Creating an effective brief for a new website is a crucial step in the Web development process. A well-written brief will help ensure that your requirements and goals are clearly communicated to potential suppliers, facilitating a smooth project flow and ensuring that the resulting website meets your expectations. The following steps provide a structured approach to crafting an effective brief.
1. Introduction to the Project Begin the brief by introducing your organization and summarizing its mission, goals, and key audience. It's important for suppliers to have a clear understanding of who you are and what you do to better grasp the context of your website project.
2. Website Goals Clearly define what you aim to achieve with the new website. Goals may include improving brand awareness, increasing sales, enhancing customer engagement, or streamlining internal processes. Remember that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
3. Target Audience Provide detailed descriptions of your website's primary users. Consider age groups, interests, online behaviors, and the problems your services or products address. The more information you provide, the better suppliers can design a website that meets your target audience's needs.
4. Functional and Technical Requirements Include a list of features the website must have, such as contact forms, e-commerce functionalities, booking systems, or social media integrations. If you have preferences for technologies to be used or existing infrastructure that needs integration, mention those as well.
5. Design and Branding If you have specific design requirements or existing brand identity guidelines to adhere to, ensure that this information is included in the brief. Provide samples, logos, color schemes, and any other design elements suppliers will need.
6. Examples of Liked Websites Attach links to websites you admire and specify what you appreciate about them. This will help suppliers better understand your taste and expectations regarding design and functionality.
7. Budget and Timeline Clearly state your budget for the project and the desired timeline for its completion. Being transparent about budget and deadlines helps ensure that both parties are on the same page from the outset and helps prevent misunderstandings.
8. Content and Website Structure Requirements Describe the type of content the website will contain and how it will be structured. Specify whether you plan to provide all content or expect suppliers to assist with its creation and search engine optimization (SEO). Consider menu structure, product or service categorization, and which pages will be most important for your users.
9. Additional Requirements and Assumptions Include any specific assumptions or requirements that haven't been previously mentioned. This may include aspects such as accessibility for persons with disabilities, multilingual content, or specific hosting and maintenance requirements.
10. Contact Information and Next Steps Conclude the brief by providing contact information for key project stakeholders and describing the next steps, including how and when the supplier selection will be made.
An effectively written brief for a new website is a foundational tool for successfully managing a web project. It provides a clear and structured starting point for suppliers, ensures that your requirements and expectations are understood, and helps establish a solid foundation for future collaboration. Take the time to make your brief as comprehensive and clear as possible to ensure that the resulting website aligns with your visions and needs.
