Website Planning: Why It's Critical Before Design and Development
In the world of web development, there's one fundamental truth—proper website planning before starting design and development saves clients time, money, and frustration. At Wishdesk, we've consistently seen that well-planned projects stay on schedule, within budget, and meet all business requirements.
5 Reasons Website Planning Prevents Costly Mistakes
Website planning isn't just a formality; it's the foundation upon which the entire project is built. It's an analytical process that allows us to:
- Define precise project goals and ways to achieve them.
- Create an effective information architecture.
- Plan user scenarios that meet the target audience's needs.
- Evaluate technical constraints and possibilities.
- Predict potential risks and develop strategies to overcome them.
When we skip the planning phase, we're essentially building a house without blueprints—almost guaranteeing expensive rework in the future.
Ready to avoid these mistakes? Contact us for a free planning consultation.
Real Case Studies: The High Cost of Skipping Planning
Case Study: 40% Budget Overrun on Drupal Portal Rescue
A European company approached us after an unsuccessful launch of their corporate portal. Their previous contractor skipped the planning phase and immediately started creating a complex site architecture. The result? Unoptimized databases, content scaling issues, and slow page loading.
We had to practically rebuild the site architecture, using Drupal's modular system capabilities, properly configuring caching, and optimizing databases. The cost of fixes exceeded the initial project budget by 40%, not to mention the lost time and reputational damage to the client's business.
Case Study: Educational Platform Delay Due to Inadequate Planning
A US educational organization contacted us to create an online learning platform. The client wanted to start development immediately, believing all requirements were already understood. Without proper planning, we began implementation but quickly ran into problems—the course structure, grading system, and interaction mechanisms between teachers and students were much more complex than initially described.
The lack of detailed planning meant that after two months of development, we had to go back to the drawing board and redesign the content type architecture and their relationships in Drupal. This restart cost the client an additional 45% of the initial budget and delayed the launch by five months.
Case Study: B2B Portal API Issues Cost 50% Extra Budget
A European manufacturer approached us to create a B2B portal with a product catalog and ordering system. The project involved using React for the frontend and Drupal for content management. The client insisted on a quick start, and we began development without detailed planning of the API interfaces between React and Drupal.
Midway through the project, it became apparent that the requirements for data exchange between frontend and backend were much more complex: a system of roles and permissions for different customer categories, complex pricing logic, and ERP integration. Without clear API interface planning, the team had to rewrite a large portion of the already developed code.
As a result, the project exceeded the budget by 50% and was completed with a four-month delay. These problems could have been easily avoided if we had initially spent time on detailed system architecture planning.
Before vs After: Planning Transforms Website Performance
To demonstrate the importance of planning with a specific example, let's look at the transformation of a B2B distributor's electronic catalog.
Architecture Before Planning:
The client's initial approach included a simple structure:
- All products as single-type entries
- A single category hierarchy
- Product attributes as simple text fields
- Single-level pricing system
- Standard keyword search
Result: the catalog displayed only basic information, had performance issues when expanding the assortment, was difficult to adapt for different customer groups, and suffered from difficulties in finding the right products.
Architecture After Planning:
After detailed catalog architecture development, we implemented:
- Division of products into 5 different content types with their own field sets
- Multi-level taxonomy with cross-categories
- Structured product attributes with faceted filtering
- Pricing system based on roles and purchase volumes
- Full-text search with relevance consideration
Result: page loading accelerated by 35%, conversion increased by 24%, average order value increased by 18%, and the time spent by customers searching for products was reduced by half.
Visually, the difference between approaches can be represented as a transition from a flat, single-level structure to a deeply interconnected system where each element plays its role in an efficient ecosystem.
Want similar results for your project? Let's discuss your website architecture.
Success Stories: ROI of Strategic Website Planning
Medical Equipment Catalog: 32% Order Increase Through Planning
A European medical equipment manufacturer approached us to create a large-scale product catalog with integration into their global logistics system.
We spent three weeks on detailed planning of the Drupal site architecture, which included a content type schema and development of API interfaces for ERP system integration.
Result: the project was completed on time, without budget overruns, with page loading times under 1.5 seconds. The client recorded a 32% increase in online orders during the first three months.
E-commerce Success: 28% Higher Conversion With Proper Architecture
A retail chain from Germany needed to update their online store with payment system integration and a complex discount system.
Careful planning of the store architecture on WordPress included planning the product category structure, user roles, and analysis of optimal plugins to extend WooCommerce's standard functionality.
Result: the new store launched a week ahead of schedule, conversion increased by 28%, and site maintenance became easier thanks to clear documentation.
React Application: 25% Productivity Boost From Structured Planning
An American IT company needed an internal project management system with integration into existing tools.
The React application planning included developing component architecture, planning the application state, and API interfaces for communication with other systems.
Result: the application was developed modularly, allowing new features to be delivered gradually. The client team reported a 25% productivity increase thanks to the new system.
Our 3-Step Website Planning Process That Works
At Wishdesk, we've developed our own flexible planning methodology that adapts to different technology stacks – Drupal, WordPress, and React. Our project managers begin with a deep dive into the client's business tasks to fully understand the project's technical needs and choose the optimal technology. This approach allows them to effectively guide the entire development process later.
Our planning methodology includes three key phases:
Phase 1: Architecture Workshop — a structured 4-6 hour session where our experts work with the client's key stakeholders. We use techniques such as:
- User Journey Mapping to define key interaction scenarios
- Creating information architecture using special templates and diagrams
- Competitor analysis through functionality matrix
- Q&A sessions with a technical expert to identify constraints and opportunities
As an output, the client receives a visual map of the future project with clearly defined functional blocks and their interrelationships.
Phase 2: Technical Planning — depending on the chosen technology, we create a detailed architecture schema. For Drupal, this means content types and taxonomies; for WordPress, post structure and custom fields; for React, component architecture and state management.
Phase 3: Functional Specification — a document that clearly describes all aspects of the project and becomes a roadmap for the development team. The specification includes not only text descriptions but also schemas, data flow diagrams, and prototypes of key screens.
This process allows our project manager to deeply immerse themselves in the project and optimally plan its technical aspects.
Technology-Specific Planning Strategies That Drive Results
Modern technologies we use — Drupal, WordPress, and React — offer various possibilities for creating powerful digital solutions. But their potential can only be fully realized with proper planning.
We've developed specific planning approaches for each technology:
Drupal Planning Essentials
For Drupal projects we consider:
Content migration — developing effective migration strategies using Migrate API
Configuration as code — using Configuration Manager and modern GitOps approaches for secure deployment
Headless Drupal architecture — designing API-first solutions for integration with JavaScript frontends
Performance optimization — multi-level caching with BigPipe and lazy loading
Security at all levels — from detailed field-level permissions to API protection
Modular architecture — independent components that can be reused
WordPress Architecture Planning Best Practices
For WordPress sites we focus on:
Database architecture — optimizing the updated table structure and indexes for better scalability
Integration with Gutenberg and Full Site Editing — planning with consideration for new theme development paradigms
Strategy for using custom post types (CPT) and Gutenberg blocks
Planning Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) or modern alternatives with native Gutenberg integration
Optimizing query cycles through proper WP_Query structure and advanced REST API capabilities
Integration with WooCommerce and other ecosystems — planning extension points
Advanced caching strategies, including WordPress's new caching system and external solutions
React Component Structure Planning for Optimal Performance
For React applications we design:
Component architecture — atomic design with a clear component hierarchy
Server component strategy — using new capabilities for performance optimization
State management strategy — choosing between Context API, Redux, Zustand, Jotai, or TanStack Query depending on project complexity
API interfaces — designing REST or GraphQL endpoints for the backend
Performance optimization — memoization and lazy loading strategies
Routing architecture — planning nested routes and protected sections using React Router v7+ capabilities
Testing strategy — identifying key points for unit and integration tests
Not sure which technology fits your needs? Our experts can help you decide.
When to Invest in Planning (And When to Scale Back)
Planning is necessary when:
Creating a complex website with many functional modules.
Planning integration with other systems (CRM, ERP, payment gateways).
Expecting a complex content structure or user roles.
Anticipating high site traffic.
The project has strategic importance for the business.
Planning can be simplified when:
Creating a small landing page with a simple structure.
Developing a site based on a standard template without complex functions.
The project is a temporary solution with a limited lifespan.
Using website builders for simple presentation pages.
However, even for simple projects, we recommend basic planning to avoid misunderstandings and ensure the final product meets client expectations.
Start Your Website Planning Today: Next Steps
Website planning is not a waste of time or money, but a strategic investment that significantly reduces development and maintenance costs in the future. Our statistics show that proper planning reduces rework by 70% and shortens overall development time by 30-40%, regardless of the chosen technology — be it Drupal, WordPress, or React.
Planning becomes especially valuable for complex, multi-functional projects where clear architecture is the foundation for success. But even for small projects, basic planning helps avoid common mistakes.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward creating a website that truly works to achieve your business goals.
