A website redesign is easier to manage when you gather key information before work begins. You do not need every detail finalized, but a few thoughtful preparations can help your team make better decisions and avoid unnecessary revisions. Start by clarifying what the website should accomplish, collecting the materials that represent your business, and identifying the pages and examples that matter most. This gives your redesign a practical foundation and keeps planning focused on your customers.
Set Clear Website Goals
Write down what is not working on your current website and what you want the new one to improve. You might need clearer service information, more inquiries, easier online scheduling, or a better experience on phones. Keep goals tied to customer actions rather than appearance alone. A specific aim, such as making it easier to request an estimate, gives your redesign team a useful way to evaluate page layouts and features.
Think about how you will recognize progress after launch. Note the actions visitors should take, such as calling, submitting a form, booking, or visiting a location. If you have website analytics or customer feedback, share relevant patterns: common questions, pages people visit, or places where they seem to get stuck. You do not need to interpret every data point; your observations can help shape priorities.
Gather Brand Assets
Collect your current logo files, brand colors, fonts, and any guidelines for using them. Include high-quality versions of logos, not just images copied from a webpage. If your business has different logo formats for light and dark backgrounds, gather those too. Organize files in one shared folder and label them clearly so the design team can identify the right versions without guessing.
Add photography, illustrations, icons, and other materials you own or have permission to use. Note any usage limits, required credits, or expiration dates. If you need new photography, list the people, products, spaces, or work processes you want shown. A short list of image needs can help you plan a photo shoot and avoid relying on visuals that do not reflect your business.
Review Page Content
Make a list of the pages your website has now and mark which ones should stay, change, combine, or go. Include important pages that may be easy to overlook, such as contact details, location information, policies, and service-specific pages. This inventory helps establish the redesign’s scope and gives you a starting point for organizing navigation.
Review the wording on key pages for accuracy. Confirm service names, business hours, contact information, staff details, and calls to action. Flag content that is outdated or missing, and identify who can approve revisions. You can often reuse useful material, but avoid assuming every existing paragraph should carry over. The redesigned site should answer current customer questions clearly and make the next step obvious.
Choose Helpful Examples
Save a few websites or page examples that show features or styles you like. Be specific about what catches your attention: perhaps a simple menu, readable service descriptions, a strong contact button, or an easy-to-use booking flow. Examples help communicate preferences, but they do not need to be from businesses in your industry or copied as a complete design.
Include examples of what you want to avoid, if that helps clarify your preferences. Explain the reason, such as cluttered pages, hard-to-read text, or confusing navigation. Also share any practical requirements, including accessibility needs, integrations, or tools your team uses. Lake Effect Web can use this preparation to guide a focused redesign conversation and clarify which decisions need attention first.
Before the project starts, gather your goals, brand materials, page inventory, and a few well-chosen examples in one place. Mark open questions instead of delaying until everything feels perfect. A clear starting point helps your redesign team spend less time searching for information and more time shaping a site that serves your customers. When you are ready, discuss your priorities with a website redesign professional.