Short answer: Here is how to brief a web design company well: tell them what the website must achieve, who it is for, which pages and features you need, what content you already have, a few websites you like and why, your budget range and your deadline. Also tell them who owns the domain and hosting and who will update the site after launch. A clear one- or two-page brief gets you more accurate quotes, fewer surprises and a website that is finished on time. Below is a checklist you can copy and fill in before you contact any company.
Many website projects in Bangladesh go wrong before any design begins. The client says "I need a website like that one", the company quotes a price, and halfway through both sides discover they imagined different things. Learning how to brief a web design company properly is the cheapest way to avoid delays, extra charges and disappointment. It also helps you compare quotes from different companies fairly.
Why does a good brief matter so much?
- Accurate quotes: companies can price your real needs instead of guessing.
- Fair comparison: when every company answers the same brief, you can compare like with like.
- Faster work: fewer back-and-forth messages and fewer changes later.
- Better results: the design is built around your goals, not just around how it looks.
What should a web design brief include?
1. About your business
Two or three sentences: what you do, where you work (one city, several districts or all of Bangladesh), and what makes you different. Add your logo and brand colours if you have them.
2. The goal of the website
Be specific. "Get more phone calls for AC servicing in Dhaka", "take online admission for our coaching centre" or "sell our clothing line with cash on delivery" are useful goals. "Look professional" is fine, but it should not be the only goal.
3. Who will use it
Describe your typical customer: age, location, language (Bangla, English or both) and whether they mostly use mobile phones. This shapes the design and the wording.
4. Pages and features
List the pages you expect, such as Home, About, Services, Products, Portfolio, Blog and Contact, and any features: online payment, booking, enquiry forms, WhatsApp button, live chat, multi-language, member login or an admin panel.
5. Content
Say what you already have and what you need help with: text, product photos, team photos, videos, price lists. Content is the most common cause of delays, so be honest about it.
6. Examples you like (and dislike)
Share two or three websites and explain what you like about each: the layout, the colours, how easy ordering is. Also mention anything you do not want.
7. Budget range
Many people hesitate to share a budget, but a range helps the company suggest what is realistic. If you are not sure, try a website cost calculator first to get a rough idea.
8. Deadline
Give a date and the reason behind it, for example a product launch, an admission season or a trade fair. A real reason helps everyone plan.
9. Domain, hosting and access
Do you already own a domain? Who manages your hosting and email? Who will update the site after launch? Make sure the domain stays in your name.
10. After launch
Ask about training, maintenance, security updates, backups and support. Decide whether you want a monthly maintenance plan or will manage it yourself.
A printable web design brief template
Copy this list into a document or a WhatsApp note and fill in your answers:
| Item | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Business name and what you do | |
| Where you serve customers | |
| Main goal of the website | |
| Typical customer and language | |
| Pages needed | |
| Features needed (payments, booking, forms, login) | |
| Content you have / content you need | |
| Websites you like and why | |
| Logo and brand colours | |
| Budget range | |
| Deadline and reason | |
| Domain and hosting details | |
| Who will update the site | |
| Maintenance and support needed |
What does a good brief look like? A short example
Here is an example of a brief a small business might send. It is short, but it answers the questions that matter:
Business: A diagnostic centre in Feni with two branches. We do blood tests, X-ray and ultrasound.
Goal: Patients should find our test prices and doctors' schedules online, book a serial, and download their reports.
Customers: Families from Feni and nearby upazilas, mostly on mobile, Bangla first with English option.
Pages: Home, Tests and prices, Doctors, Branches, Reports, Contact.
Features: Serial booking form, report download by patient ID, WhatsApp button, SMS confirmation.
Content: We have the test price list in Excel and doctor photos. We need help writing the About page.
Examples: We like the simple test search on one hospital site we saw.
Budget and deadline: A range, and launch before the next month.
Domain: We own our domain; hosting will be new.
With a brief like this, a company can quote accurately, suggest what to build first, and point out anything that needs more time.
What should you ask the company in return?
- Can I see live websites you have built? (Look at their portfolio, and open the sites on your phone.)
- What exactly is included in the price, and what costs extra?
- How many rounds of design changes are included?
- What is the timeline, and what do you need from me at each stage?
- Who owns the domain, the hosting account and the code after payment?
- Will I get an admin panel and training?
- What are the payment milestones?
- What support do you provide after launch, and at what cost?
How does the process usually work after the brief?
- Discussion: a call or meeting to clarify the brief.
- Proposal and quote: a written scope, timeline and price.
- Design: a homepage design or mockup for your feedback.
- Development: the full website built on a test link.
- Content and testing: your content added, forms and payments tested on mobile and desktop.
- Launch: the site goes live on your domain, with basic SEO set up.
- Training and support: you learn to update it, and maintenance begins if agreed.
Common briefing mistakes to avoid
- Saying "make it like that website" without explaining what you like about it.
- Leaving content until the end, which delays launch for weeks.
- Adding new features halfway through without discussing time and cost.
- Letting the company register the domain in their own name.
- Choosing only on price without checking live work and support.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know technical terms to write a brief?
No. Describe what you want the website to do in plain words. A good company will translate it into technical requirements and confirm them with you.
Should I share my budget?
A range helps. It lets the company suggest the best solution within your limits instead of guessing, and it saves time for both sides.
How long does a website project take?
It depends on the size of the site and how quickly content and feedback are ready. A simple company site is faster than an online shop with payments and courier integration. Ask for a timeline in the proposal.
Can I brief you in Bangla?
Of course. Many of our clients send their brief in Bangla by WhatsApp or email.
Have a brief ready, or half-ready? Send it to us. We work with businesses across Bangladesh from our offices in Dhaka and Noakhali; see our web design company in Bangladesh page for how we work.