Start with the words

Good website planning can start in a plain text document. Before choosing a layout, write down what the visitor needs to understand and what they should do next.

This is a sample note for the Notes collection. Replace or edit it before publishing.

Answer the first question

Imagine someone arriving with no context. They should not have to decode a slogan to find out what the business does. Start with a direct sentence: what you offer, who it is for and why it might be useful.

A useful first draft for a service business might be: “Bookkeeping for small teams that want a clearer view of their finances.” It gives the design something concrete to support.

Give each section a job

A page is easier to shape when every section answers a real question. A simple outline might be:

• What can you help me with?
• Is this service right for my situation?
• What work can I look at?
• What happens after I get in touch?

The answers do not all need equal space. A project image may explain more than a paragraph; an unfamiliar service may need a little more context. Let the content set the pace.

Make the next step clear

Choose one useful action for the page. “Discuss your website” tells someone more than “Get started” because it explains what the conversation is about.

Then read the page without its images. If the offer, evidence and next step still make sense, you have a strong foundation for the visual design.

You can browse the projects to see how words and visuals work together, or discuss your website.

All notes