, service names and conditions, not just the homepage.
Separate essential features from later additions
A contact form, an availability inquiry and a booking system are different scopes of work. A booking system needs decisions about calendars, confirmations, payments and data responsibilities. A basic form does not provide those features automatically. List what must work on launch day.
Agree on access and launch checks
If a domain exists, identify its registrar and who can manage it. Grant access for the specific task and avoid sharing passwords publicly. Before launch, open the site on a phone, test the phone link and receive a real test inquiry. A button click does not prove message delivery.
An example brief for the first conversation
“I need an apartment website in Croatian and German, my own photo gallery, a list of amenities and an availability inquiry. I already have a domain. I do not need online payments yet.” That brief is easier to estimate than a request for a modern website.
Website development in Zadar