Published November 6, 2026 · By Matt McWilliam, MJM Design
Most people put off calling a web designer because they think they need to have everything figured out first. You do not. Figuring it out is part of the job, and a good designer will walk you through it.
But a short list of things, gathered ahead of time, can save weeks and real money. Here is what helps most, roughly in order of importance.
1. Your goal, in one sentence
"We need a new website" is not a goal. "We want more new patients booking cleanings online" is. So is "we want more people donating and volunteering," or "we want contractors to request quotes instead of calling around." One clear sentence shapes every decision that follows, from what goes on the homepage to which features are worth paying for.
2. Access to everything you already have
This is the item that most often delays a project, so start here. Try to locate:
- Your domain name login (the company you pay each year for your web address)
- Your current website or hosting login (Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, or a hosting company)
- Your Google Business Profile and Google Analytics access, if you have them
- Your email setup, so nothing breaks when the website changes
If a former employee, volunteer, or previous designer set these up, tracking them down early avoids a stalled launch later. Lost domain access is a surprisingly common problem, and it is much easier to solve before a deadline than during one.
3. Your brand, or where it stands
Gather your logo files (the original, high-quality versions if you can find them), your colors, and any fonts you use. If you are in the middle of a rebrand, that is completely fine. Just share where it stands, and whether the new logo and colors are final. A website and a rebrand can move forward together, but the designer needs to know which pieces are settled.
4. What is working and what is not
Jot down a few honest notes about your current site. What do people compliment? What do customers or staff complain about? Which pages do people actually use? Is there anything that has to stay, like a referral form a partner relies on? This helps a designer protect what is valuable instead of throwing it out with everything else.
5. The features you need
Make a simple list. Common ones include online booking, donation forms, event calendars, contact and intake forms, a photo gallery, a staff directory, and an online store. Mark each one "must have" or "nice to have." That one distinction makes proposals far easier to compare.
One important note: if any of your forms collect health information or sensitive personal details, such as patient intake forms or referral forms for vulnerable clients, say so at the start. Those forms need to be handled differently, and it is much easier to plan for that than to fix it later.
6. Content and photos
Decide who will write the text. You know your organization best, but writing for the web, and writing to be found on Google, is its own skill. Either answer is fine; it just changes the scope.
For photos, real pictures of your team, your space, and your work beat stock photography almost every time. If you have recent photos, gather them. If not, consider budgeting for a photographer. It is one of the best-value upgrades you can make.
7. A few websites you like
Pick two or three sites you admire, from any industry, and note what you like about each. "I like how simple this one is" or "I like that booking is right at the top" is far more useful than "make it look modern."
8. A rough budget and a date that matters
Even a wide range helps. If you are unsure, read what a website redesign costs in Cleveland first. And if there is a real deadline, like a fundraiser, a grand opening, or a new practice location, share it. "As soon as possible" is fine too, but a specific date helps a designer plan around it.
9. Who makes the final call
Know who approves the design and signs off on launch. If a board, a partner, or a committee needs to weigh in, say so early. Projects rarely stall on design. They stall waiting for approvals.
What you do not need
You do not need to know anything about code, hosting, or SEO. You do not need a sitemap or a finished plan. You do not need to have picked a platform. That is what you are hiring someone for. Bring your goal, your access, and your honest notes, and a good designer can take it from there.
We have helped Cleveland businesses, practices and nonprofits through this since 2005. If you would like to talk it through, send us a few details, even if your list is only half done.