A well-crafted website brief not only outlines your vision but also translates it into a clear plan for designers and developers. It’s essential for aligning your web development team, ensuring everyone is on the same page about goals, requirements, and deadlines.
In this article, I’ll walk you through website brief template examples that are comprehensive, easy to use, and tailored to different project needs. You’ll learn how to structure your project brief, what key elements to include, and how to articulate your vision effectively.
By the end, you’ll have the tools to create a brief that enhances communication, streamlines your process, and ensures your project’s success. Let’s dive into the details, so you can master the art of crafting a killer website brief.
About Your Business
What is the right starting point for a website brief? When starting a discussion with the developer have the following information ready:
- What does your business do?
- What is the objective of the website?
- How will people find the website?
- What is the company’s unique selling point?
- What are the company’s values?
- Are there existing documents that show the company’s branding? This includes documents, stationery, signage.
- Style guide. Think of color schemes, typefaces, etcetera.
- A list of inspirational websites. Include a description of positive and negative elements.
- If there is a current website, why does it need to be replaced or updated?
Point of Contact
To facilitate communication with the developing agency, assign one person within the organization. He or she receives information and questions and has decision-making skills and authority. Then make sure that the developers have his or her contact details.
Too many contact persons and decision-makers will slow down the project considerably. Therefore the web development bureau will like to know the following:
- Key stakeholders
- Contact person
- Person responsible for content providing
- Person authorized to sign off each key stage
- Person that will continue to manage the site after it is finished
Target Audience & Users
Take time to identify and describe the target audience. Who is the ideal client? This detailed information is key to making a website that succeeds in reaching these people. Outline the audience’s demographics and psychographics.
The audience and users section of the website brief template includes:
- Customers’ motivations, inspirations, and turn-offs
- How does the target audience find the website?
- How familiar are they with the website or the brand?
- Will there be members-only products, services, or website sections?
- The focal point of the website. Why should visitors go there and what should they do?
- What should visitors remember after visiting?
Define the Project’s Goals
The previous sections in the website brief template help to understand the extent of the project and what it involves. With that established, it is now time to define the goals of the website and the problems that it needs to solve.
Defining these parameters will ensure an effective website design that is to the point. As a result, people that visit the website will find what they are looking for.
It is often a smart decision to ask for help when designing and building a website. This is definitely true for someone with little experience. There is more involved than downloading design software and putting some pictures and text together.
Anyone who has already started building one may come to the realization that what they have made is not acceptable. What are the elements that are missing or what is the design lacking?
Also, adding an online selling point to the website may boost sales,but creating an efficient and reliable webshop offers professional help.
Competitors
Make a description of the industry’s landscape and who the competition is and what they do.
- Include what notable marketing activities they have. Think about what makes their approach effective and what the weaknesses are.
- Write down what pressure the competition is exercising on the business.
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the competition’s websites? Are there any useful aspects to adapt?
Knowing what the industry’s landscape looks like is a great help for the designers and developers. It helps them to participate in early-stage project discussions.
Design Requirements and Specs
Knowing the requirements early on saves a lot of time revisions and rework. It prevents scope creep and hence keeps project costs under control.
Some items to consider here are:
- Site login credentials
- User registration management
Items such as these determine the kind of site that needs to be built.
An e-commerce site or webshop has different requirements. The brief should include product categories, payment methods, discount codes, shipping costs, and so on.
Pay particular attention to an attractive interface. Think of elements like photography and other illustrations. It depends on the business how much freedom the web designers will have.
Technical Features and Requirements
This section of the website brief template is of particular importance for large projects. Be thorough and detailed, as this will really pay off later on in the project.
- Is there a domain name already?
- If there is, is it still appropriate?
- List the hosting needs. Think here of daily backups and uptime.
- Is there a need for email hosting?
- What infrastructure is needed for payment gateways? For example Stripe, PayPal, Worldplay.
- Consider additional accessibility requirements, for example for the visually impaired.
Content Requirements
The next item of the website design brief template is the content requirements section. Who will provide the content? The company itself, or some external content providers? Draw out a brief sitemap in the web design brief:
- How many pages will it have in total?
- Be specific about the content. Content that is to the point is much more appreciated by the visitors. The sheer quantity is less important.
Get the help of others if there are no internal resources for writing the content. Also, if the time is limited, it might be best to engage professional content providers. Even if there is copy, it would be good to have someone with experience look at it. Another reason to get external help is when an old website has content but it needs updating or refreshing.
Timeframe
For most companies, the timeframe is the most important factor when considering which development agency to pick. So, setting a strict but reasonable deadline for delivering a website helps in the selection of the right team for the job.
Setting a timeframe helps to control costs as well. Usually, a web design project will take between six and twelve weeks, depending on the complexity.
A simple brochure kind of website without any complicated features will take around six weeks to finish. The development of a complex e-commerce web solution takes around twelve weeks or more.
The internet is dynamic and there are constant changes. It is good to anticipate some and to eliminate or limit the effect of others. If Google were to change completely their algorithm, that should not mean that the whole project has to go back to zero.
Measuring Your Success
From the beginning, think about how to measure the success of the new website. Sales numbers or visitor numbers are good targets. A bureau with experience will be able to give tips and advice on this matter.
Considering the lifecycle of a website, it is good to set targets for the first two years after the launch.
In the beginning, it may not be possible to implement every desired element. For example, at the moment it still works fine to take and process orders by phone but if sales rise this will have to be handled through the website.
Planning for these future changes is important also for the developing agency. Then they know what to expect in the future.
Project Budget
Some do not like to discuss money, especially not at an early stage in the project when many things are still uncertain. However, being honest when it comes to budget will result in more accurate quotes and will give a clearer picture of what is possible.
A good way of getting good and reliable quotes even before the project starts is by giving a budget range rather than a fixed amount.
Indicating the project’s budget is a very important part of the design brief template. The amount of money available for it influences many details of the final product. For example, it determines what kinds of tools are available for the website.
Here are factors that need consideration in establishing a budget:
- Digital marketing
- Hosting
- Web design & development
- Post-production support and maintenance
Hosting and Maintenance
Many design and development agencies can take care of the hosting details, either in-house or external. Still, a business owner may decide to look for one or stick to the one that is currently hosting the old website.
Hosting needs and preferences also need to be expressed in the website design brief. This may include the preference for the country where the web servers are located. At any rate, the choice must be adequate to give a secure and fast website.
FAQs about website brief templates
What is a website brief template?
A website brief template is a structured document that outlines the objectives, requirements, and scope of a web development project. It serves as a guide for designers and developers, ensuring everyone is aligned. It includes sections on target audience, branding guidelines, and functionality requirements.
Why do I need a website brief?
A website brief is crucial for clear communication and project success. It ensures all stakeholders understand the project’s goals, requirements, and timelines. It helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps the project on track, covering aspects like SEO strategy, user experience, and content strategy.
What should be included in a website brief?
A comprehensive website brief should include the project’s goals, target audience analysis, site architecture, content strategy, branding guidelines, functionality requirements, and a web development timeline. It should also detail key performance indicators (KPIs) and budget estimation.
How do I create a website brief?
Start by gathering information on the project’s objectives and requirements. Use a template for website briefing to structure your document. Include sections on user interface (UI) design, responsive design, competitor analysis, and client feedback. Be thorough and clear to ensure effective communication.
Can I find examples of website briefs online?
Yes, there are many website brief template examples available online. Websites like design blogs, project management platforms, and digital marketing sites often provide sample website brief documents. These can guide you in creating your own brief, covering all necessary aspects.
How detailed should a website brief be?
A website brief should be as detailed as necessary to cover all aspects of the project without being overwhelming. Include specifics on site architecture, SEO strategy, branding guidelines, and content management system (CMS). The goal is to provide clear guidance while allowing some flexibility.
How do I use a website brief with my team?
Share the website brief with all stakeholders, including designers, developers, and clients. Use it as a reference point throughout the project to ensure alignment on goals, functionality requirements, and web development timelines. Regularly update it as needed to reflect any changes.
How can a website brief improve project outcomes?
A well-crafted website brief improves project outcomes by ensuring clear communication, preventing misunderstandings, and keeping the project on track. It helps in aligning the team on website goals and objectives, enhances the user experience, and ensures that all requirements are met.
Are there tools to help create a website brief?
Yes, several tools can assist in creating a website brief. Keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, topic modeling tools, and structured data tools can help define and clarify the project’s scope. Project management software can also help in organizing and tracking progress.
How often should a website brief be updated?
A website brief should be a living document, updated as the project progresses and requirements change. Regular updates ensure that the team remains aligned and that any new insights or changes in user experience or functionality requirements are captured and addressed promptly.
Conclusion
These templates are not just documents; they are blueprints that guide the entire team, ensuring alignment on objectives, goals, and requirements.
By using a well-structured website brief, you can clearly articulate your vision, define target audience, and set out branding guidelines. This leads to better communication, fewer misunderstandings, and a streamlined workflow.
Incorporating elements like SEO strategy, content management system (CMS) details, and functionality requirements ensures that all aspects of the project are covered comprehensively. Regular updates to the brief keep the project on track and responsive to any changes.
If you enjoyed reading this article on website brief templates, you should check out this one with illustrator portfolio websites.
We also wrote about a few related subjects like the best graphic design portfolio examples, video portfolio websites, one-page website examples, cool website header examples, the most innovative and creative websites, and how much do web designers make.
