You have decided that a website might help your business. Now come the suggestions: buy a domain, pick a template, write a brief, choose a platform and work out SEO.
It is easy to get stuck before you have described what the website actually needs to do. You can make a useful start with three answers on one sheet of paper.
1. What do you offer?
Write this as you would explain it to someone who has never heard of your business. Name the service or product and include one detail that helps a customer choose.
A music teacher might specify lessons for children and adults, where sessions happen and how people enquire. A beauty clinic might separate different treatments rather than listing everything under “beauty services”.
If you have several offers, put the most relevant ones first. A homepage should lead people towards the detail they need, not force every explanation into one screen.
2. Who is it for?
“Everyone” is rarely a helpful design brief. Think about the person most likely to use the site and what they need to check.
Parents researching classes may care about age groups, schedules and the instructor’s experience. A new client considering a beauty service may want to understand the treatment and any preparation or suitability information before booking.
Answering this changes your page structure, the examples you choose and the language you use. It can also reveal when you need separate service pages.
3. What should someone do next?
Choose one primary action for each important page. That might be calling the business, requesting a quote, booking a time or asking a question.
If the business takes appointments through an existing service, use that working booking system rather than assuming a new website needs its own. Make phone and booking links easy to use on a mobile screen.
At Lavish Beauty by Rania, a real Coco project, service information sits alongside clear routes to online booking and contact. The design aims to make the next action understandable; that alone does not prove a booking or revenue increase.
Turn the answers into a small first brief
Once you have those answers, collect your business name, contact details, location or service area, current brand materials and any photos you have permission to publish.
You can then decide what the first version really needs. A simple homepage and a few useful service details may be enough. Ecommerce, integrations or more elaborate features should follow a specific customer need, rather than appearing on a default feature list.
It is also fine to stay with a well-maintained social page for now. If people can already find accurate information and reach you, a website may not be urgent. Read what happens after someone recommends your business for a way to check.
When you are ready to discuss a first site, Coco’s website design service starts with the business and customer questions. You do not need to arrive with a technical specification.