Is there a bigger topic on the Internet?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
If your website cannot be found on the internet, it might as well not exist. SEO is the art and science (and voodoo) of making sure your website is found by the people who are looking for it.
There are 1,000s of SEO books on Amazon. Half of the books will tell you one thing, and the other half will tell you the opposite. This field is constantly changing, and SEO is a moving target. The search engines implement changes to combat spammers, and then businesses need to update their websites because the sites have disappeared from search. What an expensive hassle.
At Simplehack, making sure websites can be found and indexed by the major search engines is at the forefront of how we approach design and development. We have monitoring in place to make sure the site is indexed and receiving organic traffic. Sites that are fast, secure, mobile friendly, accessible, and have compelling content are sites that will rank well in search. This is where we start.
On this page:
Major SEO Companies:
Some of the most recognizable and cash-rich brands in the world. No wonder because they are effectively gate keepers to the Internet. The more you pay them, the more likely your website will be found. Our goal is first-class SEO so that we don't need to pay for traffic.
What you can expect
Authenticity, relevance, and authority are pillars of SEO.Ecommerce websites have solidified into a few major types of technology: shopping carts, payment processors, shipping, and online marketplaces.
- Shopping Carts -
- Payment Processing -
- Shipping and Logistics -
- Online Marketplaces -
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fix my website?
Yes, maybe? The answer is "it depends". It depends on what you have, and what is wrong with it. If you're talking about broken links, bad images or spelling errors, broken layouts, social media issues then the answer is yes, as long as we have access to it. If there is a database issue, or broken integration with a service that no longer exists then the answer is maybe. With access to your services we can diagnose the situation. Once we understand the issue we can make a proposal to fix it.
Do you design websites?
Yes. We provide designs for websites and web-based applications. We can go completely custom, we can use templates, or we can take a hybrid approach and customize a template. If you see a template you like then we can build it. We will work closely with you to understand your constraints and goals, and go from there.
How long does it take?
This can vary wildly. For simple sites with a couple of pages you're looking at a few days turn around from when the project starts. Some of this time is merely waiting for network propagation, testing, validating metrics and data, and iteration on designs as you provide feedback. For more sophisticated projects, such as ecommerce or customized sites it can take a few weeks to a few months before the site is at 100%.
How do I get started?
You can start by contacting us. It would be helpful if you collected your thoughts into a document that we could review together. Ideally the doc would include your goals, your constraints, and any designs or ideas you have. We can help you with the rest. Call, email, or fill out the form on the contact page.
When can you get started?
We can meet as soon as you're ready. Our projects generally happen as a series of milestones (Onboarding, Review, Proposal, Contract, Design, Development, Testing, Go Live). It's OK to spend less time on some milestones, but generally we will go through each for every project. Once terms are agreed upon we will schedule the work. Our projects are starting and ending, and depending on work in progress it could be a week or two before we can begin on yours. We can discuss your urgency in our first meeting.
How much does it cost?
This is the big question. Ultimately, it depends. At the end of the day price comes down to how much time we spend on it, and how much value you get from it. Do you want to retain our services for future updates? If we can save you time, or make you money, then the cost is justified. Simplehack was founded on the idea that we can save time and money for our local community by helping them make better decisions about technology. If price is a constraint then we can work with you to find a solution that meets your budget. Often this means using cookie-cutter templates and 3rd party services without customizations. Frequently this is the best (and fastest) choice for many small businesses.
I already use a service (GoDaddy, Wix, Shopify, etc), does that work?
Yes, likely we can work with your existing providers. We may recommend certain service providers, mostly based on cost, reliability, and reputation, but it's not always necessary to use our recommendations. We love learning about new ways to do things, so if you have a provider that you prefer then we will work with them. We can also help you migrate to a new provider if it makes sense.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of improving your website so that it ranks higher in search engine results. There is an entire SEO industry -- Google is one of the largest companies in the world and it's built on SEO. Serving the right content at the right time is Google's bread and butter. Having a solid SEO strategy can help you get more traffic. SEO is a moving target, and requires monitoring and tuning. Over time the ranking of your site can improve, or decline based solely on competition or how companies like Google change their ranking algorithms. If you have competitors spending money on SEO (targeted advertising, social ads) then you may need to consider it as well.
Can I sell things on my website?
As long as it's legal the answer is most likely, yes. We can help you set up a store, and integrate with payment providers. We can also help you with the logistics of shipping and inventory management. If needed, we can recommend a handful of partners and services providers who will guide you with the legal/tax/financial aspects of the company. Setting up a new store is very exciting, and we can help you get it up and running quickly.
How we help
Simplehack Services
We have ~20 years experience designing and building software for the Web. Here is an overview of what Simplehack offers. Please, reach out if you're looking for something that isn't on this list.
- Technical consulting
- Looking for a way forward on a technical problem or idea? Have a question about your website, or the software you use or want to use?
- Software development
- Need something custom inside of your existing application or website? Have data that needs to be accessible?
- Website and search optimization (SEO)
- Website broken, or not working as expected? Concerned your website isn't optimized for search or appears incorrectly in search?
- Web design and application design
- Looking for a new website, or a refreshed design of an existing site? Need something added to your site? We can help.
- Review expenses
- Review existing tech expenses and make recommendations on how to consolidate and save.
- Helping with Goals / Marketing
- Set goals, and come up with an action plan to measure and achieve them.
- Instructional / Coaching
- Private tutoring for individuals / and small teams.
- Short-term contracting
- We hop on your team to help with short-term projects