Website development does not begin with design or code, but with a good conversation. The initial meeting is the moment when we get to know each other, align expectations, and define the direction of the project. Without a clear starting point, misunderstandings, duplicated work, and solutions that ultimately don’t serve their purpose can quickly arise. That’s why the initial meeting is not a formality, but a crucial part of website planning that saves time, money, and a lot of unnecessary stress in later phases.

What is the purpose of the initial meeting?

The main goal of the initial meeting is to gain a clear understanding of what the website needs to achieve. We talk about your goals, target audience, and how the website will support your business or project. At the same time, it’s an opportunity to assess what is realistic, what makes sense, and which solutions are most appropriate given the budget, timeline, and long-term objectives.

What do we discuss during the initial meeting?

Every project is different, but certain topics are always part of the initial conversation. This is where we address both content-related as well as technical and visual aspects of the website.

• Website goals – sales, presentation, lead generation, building trust …
• Target audience – who the website is for and how those users think
• Functionality – contact forms, blog, multilingual setup, bookings, integrations
• Look and feel – existing visual identity, examples of websites you like, the overall impression we want to achieve
• Content – what already exists, what still needs to be prepared, and who is responsible for it

A significant part of the meeting is also dedicated to questions. It’s always better to ask at the beginning than to fix things at the end.

We also talk about possibilities

Clients often come to the initial meeting with a rough idea of how their website should look or function. Together, we explore which options are available and which solutions make the most sense for their specific situation. Sometimes this means simplifying the original idea, and other times it opens up new opportunities you may not have considered before.

The goal is not to complicate things, but to find the right balance between wishes, needs, and real-world constraints.

Why is a good initial meeting so important?

A well-run initial meeting is the foundation of the entire project. Based on it, we can prepare a clear proposal, a realistic timeline, and a solution that makes sense for both users and the client. The more we clarify at the beginning, the smoother the website development process becomes. And that is the main goal of this first phase.

Workshop: turning ideas into a clear plan

In certain cases, we expand the initial meeting with a focused workshop. The purpose of the workshop is not to demand final answers from you, but to help you arrive at them. It often turns out that the client’s role is not to know exactly what they want, but to understand what they want to achieve and why. Our role is to help find the best path toward that goal.

The workshop allows us to dive deeper into your business, users, and processes. Together, we clarify priorities, challenge assumptions, and create a clear foundation for the next steps in website development.

Why a workshop?

The workshop also plays an important role on our side. It helps us determine whether the project is clearly defined and whether there is a solid, serious basis for collaboration. Good projects are built on cooperation, trust, and a willingness to invest time in getting the start right.

The cost of the workshop is fully deducted from the accepted base offer. This means it’s not an additional expense, but an investment in the quality of the project and a better final result.

Based on everything, we prepare a proposal

Once the initial meeting—and, if needed, the workshop—are complete, we have enough information to prepare a realistic, clear, and transparent proposal. One that is based on actual project needs rather than assumptions.

The proposal includes the agreed scope of work, functionality, timeline, and cost. With solid foundations in place, the execution phase runs more smoothly, with fewer complications and uncertainties.

Great website development always starts with great understanding. And that is exactly the purpose of these first steps in the process.

This is just the beginning

The initial meeting is the first step in a series of steps that lead to an effective website. In the next articles, we’ll take a closer look at what follows—from structure and content to design, development, and launch.