What to have ready before you get a website

Doran Digital · 13 November 2026

A new website goes more smoothly when the basics are ready. You don't need everything polished, and you don't need to be a writer or a designer. This guide covers what we usually ask for, and why.

Why it matters

Most delays on a website have nothing to do with building it. They come from waiting for words, photos or a decision. That's why the times we quote count from when we have your words and photos. As a rough guide, a project typically takes about 1 week for a One page site, 2 to 3 weeks for Starter, 4 to 6 weeks for Business and 6 to 8 weeks for an Online shop. Having your material ready is the easiest way to help your project keep moving.

Your words

Rough notes are fine. What matters is that the facts are right. Have these to hand:

• What your business does, in a few plain sentences.
• Who your customers are and where they are.
• The products or services you want listed, and prices if you want them shown.
• Your contact details and opening hours.
• A short paragraph about you or your business.
• Anything people often ask you, because the answers can go on the site.

If you don't have the words ready, send us whatever you have, even rough notes. We tidy it up and lay it out for you, and that's included in every package. If you'd like us to write everything from scratch, that's an extra, quoted as a fixed price before we start.

Your photos

Real photos of your premises, your work and your team can do more for a website than stock pictures. The One page package includes up to 6 photos, so it helps to pick your best ones.

• Photos you took yourself, or that someone gave you permission to use.
• Clear, well-lit shots. A recent phone camera can often do the job.
• The original files, not screenshots or copies sent through a chat app, if you can.
• Permission from anyone who is recognisable in a photo.

If you have no photos, we use good free-to-use stock photos, and that's included. If you'd like professional photography, we can arrange it, and you pay the photographer.

Your logo and look

If you have a logo, send the best copy you have. If you have brand colours, tell us. If you don't have either yet, that's fine too, and we can talk it through. It also helps to send two or three websites you like, so we can see what you like about them.

Your domain

Your domain is your web address, such as yourbusiness.ie. If you already have one, tell us where it was bought. If you don't, we'll talk through the options. Either way, the domain is registered in your name from day one, so you know it's yours. Our guide Do I need a .ie or a .com? explains the difference.

If you already have a website

Send us the address and tell us who looks after it at the moment. We'll talk through whether to rebuild it or take it over, and what would suit your business.

A few decisions to think about

• What do you want visitors to do: call, email, book or buy?
• Roughly how many pages do you think you need? "Not sure" is a perfectly good answer.
• When would you like it live?
• What's your rough budget? Our prices start at One page from €450, Starter from €900, Business from €2,000 and Online shop from €2,500, all + VAT.

What happens next

Email us your ideas, however rough, and we'll arrange a quick brainstorm. We then build a private draft so you can try it before anything goes live. Once you're happy, we go live.

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