Discovery call checklist for decision makers

Quick guide / Partner selection

MARTINSWORKS
Studio

Six answers worth having ready before a first conversation with a web partner.

Discovery call checklist for decision makers

A first call goes better when both sides are talking about the same business problem, not circling around it. You do not need a polished brief. You do need enough clarity that agencies respond to the same situation instead of making up their own version of it.


Six answers worth having ready

  • What business outcome matters most this year?
  • Which pages or journeys feel weakest now?
  • What internal constraints affect scope and timing?
  • Who needs to approve key decisions?
  • What budget range is realistic?
  • What would make this project a clear success?

Bring examples, not polished slides

Useful things to bring into the call:

  • one or two pages you know are underperforming
  • examples of repeated buyer questions
  • notes on internal frustrations with the current site
  • any timeline pressure that is real

That is often more valuable than a polished deck full of assumptions.


How to use the answers

You are not aiming for perfect wording. You are aiming for enough clarity that two agencies can react to the same brief and be compared fairly.

For deeper preparation, use what to brief before a website project starts. If you are already comparing responses, move on to how to compare website proposals without defaulting to cheapest.

Put this into practice

If this mirrors your situation, compare it with services, how projects run, or use the Start a project pack.

Keep comparing partners

Next reads for shortlisting agencies, pressure-testing proposals, and reducing selection risk.

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What to brief before a website project starts

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How to compare website proposals without defaulting to cheapest

A practical way to compare website proposals on assumptions, scope quality, and delivery risk instead of just the price line.

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What clients should expect from senior-led web partners

What "senior-led" should mean in practice when you are buying web work.

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Need the site to do a better job?

Send a short outline and we will come back within two working days with a sensible next step.

If you are still gathering input internally, start with the project pack.