Why the content comes before the builder
Most rebuilds start with a template filled with placeholder text, followed by a scramble to write copy that fits boxes someone else designed. Reversing the order is cheaper: when the words, images and form destinations exist first, you can pick the plan that fits and build in one pass.
The inventory also tells you which plan you need. On Framer's pricing page, read on 30 October 2026, Basic is listed at $10 a month with 30 pages, 2 CMS collections and 1,000 CMS items, and Pro at $30 a month with 150 pages and 10 collections; the Free plan has 1 GB of bandwidth and needs an upgrade for a custom domain. [1]
On Carrd, Pro Lite ($9 a year for 3 sites) does not include forms or custom domains; Pro Standard ($19 a year for 10 sites) adds both, plus embeds and analytics; Pro Plus ($49 a year for 25 sites) adds redirects and password protection. A contact form on your own domain therefore rules out Pro Lite before you write a line of CSS. [2]
Page-by-page content inventory
Fill one row per page before you open the editor. If you cannot write the purpose sentence, the page probably does not need to exist yet.
| Field | What to write | Example (services page) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | One sentence: who reads it and what they should do next | A small-business owner checks what is included and books a call |
| Title element | Unique, clear, concise and accurate for that page | Bookkeeping services for sole traders | Northside Books |
| Meta description | Short summary unique to the page with its most relevant points | Monthly bookkeeping, VAT returns and year-end packs. Fixed monthly fees. |
| Body copy | Headings and paragraphs drafted in a document, proofread | 3 service blocks of 60 to 120 words each |
| Images | File name, alt text, licence or owner | monthly-bookkeeping-checklist.png |
| Main action | Button label and where it goes | Book a call, linking to the contact page form |
| Owner | Who signs off the text | Business owner |
Worked sitemap: a five-page site
Google's SEO starter guide recommends words in URLs that are useful to people rather than random identifiers, titles that are unique to each page, and text organised into paragraphs, sections and headings. [3] A five-page plan for a fictional bookkeeping practice looks like this.
- Five pages with no blog fits inside Framer Basic's 30-page limit with room to spare. [1]
- If the plan includes a blog or case studies that grow over time, count them as CMS items rather than pages.
- If everything fits on one scrolling page with sections, a one-page plan may be enough; decide that from the inventory, not the template gallery.
| URL | Purpose | Words to draft | Must-have assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| / | Say who you help and send people to services or contact | Headline, 2-line intro, 3 short proof points | Hero photo, logo |
| /services | Explain each service and what it includes | 3 blocks of 60 to 120 words, fee basis | 1 image or icon per service |
| /about | Show who does the work and relevant qualifications | 150 to 250 words | Headshot with alt text |
| /faq | Answer the questions you get on every call | 6 to 10 questions and answers | None |
| /contact | Collect enquiries and set response expectations | Form intro, response time, privacy notice link | Form fields list, recipient inbox |
Image list: names, alt text and rights
Google's image guidance prefers short, descriptive file names such as my-new-black-kitten.jpg over IMG00023.JPG, asks for alt text that describes the image in context without keyword stuffing, and recommends placing images near relevant text. [4]
The W3C alt decision tree adds two rules that catch most site images: decorative images get an empty alt attribute, and an image inside a link or button should describe the destination or action rather than the picture. [5]
| Image | Page | File name | Alt text | Rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero photo | / | bookkeeper-reviewing-receipts.jpg | Bookkeeper sorting a client's monthly receipts | Own photo |
| Background texture | / | paper-texture.jpg | Empty (decorative) | Stock licence noted |
| Logo in header link | All | northside-books-logo.png | Northside Books home | Own |
| Headshot | /about | jane-doe-headshot.jpg | Jane Doe, founder | Photographer release on file |
Forms: decide where every submission goes
Write down each form, its fields, the inbox that receives it and the person who replies. On Carrd, contact forms need Pro Standard or higher; submissions go to your Carrd account email by default, and you can list up to five comma-separated recipients. Notifications come from @mail.carrd.site, so allowlist that domain if messages land in spam. [6]
A form that sends to the wrong inbox is invisible until a customer complains. Put the recipient address and a test date in your inventory, and send a real test after publishing.
- Form name and page
- Fields, and which are required
- Recipient inbox and backup recipient
- Who replies, and the response time you promise on the page
- Where the data is mentioned in your privacy notice
Contact details and legal pages
If a form or newsletter collects personal data, prepare a privacy notice before launch. The UK ICO lists what it should explain in plain language: your contact details, the data you collect, why you hold it and your lawful basis, who you share it with, how long you keep it, people's rights and how to complain. The ICO also points to a privacy notice generator. [7] This is a summary of regulator guidance, not legal advice.
Decide which contact details are public. A real email address is the minimum; a phone number or street address should only go on the page if you are prepared to answer it and have it indexed.
Checklist before starting a paid plan
- Every page has a purpose sentence, title and meta description
- Body copy is drafted and proofread outside the builder
- Every image has a descriptive file name, alt text (or a decision that it is decorative) and a rights note
- Every form has fields, a recipient inbox and a reply owner
- Privacy notice drafted if any personal data is collected
- Page count and CMS needs checked against the plan you intend to buy
- Domain decided, and who controls the registrar login written down
Questions before you decide
How many pages does a small business website need?
Start with the pages that have a clear purpose sentence; a common minimum is home, services, about, FAQ and contact. Five pages fit well inside Framer Basic, which lists 30 pages and 2 CMS collections.
Do I need a privacy policy if my site only has a contact form?
A contact form collects personal data, so UK ICO guidance expects a privacy notice explaining who you are, why you use the data, who receives it, how long you keep it and people's rights. This is not legal advice.
Which Carrd plan do I need for a contact form?
Carrd lists forms on Pro Standard ($19 a year for 10 sites) and Pro Plus. Pro Lite includes site icons and no branding but not forms or custom domains.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Framer pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd Pro plans Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Google Search Central: SEO starter guide Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Google Search Central: image SEO best practices Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- W3C WAI: an alt decision tree Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: setting up a contact form Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- ICO: how to write a privacy notice and what goes in it Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.