Website development, with the content in mind

Begin with the purpose

A website brief becomes easier to act on when it describes a visitor’s task. Someone may need to understand a service, find practical information, compare options or prepare an enquiry. Those tasks determine which pages belong on the site and what each page needs to explain.

Understand what needs to be editable

List the information that changes often, then distinguish it from elements that should stay consistent. Descriptions and images may need routine updates; navigation changes, new integrations and account systems call for a different level of review. That distinction helps avoid making the editor either too restrictive or unnecessarily complicated.

Make the responsibilities explicit

Content accuracy, technical maintenance and account access are related but separate. A useful brief records who provides material, who reviews it and who will maintain it. It should also identify any forms, booking tools or external services the site depends on, rather than assume they are included.

Read the detailed development guide for the decisions to make, or follow the planning sequence to prepare your own brief. If your immediate need is keeping an existing site accurate, start with the content maintenance checklist.