When a client asked how to organize her new website, I suggested she use the method she was most comfortable with. One of the biggest deterrents to getting a site build underway is a sense that the project is overwhelming. (So why bother getting started?! Ugh!)

For every business owner, getting organized to undertake your site build will take a different form. You may prefer creating a simple outline in Word. Others like to use flowcharts. Maybe you need to have you team sit down in a conference room while one person draws on a whiteboard.

In this case, my client could best visualize how her site should be structured, its hierarchy, and even what should go in different sections of each webpage, by drawing it out and using Post-It notes on flipboard paper, taping together the separate sheets.

I was seriously impressed by her due diligence. But this specific effort isn’t a prerequisite for working with me. Each client has a different approach because every brain is wired differently. Some find a competitor’s website and say, “Can you organize it mostly like this?” (The answer is yes.)

If you’re not sure how to get started, here’s a list of 10 actionable tips (and some recommendations for online tools to help) to get organized when creating your  website content. These are also terrific tips if you’re about to launch a site makeover or plan to make major revisions to your existing site content:

Define Your Goals

• Determine the purpose of your website (e.g., showcase products, generate leads, share information, education).
• Write down specific goals like “increase inquiries by 20%” or “launch an online store.” The clearer your goals, the better your website will fulfill that need.
• Tools: Trello or Asana

Identify Your Target Audience

• Clearly outline who your ideal customers are. Get specific: Is there a demographic  to reach? Average household income? Geographic area?
• Consider their needs, preferences, and pain points.
• Tools: Google Forms or Typeform

Create a Sitemap

• Sketch out the structure of your website (e.g., Home, About, Services, Blog, Contact).
• Ensure the navigation is simple and user-friendly. Too many navigation choices will discourage visitors.
• Tools: Gloomaps or FlowMapp

Prepare Core Pages’ Content

• Write drafts for key pages:
  • Home: Elevator pitch of your business.
  • About: Your story and values.
  • Services/Products: Clear descriptions with benefits.
  • Contact: Easy ways for customers to reach you.
• Tool: Google Docs

Gather Visual Assets

• Collect high-quality images, logos, and brand assets.
• Consider professional photography for products, team, or your location.
• If you have budget concerns, or specific needs you can’t meet with pro photography, will you need to use AI to create the images? (And will you disclose that the images are AI?)
• Tools: Canva, PicMonkey (Marcia’s favorite) or Unsplash

Craft a Brand Voice

• Decide on your tone (e.g., professional, friendly, quirky).
• Ensure consistency across all pages.
• Tool: Grammarly or Hemingway Editor

Include Keywords

• Research basic SEO keywords related to your business if you want to be found for those terms.
• Incorporate them naturally into your content. No keyword stuffing!
• Tools: Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner

Write Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

• Create compelling CTAs for every page (e.g., “Shop Now,” “Contact Us,” “Learn More”). Pages shouldn’t have dead ends. They need opportunities to go elsewhere on your site.
• Make them actionable and benefit-driven.
• Tool: Hemingway Editor

Plan Your Blog or Content Strategy

• Blogs may be critical to your site to increase traffic and search ranking.
• Brainstorm topics related to your expertise and audience needs.
• Develop a list of 5–10 potential blog ideas to keep content fresh.
• Tool: Notion or ContentCal

Review and Proofread

• Double-check spelling, grammar, and clarity.
• Ask someone else to review for a fresh perspective.
• Tool: ProWritingAid

Summary

Get started! Don’t wait. Start wherever you’re inspired, whether that’s the top of the home page with your core message and services or knee-deep in a detail page.

Once organized, you’ll find the entire process goes faster, more efficiently, and you increase the probability you get great responses from your website.