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How I design and build your website
Strategic, SEO-Focused Custom Website Design — Built Around Your Business
Designing a website is a lot like building a house: it starts with a solid plan. In this case, that plan begins with keyword research. These are the search terms people type into Google to find businesses like yours—and we want to make sure your site shows up when they do.
Step 1: Keyword Research & Content Planning
I use the Google Keyword Planner tool to find the most searched for keywords for your business. These insights help guide:
The structure of your website
The number of pages you may need
The specific phrases we’ll use in your site content
Sometimes performing keyword research can reveal opportunities. There may be relevant topics that people are searching for, but you haven’t yet covered. In those cases, we may consider adding extra pages to help your site perform better in search results.
Step 2: Crafting High-Quality, SEO-Friendly Content
The goal is to integrate your chosen keywords naturally into the text. This means:
Using key phrases in headings and subheadings
Highlighting keywords in bold where appropriate
Writing with both humans and search engines in mind
Each keyword phrase is usually two or three words long (e.g. “York wedding photographer”) and will be used in ways that feel natural, not forced.
The Power of Great Visuals
Why Website Images Matter
Strong, high-quality images are a huge part of making your website engaging and memorable. While great content keeps people reading, great images draw them in from the moment they land on your site.
Here’s how you can source the right images:
Buy from professional stock libraries like Adobe Stock or Shutterstock
Use high-resolution free images from sites like Unsplash
Hire a professional photographer for custom branding shots
Or simply provide your own photographs
I can help you select or even take photos if needed. Also, behind the scenes, image files are an SEO opportunity: they can include alt tags and keywords that improve search rankings.
The benefits of a mobile first, responsive website development
A responsive website comes with many benefits. It is easier to manage changes and is preferred in Google ranking algorythms.
SEO
BENEFITS
Google policy is increasingly prioritising mobile first when ranking for SEO, following the trend in device usage online.
IMPROVED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Mobile usage has overtaken desktop usage and now represents over 50% of all browsing activity.
EASIER TO MANAGE CHANGE
Just one website to manage. Update on your desktop website (or your mobile) and both change.
Responsive Design
Responsive Design That Works Everywhere
In today’s world, websites must work beautifully on every device—mobile, tablet, and desktop. I build mobile-first, responsive websites that adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes. That means:
Consistent experience across all devices
Better performance in Google search rankings
Simplified updates: change one version, and it updates everywhere
Some images work better than others on small screens, so I’ll guide you through choosing the right visuals for banners and key areas.
Optional Extras to Boost Your Site
Here are some additional features I can include:
Image galleries with expandable thumbnails or sleek slideshows
Video production, including intro videos hosted on YouTube or Vimeo
Content Management System (CMS) access so you can update your own text and images
Blog integration, which is great for SEO and keeping your content fresh
Secure hosting (SSL) for that all-important padlock symbol
Custom forms for lead generation or bookings
Email protection to reduce spam
Basic logo design, or access to professional designers if needed
LOGO DESIGN
Whilst I can't claim to be a graphic designer, I can very quickly produce some basic logo designs, usually based around your business name. I also have access to graphic designers who are capable of creating more complex layouts.
Tools I Use
All my current website development work is done using RapidWeaver for Mac. It allows me to build fast, clean, and customisable websites, with consistent styling and layout across every page.
Before launch, I run a full audit of your site using tools like Website Auditor to ensure:
Images are properly sized
Keywords are effectively used
No important SEO steps have been missed
Hosting & Domain: What You Need to Know
Every website needs:
A domain name (your website address)
A hosting package (where your site files live)
I recommend you purchase these yourself so that everything remains in your name. This gives you full control and ensures continuity even if I’m not available down the line.
Important: Not all hosting providers offer the same level of technical capability. If we’re building a site with blogging or CMS features, your host must support PHP version 8 or higher. I’ll help you choose a reliable provider and may recommend transferring your domain to keep everything in one place.
A Word on WordPress
I’m often asked if I work with WordPress. While I’ve supported clients in troubleshooting broken WordPress sites, I no longer develop with it directly. Here's why:
WordPress is vulnerable to security issues if not regularly maintained
Many WordPress themes look similar, and customisation can be difficult
Clients are often left stranded when the original developer disappears
Instead, I offer fully custom alternatives using your existing content and images—sites that are fast, modern, and easier to manage.
Why Video Matters
Video plays a powerful role in both SEO and user engagement:
It captures attention quickly
Google prioritises sites with video content
It builds trust with potential customers
As a wedding videographer I have the equipment and skills to create professional videos for websites. If you don’t have your own footage, I can produce it for you—including compressing it properly so it loads quickly across all devices.
Performance That Matters
Speed and performance are crucial for both visitors and search engines. I optimise every aspect of your site for speed of loading. This involves sizing images correctly and optimising video load times. Visitors to your website will have the optimal experience on both their desktop and mobile phone.
What I Don’t Offer
I focus on delivering quality, honest web development services. Here’s what I don’t provide:
Black-hat SEO or spammy tactics
Large-scale eCommerce or national-level dynamic sites
Guaranteed first-page rankings (no one can promise that!)
Full-scale digital marketing campaigns
SEO takes time. You won't get to the first page of Google overnight. You need
- Quality built in
- Regular fresh content
- A solid, low maintenance foundation
With these in place your site will grow in visibility over time.
If you’re ready to create a website that looks great, performs well, and is built to grow with your business, get in touch. I’d love to hear more about your project.
Performance
Knowing how to add a video to your website without damaging the website's performance is obviously an important skill that every website designer should have.
