Your Comprehensive Website Checklist

Written By Christy Weber

© Kubra Arslaner

When it comes to updating or buying a new website, the most important piece in the process is getting prepared. That means having the following things in order before you sign with a designer, developer or marketing professional. To help you through the process, I’ve created a comprehensive checklist you can use to save substantial time, money and hassle. Be sure you use it before you begin your next website project.

1. Evaluate Your Current Platform

Whether you're using Squarespace, ShowIt, PixieSet, Wordpress or another platform, you need to be sure it is easy for you to maintain and seamless for your clients to navigate. Before deciding whether to update or rebuild, analyze your current platform.

  • Usability: Is your site user-friendly for both you and your clients? Can you update content easily? Or, do you have to reach out for help when you want to make simple changes?

  • Performance: Are your upload speeds fast, and does your site look great on mobile? Over 50% of your clients will view your website on their phone or mobile device.

  • Design: Does the design still align with your brand’s vision or do you need a new look?

  • SEO Capabilities: Is it easy to optimize for search engines with page titles, meta descriptions, alt text and filenames?

If your current platform performs well and meets most of your needs, consider an update. Otherwise, explore a new website that better suits your goals and technical expertise.

2. Know Your Ideal Client and Speak to Their Needs

Any copywriter, curator, or designer worth their salt will ask you to define your ideal client before they begin your project. When you build your website for your target audience, your website can act as a powerful 24/7 sales tool. Here is what you need to know about the people you want to work with so you can focus on how to reach them.

  • Demographics: Their age, location, profession, income and style preferences;

  • Desires: The type of service and products they are looking for;

  • Experience: The kind of customer service they expect and how you can surpass it.

  • Behavior: Where they shop, how they spend their time, and the search terms they use;

  • Pain Points: What they are worried about and how you can make them feel confident about hiring you.

Every word, photo, and call-to-action on your site should calm their fears and make them excited to book you.

3. Define Your Business, Artistic and Lifestyle Goals

The definition of success and artistic fulfillment can look a lot different depending on where you are in your life and career. Maybe you’re just launching your business, or maybe you're burned out on doing the same thing for years. You may still be honing your artistic voice, brand or business goals, or you may know exactly where you want to go. Making new plans for your website offers you an opportunity to rethink your direction or double down on what you’re doing to create a better future for your business. Maybe it’s time for a new name or a whole new direction.

  • Business Goals: How much revenue do you need to generate monthly/annually?

  • Artistic Goals: What aesthetic do you want to be known for and how can you elevate it?

  • Lifestyle Goals: How do you want your business to support your life, hobbies and relationships?

A website isn’t just a tool; it’s an investment. Aligning it with your goals and the things you love to do will ensure it gives you more than traffic. Reflecting on your comprehensive marketing strategy will help improve your life, so don’t leave it off your website checklist.

4. Choose Your Website Template and Design the Structure

Your website structure will determine how your potential clients absorb your message and reach out to book you. Define the purpose and content for each page and consider how your blog (if you have one) will look and be laid out. Choose several templates that you vibe with based on ease of use, navigation options and overall look. Start an inspiration board and add your favorite elements from several options to share with your designer or decide on a custom site where the sky's the limit.

  • Homepage: Capture attention and guide visitors toward key actions;

  • About Page: Share your story and values authentically;

  • Services: Make your offerings clear and easy to understand;

  • Portfolio: Showcase your work strategically (more on this below);

  • Blog: Design for brand cohesion and create the informative posts your clients need;

  • Contact Page: Include a simple, mobile-friendly form with essential info. Consider creating additional pages for FAQs, client testimonials, or blog posts.

5. Curate Your Portfolio for Maximum Sales

Your photos are your most powerful selling tool. They speak a thousand words in less than a second and create emotional reactions. To prepare your photos for a new website or upgrade.

  • Homepage Hero Images: Choose captivating, emotionally resonant photos that speak to your ideal client’s aspirations. Take them on an emotional journey to create connection and enthusiasm;

  • Portfolio/Galleries: Create portfolio collections with images that showcase your unique style while addressing client desires. Don’t simply pick your favorite photos; choose the ones that define your niche and elevate your aesthetic;

  • Blog Posts or Features: Use an impressive opening photo for each article. Prioritize quality over quantity and weed out any redundant or less-than-optimal images.

6. Refresh or Refine Your Visual Branding

Your brand is what people know you for and how they describe your business to others. Ensure it is cohesive and consistent so it can become easily recognizable. 

  • Your Logo: Update your logo if it looks dated or doesn’t speak to your current style;

  • Color Palette: Choose 2 to 3 main colors and 1 to 2 accents that work well together and complement your work;

  • Typography: Select clean, easy-to-read fonts for headers and body text;

  • Visual Identity: Create accents and icons to use on your website, in marketing and in social media.

7. Define Your Brand Voice

Knowing what you want to say and how you want to say it is crucial to creating good content. Write a style sheet and copy that includes the following.

  • Your vision statement: Clarify your mission and what makes your business special;

  • Brand heart: Describe what motivates you and the tone of your messaging;

  • Taglines: Create taglines that people will love and remember;

  • Adjectives: Choose adjectives you want to use and those that you don’t;

  • Messaging: Write text that flows easily and engages your audience from your homepage to your bio to your contact form. If you decide to write your content yourself, do not publish it before you have it edited for style, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Write for your client first and then for the search engines. Avoid keyword stuffing and industry jargon and remember less can be more. People prefer it when you get to the point so they don’t have to dig for information, and too much content that is focused on sales can make clients feel overwhelmed and distrustful of what you’re offering;

  • Calls to action: Keep your CTAs exciting and stay away from using the same ones over and over again. Keep them consistent with your brand voice.

8. Gather Content and Assets

Prepare all the content you’ll need for a seamless website launch.

  • Headshots: Use 2 to 3 professional headshots that represent your personality and professionalism;

  • Publications and Awards: Gather logos and icons and highlight any notable features or accolades to build trust;

  • Client Reviews: Gather your best testimonials and edit them down to concise, impactful statements to be used throughout your site;

  • Published Blog Posts: Update or create content that showcases your expertise and value. Choose to keep your best blog posts and write new ones. Keep in mind that informative posts about design and venue, as well as travel guides, can provide value and drive more traffic to your site. Click the links below for examples of effective and informative blog posts.

9. Optimize for SEO and Analytics

Your website needs to be discoverable and trackable by major search engines. Making it SEO-friendly is not as hard as many people think. These basic items will give you a big boost when it comes to your page rank.

  • Keywords: Research and integrate keywords your ideal clients are searching for;

  • Metadata: Write compelling meta titles and descriptions for every page;

  • Alt Text: Add descriptive alt text to every image for accessibility and SEO;

  • File Naming: Create filenames that include your business name and most relevant search terms. For instance, include your location and the product name or design style to boost your results on Google Images;

  • Google Analytics/Tag Manager: Set up tracking to measure your site’s performance and user behavior.

10. Choose the Right Copywriter, Curator, and Designer

Working with people who treat you well, communicate clearly and create results can make all the difference in your experience. Here’s what you need to look for before you sign a contract.

  • Portfolio: Review their past projects and ensure their style aligns with your vision;

  • References: Speak to past clients of your prospective professional and look at their profiles on platforms like LinkedIn to evaluate their experience and skillset;

  • Support and Maintenance: Ensure they offer clear documentation for managing your site and upgrading your content.

Final Tips for Success

With what seems like a million “experts” online, it is easy to fall prey to marketers who promise results and don’t deliver to your expectations. Don’t let anxiety or pressure drive you into making a move you’ll regret. Finish your website checklist with these pro tips.

  • Avoid rushing into a decision. Take the time to compare professionals, platforms and hosting options;

  • Plan for a soft launch to test your site before making it public;

  • Invest in professional help where you need it. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses and hire people who can execute your vision and alleviate your stress.

© Daniel Fazio

If any part of this website checklist feels overwhelming, know that you don’t have to go it alone. From SEO-friendly copywriting to complete photo curation, blog posts, pricing guides and more, I’m here to help you create a website that elevates your brand and drives results.

Just write to Blair@artlifeandbusiness.com and fill out my contact form, or book a free, zero-pressure consultation today to discuss how we can transform your website into your most powerful marketing tool.


I am looking forward to helping you reach your goals!

Wishing you all the best,

Blair

Christy Weber
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