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You run a business, not a web company.
Here's what you need to know about getting online, in about three minutes. No jargon, and no question is too basic.
Every website has three parts
Think of your website like a shop on a street. You need an address, a lot to build on, and the shop itself.
What it actually costs
There are two kinds of cost: building it once, and keeping it running. Here's a typical small business picture.
| Cost | What it's for | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Your web address, renewed yearly | $10 to $20 a year |
| Platform | Shopify, Squarespace or similar, which includes hosting | About $20 to $40 a month |
| Design and build | Planning, writing and building the site, once | From $1,800 |
| Care plan (optional) | Updates, fixes and changes after launch | From $75 a month |
You pay the domain and platform fees directly, in your own name, so the site is always yours. My prices are on the pricing section.
How people find you
On Google: a free Google Business Profile puts you on the map and in local results. Reviews, clear opening hours and photos make the biggest difference.
In AI answers: more people now ask ChatGPT or Google's AI where to buy something. Those tools pull from reviews, mentions on other sites and clear, detailed pages, so the same groundwork helps here too.
On your own site: pages that say plainly what you sell, where you are and how to buy help Google understand you. That's built in from the start.
Your own store, or a marketplace?
Your own store (like Shopify) is yours. You keep your customers' details and your brand front and center, and you pay a monthly platform fee plus card processing.
Marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop and Walmart come with millions of shoppers already looking. In return they take a cut of each sale, often around 8% to 15% depending on the category, and you follow their rules.
Many businesses do both: their own store for loyal customers, and marketplaces to be found by new ones.
Who packs the box?
You do: the simplest start. You pack orders and print labels at home or in the shop.
A warehouse partner (3PL): you send your stock to them, and they pack and ship every order, from any channel.
Amazon: Amazon can store your products and ship orders from your own website too, including Prime delivery. It's a good fit for some products and not others, and I'll help you decide.
A few words you'll hear
- SEO
- Search engine optimization: setting up your pages so Google can understand them and show them to the right people.
- SSL
- The padlock next to your web address. It keeps checkout safe, and it's included on every site I build.
- Listing
- A product page on a marketplace like Amazon or eBay, with photos, a title and a description.
- 3PL
- Third-party logistics: a warehouse company that stores your products and ships your orders for you.
- Care plan
- A small monthly fee for updates, fixes and changes, so your site keeps working without you thinking about it.
What working with me looks like
1. A free call. By phone or Zoom, we talk about your business and what isn't working. No charge, no pressure.
2. A plan and a preview. You get a clear scope, a fixed price and a look at the new design before anything is built.
3. The build. I build it behind the scenes, with two rounds of changes included.
4. Launch. We go live together, and nothing changes on your current site until you say yes.
Let's get your business moving.
Book a free 20-minute call by phone or Zoom. Tell me about your business, and I'll tell you honestly what I'd fix first.
No tech question is silly. Ask me anything.