Websites in Nairobi
How to prepare your business before hiring a web design agency
Most website projects do not run late because of the agency. They run late because the client is still writing the About page three weeks after the deadline, the photos are on someone's old phone, and nobody knows who registered the domain in 2019. Get these things ready first and your project moves twice as fast.
1. Decide what the website must achieve
Pick one main goal and up to two secondary ones. More inquiries? Online bookings? Selling products? Looking credible to corporate clients? The goal shapes every decision, from page structure to the button on the homepage.
Also note how you will judge success in three months: number of inquiries, bookings, sales or calls.
2. Choose one decision-maker
Websites designed by committee take forever and please nobody. Pick one person who gives feedback and approves each stage. Others can contribute, through that person.
3. Gather your content
| Content | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Business description | What you do, who for, and why you |
| Services or products | Names, short descriptions, prices or starting prices |
| Proof | Reviews, client names with permission, case studies |
| Photos | Team, workspace, products, completed work |
| Brand | Logo files, colours and fonts, if you have them |
| Contact details | Phone, WhatsApp, email, location, hours |
| FAQs | The questions customers ask most often |
Writing is the slowest part for most businesses. If you would rather not, ask the agency for copywriting. At CEKAL CREATIVES content writing starts from KSh 1,500 per page.
4. Find access to your existing accounts
- Domain name: who registered it, and the login for the registrar.
- Current hosting and website logins, if you have a site.
- Business email settings.
- Google Business Profile access.
- Social media accounts you want linked.
- Payment accounts, such as an M-Pesa till or paybill, if the site takes payments.
Lost access to a domain registered by a former staff member or old developer can delay a launch for weeks. Start recovering it now.
5. Set a budget and a realistic deadline
Know your range before quotes arrive, including domain, hosting and maintenance, not just the build. If there is a hard deadline, such as a launch event, say so on day one. For typical prices, read website development costs in Nairobi.
6. Collect examples you like and dislike
Save three to five websites you like and two you do not, with a note on why. 'I like how simple the booking is' is more useful than 'I like it'. Competitors' sites count too.
Put it all in a short brief
Combine everything into a one- or two-page brief and send the same brief to each agency you are considering. It makes quotes comparable and shows agencies you are serious. Our guide on how to write a website design brief has a template.
Then use how to choose a website design company in Nairobi to compare responses. Ready? Start a project inquiry and attach your brief.
Quick answers about preparing for a web design agency
What do I need before hiring a web design agency?
Clear goals for the website, one decision-maker, your content including text, photos and logo, access to your domain, hosting and other accounts, and a budget with a realistic deadline.
Do I need to write my own website content?
You can, or you can hire the agency to write it. Content is often the slowest part of a website project. At CEKAL CREATIVES, content writing starts from KSh 1,500 per page.
What if I do not have a logo yet?
Get a logo, or ideally basic brand guidelines, before or alongside the website so the design is consistent. At CEKAL CREATIVES, a basic logo is KSh 5,000 and a starter brand identity is KSh 12,000.
What if I cannot access my domain?
Contact the registrar with proof of ownership, or the person who registered it, as early as possible. Recovering domain access can take time and can delay a website launch.
How long does a website project take?
It depends on scope and how quickly content and feedback are provided. Having content, access and a single decision-maker ready from the start is the biggest factor in finishing on time.