What to Prepare Before You Commission a Homepage

“We need a nice-looking website” is a starting thought, not a useful brief. A neighborhood furniture studio’s visitors may want to know what it makes, how long a custom table takes, and where to send room measurements. Decide those answers before the designer starts arranging the page.

You do not need a lengthy strategy deck. A clear sentence about the business, verified operating details, approved photos, and a realistic way to handle inquiries will get the first draft moving.

Write the first-screen message

Try: “A small Seongbuk-gu workshop making solid-wood dining tables and bookcases to order.” It tells people where the studio is, what it makes, and how it works. Replace claims like “the best” or “the only one” with details you can stand behind. If an order usually takes four weeks, say so and mention that timber availability can affect the schedule.

Give the designer usable material

Label photos by purpose: workshop overview, close-up of an edge finish, or a table in a real home. Confirm permission before using a customer’s face or interior; if permission is unclear, use a product-only shot. Also provide verified details such as address, opening hours, delivery area, installation options, and current lead time. The designer should not have to guess at changing facts.

Keep the inquiry form focused

If a quote needs a name, contact method, product type, and approximate dimensions, start with those fields. Do not ask for a birth date or full address just because a form can. The business owner should confirm the actual purpose, collected items, retention period, and contact details for the privacy notice, then check that the notice matches the form. Keep that policy as readable, editable text rather than a single image.

For example, “Tell us what you are looking for and where it will be installed; we reply within two business days” is helpful only if someone can meet that commitment. Name the person who checks inquiries and agree on a response window before adding the promise to the site.

Agree on review and handover

Decide what belongs on the first screen, where dimensions and materials appear on a product page, and how the phone and inquiry buttons work on mobile. Give actionable feedback: “Move the four-week lead time above the hero photo” is easier to apply than “make it feel more premium.” Separate copy corrections from a new photo shoot so the scope stays clear.

Before launch, confirm who owns the domain and admin account, who keeps the original design files and photos, and where to report a problem after the site goes live. A one-page brief can cover five items: the business sentence, approved photos, verified operating details, inquiry owner and response time, and approval and revision rules.