Kerrville Small Business Website Checklist: 12 Essentials Before You Hire a Designer
A practical pre-project checklist for Kerrville and Hill Country businesses covering goals, budget, domains, content, SEO, functionality and the right questions to ask before hiring a website designer.
Why a pre-project checklist matters
Starting a website project without a plan can lead to delays, unexpected costs, and missed opportunities. For Kerrville and Hill Country small businesses, a clear checklist helps you communicate priorities to a designer, reduces back-and-forth, and improves the chance your site begins generating leads quickly. Use this guide to prepare practical assets, ask focused questions, and set realistic timelines before the first discovery call.
Define goals, audience and timeline
Begin by stating what the website must achieve: get calls, sell products, collect leads, or support bookings. Identify your primary audience (local customers vs. regional or national buyers) and list three measurable goals (for example: increase contact form submissions, publish product pages, or rank for a local search term). Decide on a preferred launch window and any critical dates—promotions, seasonal demand, or trade shows—to ensure the designer can plan milestones.
Budget, scope and maintenance plan
Be upfront about your budget range and the scope you expect (simple 5-page site, e-commerce, or ongoing SEO). Ask whether the designer offers post-launch support or monthly maintenance and what is included. Clarifying whether updates, backups, security monitoring, and small content changes are covered will help avoid surprise fees and keep the site healthy after launch.
Domain, hosting and account access
Gather login details for any existing domain registrar, hosting account, Google accounts, and social profiles. If you don’t control these accounts, start the process to regain access or document the current providers. A number of local businesses run into delays moving domains or connecting Google profiles; having credentials or an account transfer plan ready will keep the project on schedule. Confirm who will own and control accounts after launch.
Content, photos and media to prepare
Compile the content you want on the site: business description, services/products, pricing guidance, contact info, and customer testimonials. Collect high-quality photos and logos—local shots of your storefront, team, or projects work best for Hill Country audiences. If you plan to use video or want social integration, note formats and hosting preferences. Clarify whether the designer will write or polish copy, or if you will supply all text.
SEO, Google presence and reputation
Ask how the designer handles local SEO: on-page basics, Google Business Profile setup or optimization, and URL structure. Several clients have highlighted improved Google visibility and an uptick in leads after coordinated SEO work and Google listing setup, so confirm which local SEO tasks are included. Also discuss how reviews and reputation management will be handled—will the site link to review platforms and encourage customer feedback?
Design, accessibility and technical needs
Confirm that designs will be responsive (work well on phones and tablets) and that you will receive CMS access to make edits. Discuss accessibility considerations and whether the site will meet commonly recommended best practices. Identify required features up front—contact forms, booking systems, e-commerce, analytics tracking, or integration with third-party tools—and ask for examples of similar work the designer has completed.
Key questions and a 12‑point quick checklist
Before you sign an agreement, ask: How do you communicate during the project? Who is my point of contact? What are deliverables and timelines? Who will own accounts and content? What is included in post-launch support? Based on the sections above, use this quick 12‑point checklist to prepare: 1) Project goals, 2) Target audience, 3) Budget range, 4) Launch timeframe, 5) Domain registrar access, 6) Hosting details, 7) Google/analytics accounts, 8) Page list and priority content, 9) High-quality images and logo files, 10) Required features (e.g., e-commerce, forms), 11) SEO/Google Business expectations, 12) Post-launch maintenance plan. One satisfied client noted that clear, thorough communication and attention to detail during discovery made their project run smoothly—use this checklist to have the same clarity before your first call. If you’re in Kerrville and ready to move forward, bring these items to your designer’s discovery call to save time and get better results.
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Webs On The Fly
At Webs on the Fly, we have assembled a talented team of digital strategists, designers, developers, marketers, communications specialists, project managers and business developers to work in a collaborative manner on our client projects. We build on each other's expertise, working together in teams to generate great outcomes for projects. What makes our company great? That’s simple. It’s the people and the culture. The team members at Webs on the Fly are some of the most creative, interesting and dedicated people you'll ever meet, exactly the kind of people you'd love to work with. We focus on our clients' business goals and deliver on measurable solutions for online growth and greater brand loyalty. Before starting any project, we dive