Should you write your website's content before or after you hire a web developer or designer?
Before - always. Jumping straight into building and pouring text in later is the single most common reason projects stall, pages feel disconnected, and budgets balloon. When you know what each page needs to say and do, you give your hired professional a clear roadmap.
Here's the trap. A site gets built around "lorem ipsum" placeholder text. Everyone approves the initial layout, but then reality hits: your real headline is twice as long, you realize a specific section isn't actually necessary, and the structure doesn't fit your true message. The project then requires extensive rework - costing you time and money.
01
The power of the first draft
This does not mean your text has to be perfect from day one. It is completely okay to change your mind, tweak the messaging, and refine the content as the project evolves. But bringing a rough first draft to the table achieves two critical things:
→It brings clarity: you figure out exactly what your business needs to communicate and what can be left out.
→It shapes a unique project: your developer or designer can build custom solutions specifically tailored to your actual content and goals, rather than forcing your business into a generic template.
02
Start with the job
For each page, answer two questions: what should a visitor understand here, and what should they do next? A homepage that tries to say everything says nothing. One clear job per page.
03
Find your real message
Write down, plainly, what you offer and why someone should choose you over the obvious alternative. If you cannot state it simply, a developer or designer will not be able to clarify it for you.
04
Build a simple hierarchy
Most important thing first, supporting points next, proof (results, testimonials) underneath. This order becomes your page structure - the development and design simply elevate it.
Good websites start with words, not code or pixels.
A solid first draft ensures you get the most out of the expert you hire. Planning content up front is a core part of how I work with clients - we establish what needs to be said before anything gets built.
