What we need from you
A website comes together fastest when the raw materials are ready. This is the full list, why each item matters and what we do if you don't have it. Don't worry about having everything: most clients don't, and we help fill the gaps.
Send us your logo, any photos you have, your services and prices, your hours, the towns you serve, and the name of whoever controls your domain. Everything else we can work out together on the discovery call.
Send files by email to royalriverwebstudio@gmail.com, or a shared folder link (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud). Big photo sets are easiest as a folder link.
Why it matters: Your logo is often the first thing people recognize, and it needs to be sharp on phones and signs.
If you don't have it: No logo, or only a blurry one? We can use a clean text logo in your typeface, or redraw it (logo refresh add-on, from $150).
Why it matters: Using your real colors makes the site feel like your business, not a template.
If you don't have it: No set colors? We'll propose a palette and type pairing that suits your trade and your area, and you approve it before we design.
Why it matters: Real photos build trust faster than anything else on a small-business site.
If you don't have it: Not enough good photos? Follow the phone photo tips below, or book a local photo session (from $125). Until then we use illustrations, never stock faces.
Why it matters: Customers want to know what you do and roughly what it costs before they call. Clear prices filter out poor fits and save you time on the phone.
If you don't have it: Not sure how to describe something? Talk it through with us and we'll write it up for you to check.
Why it matters: We build menus as real text, not a photo or PDF, so they're readable on a phone and searchable.
If you don't have it: Menu changes often? A care plan covers regular updates.
Why it matters: Wrong hours are one of the most common complaints about local businesses online.
If you don't have it: Hours still changing? We set them up so they're quick to update, and they should match your Google Business Profile.
Why it matters: Naming your towns helps people (and search engines) see that you serve them.
If you don't have it: Not sure? We'll start with the towns around you and adjust.
Why it matters: Real words from real customers help new ones trust you. We only ever use genuine reviews.
If you don't have it: No reviews yet? We leave that section out rather than invent anything, and help you start collecting them.
Why it matters: Local customers like knowing who they're dealing with.
If you don't have it: Prefer to stay in the background? That's fine; we can write about the business instead.
Why it matters: For trades especially, these answer the “can I trust them?” question early.
If you don't have it: None that apply? We skip it.
Why it matters: We need to connect your new site to your domain and keep your email working.
If you don't have it: Never email us passwords. Just tell us who has access. At launch, you either add us as a user (most services, including Google Business Profile, let you add a manager), or you log in yourself on a screen-share while we guide you.
Why it matters: It's the fastest way for us to understand your taste.
If you don't have it: Can't think of any? Look at our examples and tell us what you like and don't.
Phone photo tips
You don't need a professional camera. A recent phone and a few minutes of care make a big difference.
Specific requests
Things you mention at the start are easy. Things that come up after the design is approved can mean extra time or cost. If you know you want any of these, say so on the call or in the project brief form:
We connect your site to tools you already pay for rather than replacing them. Tell us if you use any of these, or others:
Tell us about your business. We'll build a homepage preview you can open on your phone, free.