Development

# Website development: how to write a project brief

Define business goals, page roles, features and content so everyone shares a clear understanding of the finished website.

Author **Editor MAWERSTIN**

Reading time **3 minutes**

MAWERSTIN / KNOWLEDGE **Development**

At a glance 

**Website development: how to write a project brief**  Goals, page roles, features, and content that help the team share a common understanding of the outcome. Below is a sequence that helps move from general understanding to verifiable actions.

**01** Describe the result, not just the screens

**02** Assign content owners

**03** Record readiness criteria

01 / CONTEXT

## Website development: how to prepare a specification: what is important to understand first

The project specification helps to understand the result in the same way before the development begins. A list of pages is not enough: the behavior of the interface, the rights of managers, integrations and the way of verification are important. The more previously described exceptions, the less revisions during submission.

01 

### Purpose

What business outcome needs to change and why is it important now.

02 

### Audience

Who is assigned the decision and what prevents the person from taking the next step.

03 

### Data

What facts will distinguish a real effect from a random change.

02 / ACTION PLAN

## Practical work plan on the topic “Website development: how to prepare a project specification”

Go through the steps sequentially and save the output, solutions and test results.

- **1** 

### Gather business requirements

Describe the site’s purpose, products, markets, and limitations. Separate what is required for the first launch from improvements that can be implemented later.

- **2** 

### Describe audiences and scenarios

Record the visitor’s path to the inquiry and the manager’s path to processing the request. Specify which texts, blocks, images and prices should be edited without a developer.

- **3** 

### List functions and integrations

For each integration, define the transmitted data, responsible and error behavior. Find out who provides access, pays for services and maintains connections.

- **4** 

### Agree on the stages of verification

Agree criteria to be checked: mobile screens, saving forms, editing blocks, SEO-fields and restoring from a copy. Accept milestones on real content, not just mockups.

03 / RISKS

## Common mistakes and how to avoid them

- ✓ **Don’t confuse a goal with a metric.**  Views and clicks are only useful in relation to referrals and sales.

- ✓ **Do not introduce everything at once.**  Individual hypotheses are easier to test and compare.

- ✓ **Don’t lose context.**  The decision must take into account the company’s product, market, resources and constraints.

04 / FAQ

## Frequently asked questions on the topic

**Where to start?+**

From fixing the initial situation, the goal and one priority scenario that can be measured.

**When to evaluate the result?+**

After sufficient data and considering the decision cycle in your business.

**Can you do everything yourself?+**

Basic diagnostics — yes. For complex architecture, integrations or risks, specialized expertise is useful.

Development 

## Need help with implementation?

Let’s analyze the initial situation, define priorities and propose a clear next step.

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Source: https://en.mawerstin.com/website-technical-brief/