Buying guides

Good questions lead to better proposals.

Practical guidance on scope, ownership, timing and how to choose a specialist.

Define the goal of the website before reviewing portfolios. Ask each provider to explain how their process will support that goal.

Start with a diagnosis of your current site and the searches that matter to your customers.

Decide which outcomes matter and which channels your team can support internally.

A freelancer can offer direct specialist attention. An agency may bring a wider team and more cover.

DIY tools can be practical for a simple first site when time and confidence are available.

The right platform depends on editing needs, features, maintenance and who will own the site.

Assess product complexity, payments, integrations and the people who will run the store.

Organic search and paid search work on different timescales and cost models.

Start with where customers are and whether location changes the buying decision.

There is no dependable universal deadline for search results. The starting site and competitive market matter.

A useful brief explains your audience, goals, content, essential features and launch constraints.

Two proposals can have similar prices and very different deliverables.

Clarify domain, hosting, design files, code, content and third-party account access before signing.

A maintenance agreement should say which updates, backups, changes and emergency responses are covered.

Choose measures tied to qualified enquiries or sales, and record the starting point.

Guaranteed rankings, unexplained traffic figures and vague deliverables deserve closer questions.