Start with seven key pieces of information
The site's purpose, target audience, content volume, existing materials, necessary integrations, person responsible for maintenance, and target date form the foundation of the initial meeting. You do not need to know the exact answer to every question; indicating areas of uncertainty is better than confirming an incorrect assumption. An approximate budget can serve as a basis for discussing upper limits and priorities.
Explain examples you like
Instead of just sending links, describe what you like about those examples. Menu simplicity, service presentation, color schemes, or booking steps point to different needs. Rather than creating an exact copy of another site, principles suited to your business are selected. If you have an existing site, share which URLs and content should be preserved.
Responsibility for decisions and delivery
Determine from the start who within the business will give final approval. Consolidate conflicting feedback into a single list. Plan when the logo, product information, and legal texts will be ready. This preparation leads to shorter meetings and clearer proposals; The delivery date is also finalized based on the written scope.
Your quick checklist
- Clearly state the points you are unsure about.
- Indicate what you like about the examples.
- Designate a single person responsible for approval.