The Magic Before the Makeover: What Happens Before Your Website in a Day
Ever wondered what actually happens before I sit down to design your website in a day?
Even though the magic happens in those intense 8 hours of design, the real foundation is laid weeks before we even think about beginning.
The bit most people don’t see (but changes everything)
I hate to crush your dreams if you think you’ll rock up on the day and just let me do my thing… but it’s not that simple!
The truth is, by the time design day arrives, we’ve already done most of the heavy lifting together.
It all starts with my content workbook - that 30 page beast that makes clients go “Bloody hell, Ruth wasn’t joking about the prep work!”
But here’s why it matters: I can make your site look gorgeous, but if we haven’t nailed what goes in each section first, we’re just creating a pretty mess.
The workbook walks you through everything from your branding and design preferences to your photos and copy, from testimonials to call-to-actions, plus any integrations you need. It’s basically a roadmap for exactly what you want each part of your website to include!
Why clients actually love the “homework”
One recent client loved the workbook so much she actually talked about it on a podcast she was a guest on (seriously!). She said it gave her the structure she desperately needed and helped pull everything out of her head in a way that actually made sense.
Most people think they don’t know what to put on their website. But you do know! It’s all up there in your brilliant brain, just waiting to be organised properly.
The workbook doesn’t just help me design your site. It helps you clarify exactly what you want to say and how you want to say it. Clients often tell me they have breakthrough moments just from filling it out.
What happens once you’ve done your bit
Here’s the best part - once you’ve filled out that workbook, your work is completely done!
Well, almost. On the design day itself, we have three pre-scheduled calls - organised around your schedule so you can fit them into your normal day. These quick check-ins let us go through how everything’s progressing and make any small tweaks needed.
Other than that, you can sit back with a cuppa while I transform all your brilliant ideas into a stunning website that actually converts visitors into customers.
No more back and forth emails.
No more “Can you just change this one tiny thing?”
No more decision paralysis!
The difference proper prep makes
Without this foundation, website design becomes guesswork. We’d spend your precious design day making decisions that should have been sorted weeks ago.
Instead, I can focus on what I do best: creating something beautiful, functional, and strategically sound that works hard for your business.
Plus, when you’ve done the deep thinking upfront, you actually understand and love your new website. It’s not just pretty, it’s yours.
Ready to do this properly?
If you’re tired of a website that doesn’t do your brilliant work justice, and you’re ready to invest in the process (not just the pretty end result), let’s chat.
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