Frequently asked, plainly answered
Honest answers,
no judgement.
You probably have questions. Here are honest answers to the ones we hear most. If yours isn't here, just ask — we won't make you feel silly for asking.
Cluster I
Do I even need this?
Isn't a website something you just build once and you're done?
That's what most people assume, and it's the single biggest misunderstanding about websites. A site runs on software, and software needs updating — for security above all. Skip that, and the site slowly becomes a liability instead of an asset. So no: building it is the start, not the finish.
My site works fine right now. Why would I pay for ongoing care?
The same reason you service a car that's running fine — you're paying to keep it that way and to avoid the expensive day when it isn't. Most website problems are quiet until they're sudden: an outdated plugin, a missed security patch, a backup nobody set up until it was needed. Care is what stops the sudden day from happening.
Can a small business website really get hacked? I'm not exactly a big target.
Small sites get hacked constantly — often because they're small and nobody's watching them. Most attacks aren't personal; they're automated, scanning the whole internet for sites running out-of-date software. Being small doesn't make you invisible. It often makes you easier.
What actually happens if I just leave a website alone for a few years?
It gets out of date, slower, and more exposed. At some point something breaks or gets compromised, and fixing a neglected site is usually more expensive and more stressful than maintaining it would have been. An abandoned website isn't finished — it's waiting to break.
Cluster II
What do I actually have to do?
I'm not technical at all. Is that a problem?
No. That's the entire reason we exist. You don't need to understand hosting, plugins, or any of the machinery — that's our job. You understand your business; we handle the digital side.
Can you build my website with basically no input from me?
Almost. We need a short conversation to understand what your business does and who it's for — that part has to come from you, because nobody can fake knowing your business. Everything after that, we can carry. If you have text, photos, or a logo, great. If not, we'll work it out together.
Do I have to write the content myself?
Not if you don't want to. Many small business owners don't have the time or the inclination to write, and that's fine — we can handle it, either as part of the build or as an ongoing add-on if you want regular new content. [TBD — confirm whether copywriting is in the build or an add-on.]
How much of my time will this take?
Up front, a conversation and a bit of back-and-forth while we build. After that, very little — that's the point. When something needs changing, you tell us, and we do it. You don't have to manage anything.
What if I want a change made later?
You ask, we do it. Small edits are part of looking after your site [TBD — define "minor edit" precisely; bigger changes may be quoted separately]. You don't log into anything or touch any settings unless you actually want to.
What if I already have a website?
We can take it over and look after it, or rebuild it if it's past saving — and we'll tell you honestly which one makes sense. If it's in good shape, there's no reason to start over.
Cluster III
What's included, and what's extra?
What does looking after my website actually include?
The essentials that keep it healthy: hosting, security updates, backups, monitoring so we know if something goes wrong, and the smaller edits that come up over time. The exact mix depends on the level you choose. [TBD — final inclusions per tier.]
Why is hosting part of it? Can't I host it somewhere myself?
Your website has to physically live on a server somewhere — that's what hosting is. We host it on our own server, which is why hosting is part of the subscription: we're not charging you a vague fee, we're paying for the thing that keeps your site online and looking after it at the same time. If you'd rather host elsewhere, that's a conversation we can have — your site is always yours to move.
Are you going to upsell me things I don't need?
No — and we've built the whole thing to make that hard to do by accident. The extras (getting found on Google, advertising, regular content) are kept clearly separate from the core care, with their own names and prices. You add them only if you decide you want them. Nothing sneaks onto your bill.
What are the optional add-ons?
Things not everyone needs: search visibility (SEO), advertising, and ongoing content like regular blog posts. They're genuinely useful for some businesses and pointless for others, so we don't bundle them in by default. [TBD — final add-on menu.]
Cluster IV
Will people actually find my site?
Will my website show up on Google right away?
Honestly — not instantly, and be wary of anyone who promises it will. A new site takes time to be recognized by search engines. We make sure yours is built correctly so it can be found, but appearing high in results is a longer game, and a separate kind of work.
Can you get me to the top of Google?
No one can guarantee that, and anyone who says they can is hoping you don't know it's not how Google works. What we can do is real, honest search work that improves your chances over time. We'll never sell you a number-one spot, because it isn't ours to sell.
Is being found the same as having a website?
No, and this trips a lot of people up. A website is the thing people land on; being found is a separate effort to get them there. You can have a great site that nobody visits, which is why visibility is its own service rather than something that just comes free with the build.
Do I need advertising or SEO to make my website worth it?
Not necessarily. For many small businesses, a solid website you can point people to — on your card, your van, your invoices — earns its keep on its own. Advertising and SEO are for when you want to actively pull in new people who don't know you yet. Useful, but optional, and only if it fits your goals.
Cluster V
What does it cost?
Why is it a subscription instead of a one-time payment?
Because the work is ongoing, so the payment is too. A site needs continuous hosting, security, and care — a one-off fee would be pretending that work stops the day the site goes live. It doesn't. We'd rather charge honestly for ongoing work than disguise it as a one-time purchase and surprise you later.
How much does it cost?
It depends on what you need — a simple site that's looked after costs less than one with regular content and active marketing. We keep the entry level deliberately affordable and we're upfront about every number before you commit. See pricing. [TBD — link to pricing page.]
Is there a cheap entry option?
Yes — keeping the entry level genuinely affordable is the whole idea. Most of our clients are small businesses that want a good website, looked after, without a big bill. You can start there and add more only if and when you need it.
What if I can't afford the add-ons?
Then you don't take them. The core — a working website that's properly looked after — stands on its own. Add-ons are there for when you want more, not as something you're pushed into to make the basic service work.
Cluster VI
What if I want to leave, or I'm not happy?
Do I own my website, or do you?
You do. Fully. It's yours — the design, the content, the files, all of it. We look after it; we don't own it and we don't hold it over you.
What happens if I want to leave?
You take your website and go. We hand over your files and everything that makes up your site, and help you move it to wherever you're going. No hostage-taking, no making it deliberately difficult. We'd rather keep you because you want to stay than because leaving is a hassle. [TBD — exact handover terms and any transfer fee, stated up front.]
Do I get to keep my domain name?
Yes — your domain is yours. [TBD — confirm domain is registered in the client's name / fully transferable; this must be true before this answer ships.]
Is there a long contract or lock-in?
[TBD — depends on final billing terms.] Our intention is simple: keep you by being worth staying with, not by trapping you in a contract. We'll always tell you the terms plainly before you sign anything.
What if something goes wrong and I'm not happy with the work?
You tell us, and we fix it or talk it through honestly. You'll always be dealing with a person who knows your site — not a ticket queue. If we've got something wrong, we'd rather hear it and put it right.
Still wondering?
Ask us — we won't make you feel silly for asking, and you won't be passed around.
Talk to a person