Frequently Asked Questions
Website FAQs
How long does it take to get my website up and running?
This depends on the size of the website and the functionality. However, for most websites, once we have booked you in, we will have the site ready in 5 working days for you to proof.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes, in order to start work on your website, we require a deposit. On the upfront payment option this is 50% (the balance due on completion). On the cashflow friendly option this is usually £99.
Will my website belong to me once it is created?
Yes, once your website is paid in full, it will belong to you.
I need a website but don't know where to start. Can you help?
Yes we can definitely help. We work with a lot of start-ups and will be able to advise you on what is required. Book a free consultation with us to find out more.
What features should my business website include?
Your website should include essential features such as a homepage, product or services pages, about us section, contact information, and clear calls to action, such as a newsletter signup or a button to make a purchase.
I don't have a logo. Is this included in my website design quote?
No, logo design is not included in your website quote. We do however work with some affordably priced designers and can point you in the right direction.
Do you create the content for my website?
As a rule, we require clients to supply their own content. However, if you need help with this, we can assist for a small extra fee.
Do you only create WordPress websites?
Yes. WordPress is a great content management system that now powers more than 30% of the web. Its huge market share is due to it’s flexibility and ease of use. Don’t worry, we’ll teach you how to manage it and help you along the way.
Will I be able to update the site myself when it’s finished?
Yes! We love it when our clients take control of their website and learn to manage it on their own. Since we use WordPress and the Divi theme, there is a plethora of help tutorials and videos for these online. But we do also provide live 1 on 1 training via Zoom. We record the Zoom session and send it to you so you can refer back to it should you need to.
Do you host my website?
Yes we do. We provide everything required for your hosting including SSL, as well as doing regular security maintenance on it to avoid attacks and other nasty things that hackers try to do to it. Your website is in safe hands with us.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when building a website for my business?
Common mistakes to avoid include not having a clear value proposition, neglecting mobile optimization, having a cluttered design, slow loading times, poor user experience, and not having clear calls to action.
SEO FAQs
What is SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the additional work that is done on a website to ensure that prospective customers can find your business online using keyword searches that are related to it.
Does My Business need SEO?
If you want to get new business from your website then yes, you should be investing in SEO. When you run PPC (pay per click) ads you are charged for every click. With SEO your website will rank organically and the click to it is free. See the image below:
How Long Does It Take To See Results?
SEO is a long-term strategy, and it can take several months to start seeing significant results.
The timeline can vary depending on factors such as your website's current SEO state, your industry, your competition, and the keywords you're targeting.
Usually it takes somewhere between four to twelve months but this is very much based on:
the level of resources you allocate to your strategy, the level of competition, and what others who compete for the same queries are doing.
It might only take a few months to locally rank a website that's been running for a couple of years or for a local term (e.g., plumber in [location]). On the other hand it could take years to nationally rank a new website for, let's say, the term "laptops."
Can I do SEO myself, or do I need to hire an SEO agency?
While it's possible to do some basic SEO yourself, it can be time-consuming and challenging to stay up-to-date with the latest best practices and algorithms.
Hiring an experienced SEO agency like us can save you time and help you achieve better results in the long run. However, it's important to weigh the cost of hiring an agency against the potential benefits and decide what's best for your business. At the end of the day it's all about ROI.
What services are included in SEO?
SEO services can vary depending on the provider, but typically include keyword research, on-page optimisation, off-page optimisation (such as link building), domain authority building, technical SEO, and analytics and reporting. Some providers may also offer additional services such as content creation. You can view what we offer in our affordable SEO packages
How do I measure the success of my SEO efforts?
The success of your SEO efforts can be measured using a variety of metrics, including website traffic, keyword rankings, backlinks, and conversions. It's important to set clear goals and track your progress over time to ensure that your SEO efforts are having a positive impact on your business and that you are getting a good ROI (return on investment)
Once you have ranked my business on the first page of Google, can I stop doing SEO?
SEO isn’t a 'set-and-forget' aspect of your business marketing. It is a continuous process that you must maintain to keep maximising ROI and revenue.
As such, it’s generally not advised to take your foot off the pedal as soon as you reach the first page of Google. Like a car, if you do take your foot of the pedal, the car wont stop immediately, but it will in time grind to a halt.
What Are Google's Most Important Ranking Factors?
In 2016 Google confirmed that its top 3 ranking factors were:
- Backlinks
- Content
- Rankbrain
However, since then various ranking factor studies have delved deeper into Google’s algorithm to shine a light on those areas that have the most significant impact on organic performance. Some of these overlap as you can see, and these are the elements we focus on at Canterbury Website Design & SEO:
- Time on site
- Total referring domains
- Content length
- Followed backlinks
Does Social Media Help To Increase My Website's Rank?
No it does not.
There's a common misconception that posting on social media helps increase your website's rank on search engines, but it does not directly contribute to SEO ranking.
What it does do is increase your brand awareness on social channels. Additionally, when people share your content on social media, it generates social signals that indicate your posts are useful to your target market.
What Is The Difference Between On-Page SEO and Technical SEO?
While often used interchangeably, on-page SEO and technical SEO are not the same.
We can see the table below to compare these two different areas:
What Is Backlink building?
Backlink building is the process of getting other websites to link to yours.
As backlinks are one of Google's top 3 ranking factors, these are an important part of any SEO campaign.
Effectively, these links act as a vote of trust from one website to another.
Let's put it this way to try and make it simpler to understand:
If five people who don't know each other all recommended a particular restaurant as the best in your city, you would in all likelihood trust that you'd be able to get a good meal there. After all, multiple, unrelated individuals have all vouched for it.
In the same way, when multiple high authority websites have links back to your website, Google sees this as a vote of trust and rewards you with increased rankings.
What some of our happy customers have to say about us on Google
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