What you need to remember when planning a new website – a complete checklist

When planning to create a new website, many people focus mainly on its appearance. Meanwhile, a modern website is more than just aesthetics – it’s a complex business tool that needs to support sales, build brand trust and generate real results. For this to happen, it’s worth approaching the project strategically. What do you need to keep in mind?

Define the goal and target audience

Before you start planning the structure or graphic design, answer the question: why is this website being created and who should it reach?

Example goals:

• Acquisition of leads (contact forms, offers)
• Selling products (e-commerce)
• Building an expert brand image (blog, case studies)
• Customer service (login areas, knowledge bases)

Knowing your goal will make it easier to adjust the structure, language of communication, types of content and functionality. At IVN, we start each cooperation with a strategic workshop, during which we create a profile of personas and a map of goals together with the client. This makes the later stages of work much more efficient.

Build a thoughtful structure of information

On average, an Internet user needs 2-3 seconds to decide whether to stay on the site. If the navigation is unreadable and the content is unintuitive, he will leave the site. Therefore, the structure must be logical and tailored to the viewer’s expectations.

Checklist:

• Does the homepage clearly communicate what you do?
• Are your offerings broken down into specific services/products?
• Can you quickly find contact information?
• Is there an “about us” section that builds trust?
• Does the blog or knowledge base support the content strategy?

A well-designed UX means not only user experience, but also higher conversions. In our experience, changing the structure and prioritization of content increases inquiries by up to 35%.

A website and content that sells

Website content is not just text – it’s your most important sales lever. As many as 70% of B2B customers report that the quality of content influences their buying decision (source: Demand Gen Report).

Ensure that:

• language is understandable but professional,
• headlines clearly communicate value to the customer,
• avoid industry jargon (unless warranted),
• service descriptions show benefits, not just features,
• publish new content regularly (e.g., blog articles).

It’s also a good idea to add social elements: customer reviews, partner logos, case studies with concrete numbers. At IVN, we create content in cooperation with strategy and SEO departments – so they are not only engaging, but also effectively support SEO.

Website and SEO – think about Google from the very beginning

Positioning is not an add-on for later – it should be an integral part of the project. What is worth including?

• Internal linking

• Use of key phrases in headings (H1-H3) and texts

• Optimization of meta tags and ALT descriptions

• Search engine friendly URL structure

• Loading speed (Core Web Vitals)

• Responsiveness and mobility

Designing an SEO-compliant site from scratch is often the difference between ranking 5th and 50th on Google.

Technology and CMS – choose consciously

Not every technology will be good for everyone.

• WordPress – flexible, intuitive, supported by thousands of plugins. Great for service businesses, blogs, simple e-commerce.

• Dedicated solutions (e.g. Laravel, Next.js) – higher flexibility and performance, ideal for projects requiring custom features.

• Headless CMS (e.g. Strapi React) – separation of content from presentation layer. Great for large organizations and web applications.

Security and RODO compliance

In the age of cyber threats and regulations, you can’t afford to neglect security.

Minimum requirements:

• SSL certificate (https)
• Backups (backups)
• Regular updates to CMS and plugins
• Spam protection (reCAPTCHA, honeypot)
• Compliance with RODO – privacy policy, marketing consents, forms

Our teams not only implement technical solutions, but also work with lawyers specializing in digital compliance.

Support after website implementation – what’s next?

Even the best-designed website will need care. Remember that:

• Technologies change – updates are needed.
• Your offerings change – content needs to be edited.
• It’s worth analyzing data and optimizing conversions.

Summary

A modern, functional and well-designed website is not just a matter of aesthetics. It’s a strategic decision that can affect your entire business. Keep in mind goals, content, UX, technology, security and SEO. And if you’re looking for a partner to help you through the process comprehensively – contact IVN. We design and implement sites that work and get results.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does it cost to create a website? The price depends on the scope of the project. Simple sites cost from 6 to 10 thousand zlotys net. Websites with dedicated design, integration systems or online store can cost from 15 to even 50 thousand zlotys.
• How long does it take to implement a website? Usually from 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project, the number of subpages and the availability of materials from the client.
• Can I edit the content myself? Yes – we implement intuitive CMS that allows you to edit content, images and add new sections without programming knowledge.
• Do you offer post-launch support? Of course. We provide technical support, performance monitoring, updates and development and marketing consultation.
• Will the website be compliant with RODO? Yes – all of our implementations include privacy policies, consent mechanisms and forms that comply with the regulations.