FAQs

Web Design

SEO
(Search Engine Optimisation)

Welcome to the FAQ page of South Downs Web Design. If you're looking to create a new website or improve an existing one for enhanced search engine visibility, you're in the right place. Here, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions people have asked me about web design and SEO. Chances are you’ll be asking some of the same questions, so we hope you find them informative and helpful.

From planning a new website to optimising an existing one for better visibility on Google and other search engines, these should provide a good starting point. However, if you have a question that is not covered here, please feel free to contact us via the contact form or the website chat. We are always here to help and would be more than happy to answer any queries you might have.

  • The importance of web design cannot be overstated as it directly influences how your audience views your brand. A well-crafted design has the power to captivate and retain your website visitors, whereas a subpar design can push them away, ultimately impacting your bounce rate and SEO.

  • Responsive web design is a design approach where a website's layout adjusts itself according to the screen size and orientation of the device it's being viewed on. This ensures an optimal viewing and interaction experience—easy reading and navigation with minimal resizing, panning, and scrolling—across a wide range of devices.

  • Ideally, a website should be updated every 2–3 years to keep up with design trends and technological advancements. However, regular content updates should be done more frequently to keep the site relevant and SEO-friendly.

  • The time it takes to design and build a website can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the site, the number of pages, and the specific features required. On average, a basic website can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks, while more complex sites can take a couple of months to complete. It depends on the individual website requirements.

  • My single-page websites are generally built on Bootstrap, and these are responsive websites that view well on all devices. Typically, a single-page website is not updated regularly, so it will not have a blog.

    When looking to build a website with multiple pages, I use Squarespace. It’s a leading web design platform that enables me to create bespoke websites that meet my clients requirements. At the end, I'm able to hand over a website where my clients can easily update blog posts and information themselves without any technical knowledge. That means there are no ongoing costs to maintain your website, but I'm always available should you want further changes carried out or content changed.

  • Yes, depending on which platform your website is built on.

    If this is a single-page website built on Bootstrap, then it will need to be hosted, which I can arrange for you.

    If Squarespace is used as your content management system, you will need to pay them directly to host your website. You can pay monthly or annually. For current Squarespace pricing, click here.

    Please remember that you will also need to purchase a domain name if you don't already have one. These are usually available for less than £15, and they need to be renewed annually. I can help you with this as well.

  • Yes! If it is built on the Squarespace CMS (Content Management System), I will ensure that you are confident enough to be able to make any changes that you require going forward. When your website is complete, I will walk you through making small text updates, posting a blog, and anything else you will need to know.

    The single-page websites, however, will require someone who is comfortable coding websites to make any required changes. If changes are required, then I have reasonable rates to make any ongoing changes to the website. This is something we can discuss when the website is being designed.

  • Yes. If you have an existing website with a blog, I can transfer this to your new website. This is something we can discuss at the design stage.

  • SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is the practice of optimising your website to make it more visible in search engine results pages (SERPs). It's important because it helps you reach more potential customers by improving your online presence.

  • SEO is a long-term strategy, and it typically takes 4-6 months to start seeing results. However, these timelines can vary depending on the competitiveness of your industry and the popularity of your keywords.

  • Keywords are words or phrases that people type into search engines when looking for a product, service, or answer to a question. They're important in SEO because using the right keywords can help your website appear in relevant search results, driving more traffic to your site.