What to Prepare Before Building a Website (Philippines Checklist)
Crams Creative
Written by Marc Patrick Orcullo · Freelance web developer & designer, Philippines
The fastest, cheapest website projects share one trait: the client showed up prepared. Before you message a developer, gather these nine things. It cuts both the timeline and the bill — because developers build, they don't wait.
1. One clear goal
Pick the single most important outcome: leads, sales, bookings, or credibility. Everything else serves that. "We want more inquiries from Cavite" beats "a nice website."
2. The pages you need
List them. Most businesses need: Home, About, Services/Products, Contact, and maybe Portfolio, FAQ, or Blog. Don't overbuild — start with what earns the goal.
3. Copy for each page
You know your business best. Write the key message and facts per page (even rough). A copywriter can polish, but blank pages stall the build.
4. Brand assets
Your logo (SVG/PNG), brand colors (hex codes), and font preferences. No brand yet? Say so — a developer can suggest a simple, clean direction.
5. Photos & media
Real photos beat stock. Gather product, team, or location shots. If you need stock, list the mood you want. Avoid tiny, blurry phone screenshots.
6. Login access
Hand over (or be ready to create) access to: domain registrar, hosting, Google Business Profile, and social accounts. Missing access is the #1 hidden delay.
7. Tools to integrate
Payments (GCash, PayMongo, card), booking, email (Mailchimp etc.), CRM, chat. Name them early — each is scoped separately.
8. References
Two or three sites you like (and what you like about them). This replaces a thousand words of "make it pop."
9. Budget & deadline
A range and a target date. Honest numbers let the developer scope to fit instead of guessing.
Prepared client + clear goal = a site that launches in weeks, not months, and costs what was quoted.
A simple pre-build checklist
- ☐ One primary goal written down
- ☐ Page list agreed
- ☐ Draft copy per page
- ☐ Logo + colors
- ☐ Photos gathered
- ☐ Domain/hosting/social access ready
- ☐ Tools to integrate named
- ☐ 2–3 reference sites
- ☐ Budget range + date
Ready to start?
Send me items 1, 2, and 9 and we can scope the rest together on a short call.
Start My ProjectFrequently asked questions
What should I prepare before building a website?
Your goal, the pages you need, copy for each page, your logo and brand colors, photos, login access (domain, hosting, social), and any tools you want integrated (payments, booking, email).
Do I need to write all the copy myself?
No. You can provide rough notes and hire a copywriter, or ask your developer if copy is included. But you know your business best, so at least prepare the key messages and facts.
Why does preparation save money?
Because developers bill for building, not for waiting. Ready content and access remove the delays and revision loops that quietly inflate both cost and timeline.
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