Your first website: what to prepare before you start

Why prepare

What slows a website down most isn't the design: it's gathering the information. If you arrive with things clear, your website can be ready in days instead of months, and it turns out better.

Decide what you want people to do

Before thinking about colors, decide what should happen when someone visits: message you on WhatsApp, book an appointment, buy, come to the shop? Everything on the page should lead there.

Gather the basic information

Make a list of what your customers always ask. At least:

• What you do or sell, with prices or a "from" price if you can show them
• Address, area you serve and opening hours
• WhatsApp, phone, email and social media
• The questions you get most, with their answers

Take good photos

Photos sell more than any text. You don't need a photographer: a phone is enough if you take care of a few things:

• Natural daylight, no flash
• Real photos: your shop, your products, your work and you
• A few landscape ones, for the top of the page
• No stock photos seen on a thousand websites

Write the way you talk

The text should sound like you and use your customers' words. Short sentences, no jargon, the most important thing first.

If you don't have the time, add our Copy and photos extra: we write your website's text and take photos of your shop.

Choose your domain

Think about your website's address: short, easy to dictate and with your business name. Our guide on registering your .com.ar domain explains how to choose and register it.

Find websites you like

Write down two or three websites you like, in your trade or not, and what you like about each. It helps whoever designs yours understand what you're after.

What sections it needs

To start, a simple website is enough. The essentials:

• At the very top: what you do, where, and a button to contact you
• Your services or products
• Who's behind the business
• Customer reviews or comments
• Contact with a map, opening hours and WhatsApp

Later you can add a gallery, bookings, orders or an online store.

Common mistakes

• Hiding the contact details: the WhatsApp button should always be visible
• Writing "ask for price" everywhere: it puts off people who want a quick idea
• Designing it only for computers: most of your customers will see it on a phone
• Letting it go stale: old hours or prices erode trust

And what does it cost? We explain it in our guide on how much a website costs.