How to Plan a Website Design Project from Scratch
Launching a new website can feel overwhelming—especially if you're starting from scratch. But with the right plan in place, the process becomes clear, structured, and surprisingly smooth. Whether you're building your first website or redesigning an outdated one, following a step-by-step roadmap ensures your project stays on track, on budget, and aligned with your goals.
The first step in planning any website is defining your objectives. What is the purpose of the site? Is it to generate leads, sell products, educate an audience, or build credibility? Getting clear on your goals helps shape every decision moving forward—from design and layout to functionality and content.
Next, define your target audience. Who are you trying to reach? What are their needs, challenges, and behaviors online? Knowing your audience helps you choose the right tone, visuals, layout, and features to create a site that resonates and converts.
Once your goals and audience are defined, it's time to map out your site structure. This is known as a sitemap—a simple list or diagram showing the key pages of your website and how they connect. Most small business websites include core pages like Home, About, Services, Contact, and Blog, but your structure should reflect your unique offering.
From there, begin sketching wireframes for each major page. A wireframe is a rough layout that shows where key elements will go: headlines, images, text blocks, buttons, and navigation. Wireframes help you think through the user experience and create a logical flow before jumping into design.
Now it’s time to gather your content. This includes headlines, service descriptions, team bios, testimonials, calls-to-action, and any photos or graphics you plan to use. Start with real content—not placeholder text—so the design is built around your message, not the other way around.
Choose your branding elements carefully. This includes your logo, fonts, brand colors, and any other visual assets. These should be consistent with your overall brand identity across print materials, social media, and advertising. If you’re building a new brand alongside your website, now is the time to lock those down.
Select a website platform or partner that fits your needs. If you want a fast, done-for-you solution, consider hiring a web design agency that offers custom demos. If you’re more hands-on, choose a platform that’s user-friendly but still supports professional features like mobile responsiveness, SEO tools, and fast hosting.
Before moving into full design and development, finalize your homepage content and layout. This is the most important page on your site and often sets the tone for every other page. Prioritize a strong value proposition, simple navigation, visual appeal, and a clear CTA.
Once design is underway, keep communication open with your designer or development team. Approve mockups, provide feedback, and make decisions quickly to avoid delays. Make sure your website is being built with speed, SEO, and mobile performance in mind from day one.
Before launch, go through a full pre-launch checklist. Test every link, form, and button. Make sure your site loads fast, looks great on mobile, and contains no spelling or grammar errors. Set up Google Analytics, submit your sitemap to Google Search Console, and configure any plugins or tools your site needs to perform.
After launch, your work isn’t over. Track performance using analytics, heatmaps, and user feedback. Watch how visitors move through your site, and identify areas for improvement. You can always refine your content, design, or conversion strategy based on real data.
Planning your website from scratch takes time and attention to detail—but it doesn’t have to be complicated. With a solid roadmap, the process becomes predictable and empowering. Instead of guessing, you’re guiding your website toward real business goals with confidence.
At Orbital Marketing Agency, we guide you through every step of this process—starting with a fully custom website demonstration, built around your business and goals, at no cost to you.
Schedule Your Free Custom Website Demonstration today and get the expert-led roadmap your business needs to launch the right way—before you spend a penny.
The first step in planning any website is defining your objectives. What is the purpose of the site? Is it to generate leads, sell products, educate an audience, or build credibility? Getting clear on your goals helps shape every decision moving forward—from design and layout to functionality and content.
Next, define your target audience. Who are you trying to reach? What are their needs, challenges, and behaviors online? Knowing your audience helps you choose the right tone, visuals, layout, and features to create a site that resonates and converts.
Once your goals and audience are defined, it's time to map out your site structure. This is known as a sitemap—a simple list or diagram showing the key pages of your website and how they connect. Most small business websites include core pages like Home, About, Services, Contact, and Blog, but your structure should reflect your unique offering.
From there, begin sketching wireframes for each major page. A wireframe is a rough layout that shows where key elements will go: headlines, images, text blocks, buttons, and navigation. Wireframes help you think through the user experience and create a logical flow before jumping into design.
Now it’s time to gather your content. This includes headlines, service descriptions, team bios, testimonials, calls-to-action, and any photos or graphics you plan to use. Start with real content—not placeholder text—so the design is built around your message, not the other way around.
Choose your branding elements carefully. This includes your logo, fonts, brand colors, and any other visual assets. These should be consistent with your overall brand identity across print materials, social media, and advertising. If you’re building a new brand alongside your website, now is the time to lock those down.
Select a website platform or partner that fits your needs. If you want a fast, done-for-you solution, consider hiring a web design agency that offers custom demos. If you’re more hands-on, choose a platform that’s user-friendly but still supports professional features like mobile responsiveness, SEO tools, and fast hosting.
Before moving into full design and development, finalize your homepage content and layout. This is the most important page on your site and often sets the tone for every other page. Prioritize a strong value proposition, simple navigation, visual appeal, and a clear CTA.
Once design is underway, keep communication open with your designer or development team. Approve mockups, provide feedback, and make decisions quickly to avoid delays. Make sure your website is being built with speed, SEO, and mobile performance in mind from day one.
Before launch, go through a full pre-launch checklist. Test every link, form, and button. Make sure your site loads fast, looks great on mobile, and contains no spelling or grammar errors. Set up Google Analytics, submit your sitemap to Google Search Console, and configure any plugins or tools your site needs to perform.
After launch, your work isn’t over. Track performance using analytics, heatmaps, and user feedback. Watch how visitors move through your site, and identify areas for improvement. You can always refine your content, design, or conversion strategy based on real data.
Planning your website from scratch takes time and attention to detail—but it doesn’t have to be complicated. With a solid roadmap, the process becomes predictable and empowering. Instead of guessing, you’re guiding your website toward real business goals with confidence.
At Orbital Marketing Agency, we guide you through every step of this process—starting with a fully custom website demonstration, built around your business and goals, at no cost to you.
Schedule Your Free Custom Website Demonstration today and get the expert-led roadmap your business needs to launch the right way—before you spend a penny.