Website Kickoff Checklist

Everything Rayova needs from you before we begin design and development. Work through the list below so we can keep the project fast, on-budget, and aligned with your goals.

  1. Project goals & outcomes: What should this website achieve (leads, applications, sales, brand awareness), plus 2–3 simple success measures. Example: “Increase quote requests by 20%” or “Launch before the trade show on Oct 14.”
  2. Target audience & messaging: Who you serve first, and the main message or value proposition for each audience.
  3. Primary contacts & approvals: Names, emails, roles, and who has final sign-off for design, copy, and launch.
  4. Budget & timeline: Budget range, key milestone dates, and any fixed launch windows (events, campaigns, fiscal deadlines).
  5. Brand assets: Final logos (SVG preferred), approved colour palette (HEX), fonts or font licenses, and a brand guideline PDF if you have one.
  6. Page list & sitemap: The pages you need (Home, About, Services, Contact, etc.) plus any special landing pages or microsites.
  7. Final content (copy): Approved page copy, headings, CTAs, service descriptions, bios, and page titles/descriptions for search results. If copy is still draft, tell us which pages are final vs. placeholder so design can proceed safely.
  8. Images & media: Highest-quality originals (JPG/PNG/RAW), clear file names, captions/alt text, and signed releases for people or property. We handle web optimization.
  9. Website access details: Domain/login access, DNS access, hosting or CMS admin (or staging), and any SSO requirements. Usually completed with your IT or website admin. You do not need to understand every setting — access is enough.
  10. Tracking & business tools: Access to analytics (GA4), Search Console, Tag Manager, CRM, email platform, payments, and any forms/API connections you already use. Often handled by marketing ops or IT. Share who owns each tool if you do not have the login.
  11. Legal & compliance: Privacy policy, terms of use, cookie consent preferences, accessibility expectations (target WCAG level), and Canadian privacy notes (PIPEDA) if applicable.
  12. Current site & page redirects: Important existing URLs, pages that must keep working after launch, and any old addresses that should send visitors to new ones. Plain-language version of “SEO redirects.” Protects your Google rankings when URLs change. Your marketing or IT contact can help list them.
  13. Forms & where submissions go: Contact/lead form needs, where submissions should arrive (email, CRM, webhook), required fields, and a few sample responses if available.
  14. Existing site migration: Export or access to current site content (if migrating), plus a prioritized list of must-keep pages and downloads.
  15. Testing & sign-off: Devices/browsers that matter most, accessibility checks, performance expectations, and who signs off before launch (and when).
  16. Launch plan & go-live window: Preferred launch date/time, staging approval step, DNS change window, and a simple rollback plan if needed. DNS cutover is usually coordinated with your IT or domain admin. We guide the timing.
  17. Post-launch & maintenance: What you want to monitor after launch, support hours/SLA expectations, and who will update content going forward.
  18. Optional extras: Social sharing image (1200×630), favicon set, email signatures, press release copy, and campaign UTM naming if you run ads.
Photography Tips & Photo Release