Your Website Can't Save a Business You Haven't Built Yet
I'm going to start with a story. I won't name names — it's someone close to me — but it's the experience that shaped more of my business boundaries than anything else ever has.
Early in my web design journey, I took on a client who had a business idea she was still fleshing out. She knew the general direction she wanted to go, but the specifics — the exact offers, the details, what she was truly committed to — weren't locked in yet. I was excited to help. She was excited to get started. So we dove in.
What I didn't realize was that the business itself was still being built while I was trying to build the website around it.
The scope of the project kept expanding as she discovered what she wanted — new ideas added week after week, things we hadn't originally discussed, work that went far beyond what we had agreed on. I was working after my nine-to-five, through the night, putting in hours on things she wasn't even fully sold on yet. A project that should have taken a few weeks stretched into three to four months. Revisions piled up — I lost count somewhere around ten. And because nothing in the business was final, nothing on the website could be final either.
That experience cost me more than time. It cost me sleep, energy, and honestly — some of my confidence as a designer. When someone is still building their business while you're trying to build their website, you don't just become a web designer. You become a business coach, a product consultant, a decision-maker for things you were never hired to decide. And that's not fair to either of you.
Here's what I want you to hear: your website is not the starting line. It's closer to the finish line of your preparation.
What “Ready” Actually Looks Like
A client who's ready to work with me walks in knowing exactly what they're offering — services, products, pricing, all of it. They know who their ideal client is. They know what their brand looks and feels like. They have photos — real, quality photos — and ideally a few testimonials or reviews from early clients they've worked with.
They may have worked with a business coach. They've had a photoshoot. They've gotten their first few clients under their belt and asked for honest reviews. They know their pricing and they're not second-guessing what they offer.
That kind of project feels completely different to work on. It's clear, it's efficient, and the website that comes out the other side actually reflects who they are and what they do — because they knew both of those things before we started.
Before You Reach Out to Any Web Designer, Have This Ready
Your business plan — who you serve, what you offer, how you charge
Your services or products, fully defined
Your color palette and logo (or at least a clear direction)
Professional, high-quality photos
A marketing plan — because I'm not going to market your business for you
Confidence in what you're offering — because we only have two rounds of revisions
I'll send you a detailed website prep form before we get started — and you can take your time filling it out. But you need to be able to fill it out. If you can't answer the questions on that form, your business isn't ready for a website. And I'd rather tell you that now than three weeks into a project.
If You're Not Quite There Yet — That's Okay
We're all figuring this out. No one starts knowing everything, and I mean that.
If you read this and felt a little called out — good, actually. It means you're paying attention. But don't be discouraged. Here's what I'd suggest before you reach out to a web designer:
Find a business coach or mentor — someone who's done what you want to do and is doing it well
Ask them to look at your business plan, challenge your pricing, and give you real feedback
Get a few practice clients under your belt and ask for honest reviews
Refine your offers based on real experience, not just what sounds good in your head
Book a photography session
Then fill out my inquiry form
The timing will never feel perfect. But there's a difference between imperfect timing and unprepared timing. Come prepared — even imperfectly — and we'll build something worth launching.
When you're ready, I'd love to hear about your project.
