Insight · 2026-11-12
How to brief a web studio in plain words, without jargon
You do not need a specification to start. Here are the five things a studio needs to hear to give you a useful idea and a clear plan.
The short answer: Tell the studio what is not working today, who you want to reach, what a good result looks like, what you already have and when you need it. Plain words are enough.
Start with the problem
Describe what is not working: enquiries are low, the site feels dated, orders are hard to take, or customers cannot find you. A problem is more useful than a feature list.
The five things to share
- Who you want to reach, and where they are.
- What you want them to do: call, book, order, enquire.
- What you have: current site, logo, photos, accounts.
- Examples you like, and why.
- When you need it, and any fixed date such as a launch or festival.
What to expect back
A good studio replies with a free idea and a clear plan, explains what it would build first and what it would leave out, and tells you what it needs from you.
What to ask in return
- Who owns the code, content and accounts at the end?
- How will search and AI visibility be built in?
- How will you see what is working after launch?
Written and reviewed by the Zonafi Labs team. Last reviewed 2026-11-12. See our editorial policy.