The Pre-Design Blueprint: Your Checklist Before Hiring a Squarespace Designer
Hiring a web designer is exciting, but for many small business owners, the start of the project can feel confusing. I hear it all the time: "I know I need a new website, but what exactly do I need to prepare before we even start?"
At Erin Clayton Web Design, I believe in a transparent, smooth process. That's why I’m outlining the Pre-Design Blueprint. Think of this as your simple, four-step checklist to ensure we kick off your project efficiently, on time, and focused on your business goals.
1. The Power of Final Copy (All Your Text)
This is the single biggest bottleneck in any web design project. Designers are here to make your website look great, but you are the expert on your business. You must provide the words that sell your service.
What you need:
Final, Edited Text: Provide the finished text for every page: Home, About, Services/Packages, Contact, etc.
Focus on the Reader: Your copy should talk about your customer's problems and how your service solves them, not just a list of features.
The "Vibe": If you want a specific tone (professional, friendly, authoritative), make sure the copy reflects that tone.
Why this matters: Design can't truly begin until I know the volume and hierarchy of the text. If the copy changes mid-design, it can unravel the layout and cause costly delays.
💡 Copy Catastrophe? I Can Help!
I know that staring at a blank page is often the reason people delay their website launch for months. If copywriting feels overwhelming, I have solutions! I offer a fill-in-the-blank framework to guide your writing process, or I can take the task completely off your plate by providing web copywriting services. You'll still need to provide the foundational business information, but I’ll craft the compelling words that convert.
Tip: Write what you can in a simple Google Doc or Word file, organize it by page, and let me know early if you'd like support to get your copy 100% complete before our start date.
2. High-Quality Imagery & Visuals
A Squarespace site is built to be a beautiful canvas for your best visuals. Bad photos are the fastest way to make a gorgeous design look amateur.
What you need:
Professional Headshots: For your About page and testimonials. Invest in great photos!
High-Resolution Brand Photos: Photos of your team, your products, your studio, or your workspace.
Legal Stock Photos: If you need supplemental images, ensure they are high-resolution and that you have the rights to use them commercially.
Critical Preparation: Please ensure all images are delivered in a single, well-organized folder (like a Google Drive or Dropbox link). I will handle the necessary technical optimization (compression and sizing) to make sure they load fast on Squarespace.
3. Your Final Branding Assets (Logo & Colours)
Your website should look and feel like a seamless extension of your existing brand. To ensure consistency, I need the right files.
What you need:
Final Logo Files: Provide your logo in a high-resolution format, preferably a transparent PNG, SVG, or vector file (AI, EPS). Do not send a logo pulled from an old business card or a screenshot.
Brand Colour Codes (Hex Codes): List your exact brand colours (e.g.,
#FFFFFFfor white,#A3CC66for your main accent colour). This is non-negotiable for perfect colour matching. If you need help with this, I’m here!Font Files/Names: If your branding uses specific premium fonts, provide the license or the font names so we can match them (or find the closest Squarespace alternative).
4. Three Website Examples You Love (The Inspiration)
Don't worry about finding three Squarespace sites—I just want to see websites, even competitors, that you think nailed it. This provides crucial insight into your aesthetic preferences and expectations.
What to look for (and tell us!):
Aesthetic/Vibe: "I love the clean, minimalist feel of this site."
Functionality: "I like how easy it is to book a service on this site."
Layout/Structure: "I love the scrolling effect and the full-width images on this homepage."
Why this matters: Design is subjective. By providing these examples, you give me a visual roadmap that saves time and guarantees we are aligned on the finished product.
Ready to Build Your Dream Site?
By having this Web Design Preparation Checklist complete, you set us up for success. It ensures we spend our time designing and strategizing together, not waiting for assets. This efficiency gets your beautiful, goals-focused Squarespace website launched faster!
