Discover & Define What You Will Build
Plain Text is Best!
Sometimes you get lucky and can export content from an existing WordPress website and import it to your new build. Other times clients will send you new content via email, in a Word document, or ask you to copy/paste language from a PDF. When this happens be aware that simply copying text from a non-HTML source will add unwanted code to your page, which may conflict with your website styles/CSS.
What you want to import is plain text, which is text with no formatting/styles whatsoever.
Of course you can edit the HTML of the text once you import into WordPress, but depending on the length of the copy you’re importing, it may take a lot of time to remove the unwanted tags/elements. To start at square one, you can use a few different methods:
MS Office – Clear Text Formatting
There is a convenient Clear FormattingLinks to an external site. option in Word/Publisher, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
Windows Notepad
Windows Notepad is by default a plain text editor, so all you need to do is copy/paste into Notepad to strip excess formatting, and copy/paste into your new page.
MacOS Text Edit
For Mac users, open the TextEdit app, paste your content into a new document, and choose Format > Make Plain Text or SHIFT+COMMAND+T. This will strip all HTML tags and styles, and allow you to copy the plain text over to your new page.
What to Collect/Generate
Sitemap
Once the contract has been signed, the first thing I will do is create a basic sitemap. This is a simple document showing what pages are needed, and how they relate to one another. Sometimes you can base it off of an existing site, sometimes the client will add or subtract pages, or radically change the order. Along with the project brief, it provides another way to make sure both you and the client are on the same page. In the example below you’ll see I have included the required pages, as well as elements that the client expected to appear on all pages (contact info, hours, social media links).
Branding Elements
If the project does not include a branding component, collect all of the logo files, fonts, and whatever other visual components that may be used. Ask for vector files so you can export for screens at the sizes you need, or eliminate background colors for transparent pngs.
Mission Statement / Tagline
These elements are crucial to a business/website. Along with the visual appeal, a witty tagline or well thought-out mission statement can quickly inform a user as to what they’re in for.
Calls to Action
Relevant, sitewide elements that will engage the user:
- Sign-up For Our Newsletter!
- View Our Spring Collection!
- Become a Member!
- Donate Today!
Content
Sometimes all that is needed is a cut/paste from the existing website, while other times clients will tell you content is coming. In my experience, waiting for content drastically slows down a project, so it would benefit you to create content where needed. Don’t use lorem ipsum, rather generate content based on what you know to at least give your client a starting point they can refine later on. Pull copy from a similar site as a placeholder, or generate text using one of the AI tools. Just make sure the final product is not plagiarized, and be sure to factor this time into your costs.
Mood Board
A mood board (or style tile) is a collection of visual elements that will help you define the look and feel of the project. Colors, photography, typefaces, textures. Anything that presents an overview of the tone or feeling you intend to give the website.
What Content Do YOU Need?
Refer to the Client Needs page to see what pages you are required to build. It is up to you to create the content to flesh out these pages. Look at real-world website examples to see what type of content is used, and where it is placed. If you intend to host the site beyond the course as a potential portfolio piece, be careful about taking text from another website. You’re better off generating it through AI.