Planning for a new website does not need to be hard. Taking some time up front to consider your needs and resources often saves a lot of headaches later.
The good news is, much of this work can be done without hiring consultants. If you are considering building a new website, take a look at these "Elements of a Web Plan" as a guide for getting through planning. We move through these same elements with our clients during planning engagements, and find that they help us get a solid understanding of the project.
Even if you are not able to spend time with each element, the work you do up front will help your team make stronger decisions, and help your web developer more quickly understand your goals. And you can always use your consultant to help you fill in the gaps. This will result in a smooth and more cost effective project.