Designing websites can be a long and complicated process. Dealing with clients, designing prototypes, coding, programming, and testing – there’s a lot to keep track of and a lot to make sure gets done. That’s where checklists can make your life a whole lot easier. With lists of points covering multiple areas from content to usability, from accessibility to standards, you’re a lot less likely to overlook important parts of a site.

You can create checklists for very different points. For example they can be focused on making the relationship with your clients better. You can use the checklist to gather information from your clients or prospects at the beginning of each project, so that everyone is on the same page.

Also, you can make checklist just for yourself. The list should help you to design your website. There are probably many items that could be added on the checklist and it’s important that you pick the ones most significant to you.

You can create sections with all your check points included. Here an example:

Planning
- Briefing
- Develop a business plan
- Budget indication
- Initial timetable
- Choose a good domain name
- Choose high quality web hosting

Design/Layout
- Basic website Elements like navigation, content/body and footer
- Logo and Branding
- Attractive Design
- Avoid information overload
- Effective colour scheme
- Develop focal points
- Readable font size
- Use of space

Usability/Accessibility
- Usable, easily accessible, and consistently placed navigation
- Check for dead, broken links
- Test the website on real users
- Compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Content
- Unique content, presented in an exciting, straightforward manner
- Regularly update content
- Break content up with headings, captions, images, videos

Website Optimization / Standards
- Standard compliance / cross-browser compatibility
- Optimize page size (images, content, video, audio)
- Clean code for updating / multiple programmers