Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions we receive. Browse by topic below.
Web Design
5 questions01 Why don't you build new sites on WordPress any more?
I've built plenty of WordPress sites over the years, and I still support existing clients who are on it. But for new builds, modern frameworks produce noticeably better results: faster load times, leaner code, better Google rankings, and a design that isn't anchored to a theme someone else sold to ten thousand businesses. Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy site builders are fine for hobby sites but limit what you can realistically do with design and SEO. If you specifically need WordPress for a legitimate reason (a content team already trained on it, a specific plugin your business depends on) I can still do that, and we'll talk about the trade-offs honestly before committing.
02 How much does a website cost?
It depends on scope. A simple brochure site for a small business can be as little as around £1,000. In practice, most of the work I take on sits further up the spectrum: multi-section builds, landing pages for paid campaigns, bookings or portals, custom integrations. That's where the hand-built approach really earns its keep. Every project is quoted individually with a fixed cost and a clear scope before anything starts. No open-ended day rates, no nasty surprises. After launch, most clients move onto a monthly retainer from around £150 a month covering hosting, updates, tweaks, and performance monitoring. A short call is usually enough to give you a realistic ballpark.
03 How long does a website project take?
Four to eight weeks from kickoff to launch is typical, depending on scope and how quickly you can get content over. Tighter timelines are sometimes possible, and we'll tell you honestly at the start whether what you want is realistic for the time available. You'll see progress as it develops; no disappearing for six weeks and delivering a surprise.
04 Can you make my existing site faster without a rebuild?
Sometimes, sometimes not. It depends on what it's built on. A WordPress or Wix site can be tuned up to a point: image optimisation, caching, removing unused plugins and scripts, tidying up the theme. That often gets PageSpeed from awful to decent. But if the underlying platform is the bottleneck, there's a ceiling you can't push past without starting again. We'll take an honest look before you commit to either path. No point charging for optimisation work that won't meaningfully move the needle.
05 Can I edit the site myself after launch?
By default, no. Most clients prefer me to handle tweaks on the monthly retainer. It's quicker, the site stays consistent, and you don't end up with a publishing tool you only touch twice a year. If you want to edit things yourself (blog posts, service pages, basic copy changes), I can build a lightweight CMS in. Tell me at the start and we'll spec it into the project properly rather than bolt something on at the end.
Seo
4 questions01 How long does SEO take to show results?
Honestly, three to six months before you see meaningful movement, with results compounding after that. SEO isn't the answer if you need leads next week; Google Ads is better for that. If you want to reduce your dependence on paid advertising over the next year or two, SEO is worth building alongside it. Anyone guaranteeing faster results is either telling you what you want to hear or doing something dodgy that'll cost you later.
02 Can you guarantee I'll rank on page one?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Google doesn't publish its ranking algorithm, and anyone promising guaranteed page-one results for competitive terms is either wrong or planning to use tactics that will hurt you later. What we do guarantee is the work: technical foundations, content built around terms people actually search for, and links earned through legitimate means. That's the work that gives you the best realistic chance of ranking well, and we track progress carefully so you always know what's moving and what isn't.
03 What's the difference between SEO and Google Ads?
SEO earns you traffic from Google for free, in the long run. Google Ads buys you traffic from Google, right now. SEO takes months to build and produces leads without a cost per click once it is working. Ads produce leads as soon as they go live but stop the moment you stop paying. Most clients run both: ads for immediate results, SEO for long-term value. They complement each other well and we can manage either or both.
04 Do you do local SEO?
Yes, when it applies. If you serve a specific area or region, appearing in local search results and Google Maps listings is often more valuable than chasing broad national rankings. We handle Google Business Profile optimisation, local citations, and content targeting the places you actually work in. For businesses that sell UK-wide or online, local SEO matters less and we focus on the national picture instead. We'll be straightforward about which applies to you before committing to either approach.
Lead Generation
5 questions01 What kinds of businesses does lead generation work for?
It works best when people are actively searching for what you do. Tradespeople, specialist B2B services, consultants, agencies, manufacturers. If someone is typing a search for your type of business into Google, we can put you in front of them at that moment. It works less well for businesses that sell entirely through referrals or personal relationships, where no search intent exists. A 30-minute call is usually enough to tell you honestly whether it's likely to work for your type of business and market.
02 I've tried Google Ads before and didn't get much back. Why would this be different?
Usually because the ads themselves were not the problem. Traffic sent to a homepage rarely converts. Leads that sit uncontacted for 24 hours rarely close. And if you cannot tell which leads turned into paying customers, you cannot tell which campaigns to keep and which to cut. Most agencies do the ad part and stop there. We build the full system: a landing page built for one job, automated follow-up within minutes of an enquiry, and conversion tracking that follows the lead through to an actual sale. That is what makes the difference between ads that burn through budget and ads that pay for themselves.
03 What budget do I need to get started?
We recommend a minimum of £500 per month in ad spend. Below that, there is not enough data to optimise effectively. Management fees are on top of that. Most of our lead generation clients spend between £750 and £2,500 a month in total, depending on the competitiveness of their market and how many leads they need. We will tell you honestly if we think your budget is unlikely to produce a meaningful return before you commit to anything.
04 How quickly will I see results?
The first leads typically start coming in within two to four weeks of a campaign going live. The first month is partly learning, as the system optimises toward the enquiries that convert best. Most clients see costs come down and lead quality improve through months two and three as the data builds. We set clear expectations at the start so you know what to look for and when, rather than wondering whether anything is working.
05 Do I need a new website to run ads?
Not usually. We build dedicated landing pages for each campaign, so ads do not go to your main website. A focused landing page with one clear job converts far better than a homepage. What matters more is whether your business can handle enquiries when they arrive. In some cases a full site rebuild makes sense alongside a new campaign. In others, it does not, and we will be straightforward about which situation you are in.
Working With Us
7 questions01 Do I need to be local to work with you?
No. We work remotely with clients all over the UK. If you'd prefer a face-to-face meeting, that can usually be arranged. If you don't need one, you won't miss anything. The service is exactly the same either way.
02 How long does a project take?
A straightforward automation (connecting a form to your CRM and setting up a follow-up sequence, for example) typically takes one to two weeks. A new website runs four to eight weeks from kickoff to launch. More complex work gets scoped individually. You'll have a clear timeline before anything starts, not after.
03 Are there long-term contracts?
No. Monthly retainers run month to month with 30 days' notice to cancel. Project work is quoted upfront with milestone payments. No lock-ins, no minimum terms. Most clients stay because the work is producing results, not because they are tied in.
04 What if I only need one service?
That's fine. Most clients start with one thing, usually whichever is causing the most pain right now. If it works, they often add more, but there's no pressure to take on everything at once. A 30-minute call is usually enough to work out where to start.
05 What kind of businesses do you work with?
All sorts. Small and medium businesses across the UK, from a handful of one- and two-person operations through to firms with a few hundred staff. We don't specialise by sector. The common thread is usually that the business is serious about growing, wants a website that does real work, and would rather pay for substance than an impressive-sounding invoice. If you're weighing us up, a 30-minute call is enough to tell you honestly whether we're a good fit.
06 Who's actually going to build my site?
Will, the senior developer, and the person you'll have been speaking to all along. Not a junior, not an apprentice, not a project manager relaying messages. Same person who answers the phone, same person who writes the code, same person who designs the pages. That means things get done faster, nothing gets lost in translation, and you always know exactly who to call.
07 How does the monthly retainer work?
After launch, most clients move onto a monthly retainer: hosting, updates, small tweaks, performance monitoring, and priority support. You pay a sensible monthly fee and you get to forget about your website. No long-term lock-in, just 30 days' notice to cancel. If you'd rather pay per job, that's fine too. The point of the retainer is that it makes the website stop being something you have to think about.
Automation
3 questions01 Will AI replace the personal side of my business?
No. Automation takes away the work nobody wants to do: the copy-paste, the data entry, the chasing, the categorising. It doesn't make decisions, manage relationships, or do the work that requires judgement. There's always a person in the loop. Your clients still deal with you. Things just happen faster and nothing gets missed.
02 What happens to our data? Is it secure?
Most work runs through well-established cloud services with strong security and UK data residency. If you have a genuine reason to keep everything inside your own network, local models running on your own hardware are an option, with nothing leaving the building. Whichever setup you end up with, you'll know exactly what data is going where, and why. No hidden third-party processing.
03 Will it work with the software we already use?
Most of the time, yes. We build automations using tools like Make and Zapier that connect with hundreds of common platforms: CRMs, accounting software, email systems, booking tools, practice management software. If it has an API or a webhook, it can usually be connected. If you use bespoke or industry-specific software, we check compatibility at the start of the project before committing to a build, so there are no surprises later.
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