Website design and development
How long does it take to design and develop a website?
The design and development process usually takes 4-6 weeks, but we can speed it up if you provide all the content and files promptly and help us get the information we need in a timely manner.
After we map out the site together using our drag-and-drop builder, the wireframe is sent to the designer for the design refinement phase. Since we collaborate with you on the wireframe, it speeds up the design process, which can take only a couple of days or up to a week, depending on the size of your site and our current projects.
If you’re quick to approve the design and provide any changes promptly, the development phase after the design phase can take between 1-2 weeks. Again, this depends on the size and complexity of your site and our current design/development queue.
We will advise you of more accurate timelines once we begin these phases, but we also need you to do your part to help keep both phases moving at a timely pace.
Do you offer custom website design or use templates?
We specialise in creating unique, conversion-focused websites tailored to your specific needs and goals. While we don’t use off-the-shelf templates, we do leverage our extensive library of proven custom design elements and layouts to create a website that aligns with your brand and target audience.
Will my website be mobile-friendly?
Yes, all the websites we design and develop are fully responsive and optimised for mobile devices. We understand the importance of providing a seamless user experience across all devices, as more and more people are browsing the web on their smartphones and tablets.
Do you provide website content writing services?
Our focus is primarily on web design and development, but we can provide basic guidance and tips to help you create engaging and effective website copy. For hands-on content writing assistance, we recommend using AI-powered writing tools or partnering with a professional copywriter.
What kind of guidance do you provide for content creation?
We know writing website content can be challenging, so we’re here to help! While we don’t write the content for you, we provide tips and best practices for creating engaging web copy.
This includes advice on structuring your text, using headlines effectively, and writing in a way that appeals to both readers and search engines. We also offer guidance on using AI writing tools to help you get started.
What is the client portal and how does it work?
The client portal is a secure online space where you can manage your website project. It’s like a digital workspace just for you.
Here, you can upload content for your website, view designs, give feedback, and track the progress of your project. You’ll get login details when we start working together. The portal makes it easy to keep all your project information in one place and communicate with our team.
How does the collaborative website planning session work?
In this session, we work together to plan your website’s layout and structure using our custom-designed sections. It’s like choosing from a menu of professionally crafted options for each part of your website. We have multiple versions of key elements like hero sections, features displays, call-to-action areas, and social media feeds – all custom-designed by our team.
You’ll select how you want each section to appear, giving you control over the overall look and feel without getting bogged down in minute details. This approach offers the perfect balance between customisation and ease of use. You get to make important design choices while we handle the technical aspects of layout and responsiveness.
The session is done remotely via video call and usually takes about an hour. You’ll see your choices come to life in real-time, allowing for immediate feedback and adjustments.
After the session, we take the wireframe we’ve built together and start adding your specific content – including your text, images, and branding elements.
This step brings your unique voice and style to the professionally designed structure we’ve created together. This collaborative process ensures your website not only reflects your vision but also benefits from our design expertise and conversion-focused layouts, resulting in a site that’s both personalised and effective.
What is included in the Online Planning Form?
The Online Planning Form is a questionnaire that helps us understand your business and website goals better. It covers topics like:
- Your target audience
- Your main competitors
- The key features you want on your website
- Your brand’s personality and style preferences
- Any specific functionality you need (like online booking or e-commerce)
- Your long-term business goals
Filling out this form helps us create a website that truly reflects your business and meets your needs. It’s an important step in making sure we’re all on the same page before we start designing.
How do you ensure the quality and functionality of my website before launch?
Before your website goes live, we put it through a thorough quality check. This process includes:
- Testing on different devices (computers, tablets, phones) to ensure it looks good on all screens
- Checking that all links work correctly
- Making sure forms submit properly
- Verifying that the site loads quickly
- Ensuring all content is in place and formatted correctly
We also do a final review to make sure everything matches the approved design. Only when everything passes these checks do we prepare the site for launch.
Do you offer e-commerce website design?
Yes, we have experience designing and developing e-commerce websites that are user-friendly, secure, and optimised for conversions. However, due to the larger scope and time commitment required for e-commerce projects, we recommend reaching out to our team to discuss your specific needs and check our current availability before getting started.
What if I need additional features or functionality not included in the packages?
For clients with a support package, we encourage you to discuss any additional requirements during the initial consultation phase to ensure a comprehensive project scope. However, if you identify a need for extra features or functionality later in the process, please submit a request through the client portal.
Our team will carefully evaluate your request and determine if it aligns with our capabilities and offerings. In the event that we are unable to accommodate a specific request, we will promptly inform you and, if possible, suggest alternative solutions or resources.
For clients who choose the outright purchase option, it’s important to discuss any additional features or functionality you may need during the initial consultation stage. This allows us to assess the feasibility and provide an accurate quote for the project.
What features are included in each package?
Some of the key features of our website and support packages are access to over 300 custom designed templates, anti-hack security, live chat integrations, social media feeds, Zapier integrations, SSL certificate, WordPress updates, malware removal, email and live chat support, and premium high-speed hosting.
For a detailed breakdown of what’s included in each website and support package, please refer to our pricing page.
How do I get started with creating my new website?
To get started, simply schedule a free consultation with our team. We’ll discuss your business goals, website requirements, and help you choose the perfect package. Once the project is started, we’ll guide you through the entire process, from content gathering to design, development, and launch.
Pricing, payments and ownership
What are the payment options for your website packages?
We offer two types of payment options for our website packages: outright purchase and subscription plans with ongoing support. With the subscription plan, you pay a setup cost and a monthly fee for ongoing support. If you opt for outright purchase, you pay the full price upfront without ongoing support. Clients who choose the subscription plan can later buy out their website, with the remaining cost calculated by subtracting their setup cost from the original website price.
What is your refund policy?
We maintain a no refund policy on all fees, including one-time and recurring charges. We encourage clients to carefully review our services before making a purchase, as all sales are final. If you have any questions or concerns about our services, please reach out to our team before committing to a purchase.
Who owns the intellectual property rights to my website?
You retain the intellectual property rights to any content and materials you provide for your website. However, the website design and assets created by Sites That Convert remain our copyrighted property. You may not reuse the website code, assets, or design without our written consent.
Do I fully own my website during the subscription period?
No, during the subscription term, you do not obtain full ownership or rights to the website, code, content, or assets created by Sites That Convert. To gain full ownership and rights, you would need to complete a buyout of your subscription.
The buyout fee is the remaining cost of the website, calculated by subtracting the setup cost you originally paid from the full outright cost of the website package you chose. If you received a discount on the setup fee when starting, you will still need to pay the full remaining cost based on the original outright price, with the setup cost subtracted.
What is your policy on website content ownership?
You retain ownership of all original content that you provide for your website, such as text, images, and videos. By providing this content to us, you grant Sites That Convert a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, and display the content solely for the purpose of creating and maintaining your website.
However, the website design, layout, and code created by our team remain the intellectual property of Sites That Convert. You may not reuse, reproduce, or modify these elements without our express written consent. If you choose to buy out your website subscription, you will be granted full ownership of the website, including the design and code, subject to the terms of the buyout agreement.
What is the buyout option for subscription clients?
Clients who initially opt for a subscription plan have the option to later buy out their website and transfer it to their own hosting and management. The remaining cost for the buyout will be calculated by subtracting the setup cost you paid initially from the original outright purchase price of your website package.
When can I choose to buy out my website?
You can choose to buy out your website at any time during your subscription period. Simply reach out to our team, and we’ll guide you through the process and provide you with the remaining cost based on the original outright purchase price and the setup cost you paid.
What happens after I buy out my website?
Upon completion of the buyout process, we will provide you with a backup of your website files, along with any necessary login credentials to help you manage your website independently.
From the moment the buyout is finalised, you will assume full responsibility for hosting, managing, updating, and maintaining your website. While we will make every effort to ensure a smooth transition by providing you with the necessary information and logins, please note that our team will not be directly involved in the migration of your website to a new hosting provider. It will be your responsibility, along with your new hosting provider, to handle the migration process. We encourage you to thoroughly review the provided materials and reach out to your chosen hosting provider for assistance with the setup process, as needed.
Will I still receive support after buying out my website?
No, the buyout option does not include ongoing support. Once you buy out your website, you will no longer have access to our support services, as the website will be fully under your control and management. We will provide you with the necessary information to help you manage your website independently, but any further support or assistance will be your responsibility.
In what currency are payments processed?
All payments for our services are processed in United States Dollars (USD). This applies to both one-time fees and recurring subscription charges. Please be aware that if you are located outside of the United States, your bank or credit card provider may apply currency conversion fees or other charges.
These additional fees are not imposed by Sites That Convert and are the responsibility of the client. We recommend checking with your financial institution to understand any potential fees or conversion rates that may apply to your transactions with us.
Hosting, domains and email
Do you provide website hosting services?
Yes, we offer reliable and secure website hosting as part of our support packages. Our hosting services include regular backups, software updates, and 24/7 uptime monitoring to ensure your website is always accessible to your visitors.
Where will my website be hosted?
Your website will be hosted on secure, high-performance servers. We use reliable hosting providers to ensure your website is always accessible and loads quickly for your visitors. If you have any specific hosting requirements or questions, please don’t hesitate to discuss them with our team during the consultation process.
Do you offer email hosting services?
We don’t offer email hosting services directly. However, we can provide guidance and recommendations on setting up email accounts with reliable third-party providers and ensuring they are properly configured to work with your new website. While our team is happy to offer general advice and point you in the right direction, please note that the actual setup and management of email hosting will be your responsibility. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us, and we’ll do our best to assist you.
How can I find out where my current website is hosted?
If you’re unsure about where your current website is hosted, there are a few ways to find out:
Check your email records: Look for emails from your current hosting provider, which may contain information about your hosting account and login details.
Contact your domain registrar: If you know who your domain registrar is, you can contact them to find out where your website is hosted.
Use a WHOIS lookup tool: Enter your domain name into a WHOIS lookup tool (like whois.com) to find information about your domain registration and hosting provider.
If you’re still having trouble determining your current hosting provider, reach out to our team during the onboarding process and we may be able to assist.
How can I access my domain registrar account?
To access your domain registrar account, you’ll need to locate your account login information. Start by checking your email records for any emails from your domain registrar that contain login details. If you can’t find this information, you can use a WHOIS lookup tool to find your domain registrar’s contact information and reach out to them directly for assistance in accessing your account. If you need further guidance, reach out to our team during the onboarding process and we may be able to assist.
How do I find out where my email is currently hosted?
To determine where your email is currently hosted, follow these steps:
Check your email client settings: Look for the incoming and outgoing mail server settings in your email client (such as Outlook or Gmail). The server names (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com) can give you a clue about your email hosting provider.
Review your domain registrar account: Log into your domain registrar account and check if email hosting is listed as a service associated with your domain.
Contact your current website hosting provider: If your website and email are hosted by the same company, your web hosting provider can confirm if they are also handling your email hosting.
If you need further guidance on determining your email hosting provider or configuring your email settings, reach out to our team during the onboarding process and we may be able to assist.
Support, maintenance and policies
What happens after my website is launched?
After your website is launched, if you’ve selected a support package, we provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure it continues to perform at its best. This includes regular software updates, security monitoring, and troubleshooting any issues that may arise.
However, if you’ve opted for the outright purchase option, once your website is launched and handed over to you, you will be responsible for its ongoing maintenance and management. We’ll ensure a smooth transition and provide you with the necessary information to get started, but any further support or updates will be up to you to handle.
What sets Sites That Convert apart from other web design agencies?
Our specialisation in conversion-focused web design sets us apart. We create websites that not only look great but also drive meaningful results for your business by optimising for user engagement and conversions.
Our collaborative approach involves you in the design process, ensuring your vision is brought to life. For clients who choose a support package, we also offer comprehensive support, from initial consultation to post-launch assistance, to guarantee your website’s long-term success.
How can I make changes or updates to my website?
Your website is built using Elementor, a user-friendly WordPress page builder that allows you to easily make changes and updates to your site’s content. Elementor is well-known, easy to use, and there are plenty of online resources available on how to use it.
If you need assistance with making changes or would like our team to handle the updates for you (and you are on a support package) please submit a support request through the client portal, and we’ll be glad to help.
Please be aware that our support packages include a set amount of time for assistance and content changes each month. If you require additional support or content changes beyond the allocated time, extra charges may apply.
We encourage you to familiarise yourself with Elementor to make minor updates independently and reserve the support time (for support clients) for more complex changes or updates. If you’re not familiar with Elementor, you can easily learn to make basic updates and changes using the numerous online resources available.
Is after-hours emergency assistance available?
For clients with a support package, our standard support hours are Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm (AEST). If you experience an urgent issue outside of these hours, please submit a support request, and we’ll address it as soon as possible during our next business day.
What are the main differences between your website and support packages?
Our website packages primarily differ based on the number of pages and unique page designs included for your website. The support packages vary mainly in the amount of content changes allowed each month, with smaller packages having less time allocated for changes. Other differences between the support packages include the amount of video hosting, the frequency of website backups, and ongoing Zapier support, which is exclusively available in our Premium support package.
For a detailed breakdown of what’s included in each website and support package, please refer to our pricing page.
Can my website be linked to my social media accounts?
Yes, we can integrate your website with your social media profiles to display feeds, share buttons, and more. This helps to increase your online presence and makes it easier for your audience to connect with you across multiple platforms.
We will need your social media logins to do this or you will have to log into your social media accounts through your website and complete the installation of the social media feeds. To get started, just submit a support request through the client portal.
How secure is my website?
We take website security seriously and implement various measures to keep your site safe, such as SSL certificates, strong passwords, regular software updates, and security monitoring. If you have any specific security concerns, please let our support team know by submitting a request through the client portal, and we’ll be happy to address them.
How do you handle website backups and data protection?
We take the security and protection of your website data very seriously. Here’s how we handle website backups and data protection:
- Regular backups: We perform regular backups of your website files and database to ensure that your data can be quickly restored in case of any unexpected issues or emergencies. The frequency of these backups depends on the support package you have chosen.
- Secure storage: All website backups are stored on secure, encrypted servers to protect your data from unauthorised access or breaches.
- Data confidentiality: We maintain strict confidentiality measures and do not share your website data with any third parties without your explicit consent, except when required by law.
- Security monitoring: Our team continuously monitors your website for any potential security threats or vulnerabilities and takes proactive measures to address them promptly.
- SSL encryption: All websites we develop and host are protected with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to ensure secure data transmission between users’ browsers and your website.
In the event of any data loss or website issues, our team will work diligently to restore your website from the most recent backup and minimise any potential downtime. If you have any specific concerns about website backups or data protection, please feel free to discuss them with our team during the consultation process.
What level of access do I have to my website during the subscription period and after buyout?
During the subscription period, when we are building and supporting your website, you will be provided with editor-level access to your WordPress site. This allows you to manage your website content, make basic changes, and perform essential tasks. However, to ensure the stability and security of your website, you will not have access to modify the underlying code or add plugins independently.
If you choose to buy out your website and no longer use our support services, we will grant you full administrative access to your WordPress site. This will give you complete control over your website, including the ability to modify code and add plugins. However, please note that any changes you make to the code or any plugins you install after the buyout may affect the functionality and performance of your website. In such cases, our team may not be able to provide support unless you purchase additional support hours.
We recommend that clients who are not experienced with WordPress development allow our team to handle any complex changes or plugin additions to ensure the ongoing stability and security of their website.
What should I do if I forget my login credentials for my website or client portal?
If you forget your login credentials for your client portal, you can use the “Reset Password” option available on the login page to reset your password.
Similarly, if you forget your WordPress website login credentials, you can use the “Lost your password?” link on the WordPress login page to reset your password by following the provided steps.
If you encounter any issues with the password reset process for either the client portal or your website, please reach out to our team, and we can assist you in regaining access to your account.
What happens if I don't provide the necessary content for my website?
To ensure timely completion of your website, we require clients to provide all necessary content promptly. If you need to pause the development process for any reason, please be aware that a $500 restart fee will apply.
Can I cancel my subscription at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time by submitting a formal cancellation request through the client portal.
Will I still receive support after buying out my website?
No, the buyout option does not include ongoing support. Once you buy out your website, you will no longer have access to our support services, as the website will be fully under your control and management. We will provide you with the necessary information to help you manage your website independently, but any further support or assistance will be your responsibility.
Are there any warranties or guarantees for the services provided?
No, we do not offer any warranties or guarantees concerning our services, express or implied. We disclaim any implied warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, accuracy, and non-infringement. The use of our services is at your own risk.