When having a website built the initial two stages are the design and then the programming of the site. If you have employed a website design company to undergo the task then you will be lead through the processes available and what will happen at each stage. They should also tell you when you need to provide information, such as content, and how best to do this to maximise the result the website gets.
When looking at the design of your website you need to consider the look and feel of the website as well as the functionality. First of all establish your target market and come up with a design that will reach out to them. Keep it fresh and clean and make sure that the information is displayed in a user friendly way. A good web design company will advise you of what you should and should include in your design to achieve the best impact.