Digital strategy
in writing.
Sometimes what you need first is a plan, not a website: who the site is for, what it needs to say, which pages it needs, and what the business is trying to achieve. My strategy projects are short and end with a written brief, site structure, and plan that your team can use with or without me.
When a strategy project makes sense
- You are about to spend real money on design or marketing and want a plan first
- Your team disagrees about positioning, audience, or scope and needs something in writing
- You already have a designer or developer, but no one has done the planning
- You want an experienced outside opinion on a redesign brief before it goes to an agency
- You are deciding whether to redesign at all
What the plan usually includes
- A written positioning statement and description of your audience
- A review of competitors and examples to learn from
- A proposed site structure and sitemap
- A content plan: what each page is for and what it should say
- A list of next steps, with priorities and tradeoffs
- A brief that any designer or developer could build from
How it works
A strategy project is shorter than a website build, usually two to four weeks. It starts with a short call, then written questions and a review of your existing material, then a draft for you to comment on, and finally a document your team keeps. You can use it with me, with an agency, or in-house.
Pricing & timeline
Strategy projects usually cost a fraction of a full website, depending on how much they cover. I quote each one after a short first call.
Projects that included strategy
- Cape Catamarans South Florida Brand website for a small-batch builder of carbon-fiber yacht tenders.
- Cape Fear Network Technologies Rocky Point, NC Concept website for a Rocky Point IT services company with more than twenty years in business.
- Christian Trades Live United States Website for a live trading commentary and education community.
Common questions about strategy
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01 What is a digital strategy project?
A short written plan, usually a brief, a site structure, a content plan, and a list of next steps. It answers the questions that should come before design: who the site is for, what it needs to say, which pages it needs, and what to do next. Your team can use it with or without me.
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02 How is digital strategy different from a website project?
A website project ends with a finished site. A strategy project ends with a written plan. Strategy is faster and smaller, and it is useful when you are still deciding what to build. The plan can lead into a website project with me, or you can hand it to another agency or your own team.
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03 How long does a strategy project take?
Usually two to four weeks. That covers a first call, written questions and a review of your existing material, a draft for you to comment on, and the final document.
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04 How much does a digital strategy project cost?
A fraction of what a full website costs, depending on how much ground it covers. I send an exact estimate after a short first call. It is priced as a sensible step before you commit to design, not as a large consulting study.
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05 Can the strategy be implemented by another agency?
Yes. The plan is written so that any designer or developer can work from it, including one you already use.
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06 Do you do strategy without a website project?
Yes. A strategy project can stand on its own, for example if you are deciding whether to redesign at all, defining a new service, or need a written plan before hiring an agency.
Need a written plan?
Tell me what your business is trying to figure out. I'll reply as soon as I can.
Ask about strategy