Frequently Asked Questions

Straightforward answers from a Hamilton web designer who’s been there

Here are some clear, honest answers with no fluff and no jargon or surprises. If you don’t see answers to questions you have here, please reach out.

FAQ’s Support

Frequently Asked Questions Answered from a Hamilton web designer who’s been there

Straightforward answers

Whether you’re curious about pricing, timelines or what happens after your site goes live, I’ve got you covered. These frequently asked questions (FAQs) cover the things people ask me most. Here are some clear, honest answers with no fluff, no jargon and no surprises. If you don’t see your question here, just reach out.

Web Design

Frequently Asked Questions About Web Design

It’s just me, no middlemen, no ticketing system, no offshore handoffs. You’ll always work with the same person who built your site and knows it inside and out.

Nope. While I’m proudly based in Hamilton, Ontario, I’ve built websites for clients across Canada. The web has no borders, and neither do I.

Pricing depends on the scope, features, and goals of your project. A simple informational website will cost less than a full e-commerce store with advanced functionality. I’ll give you a detailed, no-pressure estimate before we start so you always know what to expect.

Most websites take between 3–6 weeks from start to finish, depending on complexity and how quickly I can finalize content. I’ll work with you on a timeline that fits your schedule without cutting corners.

Absolutely. Every website I design is fully responsive, meaning it works perfectly on phones, tablets, and desktops. Your site will look and perform great no matter how visitors find you.

Of course. Whether it’s a small tweak or a bigger upgrade, I’m here when you need updates. No need to start from scratch or go looking for someone new.

Web Redesign

Frequently Asked Questions About Website Redesign

You should consider a redesign if your site meets any of these “red flag” criteria:

  • Mobile Experience: It looks “broken” or is hard to navigate on a smartphone.
  • High Bounce Rate: People visit your homepage but leave immediately.
  • Outdated Branding: Your business has evolved, but your site still looks like it’s from 2015.
  • Slow Performance: It takes more than 3 seconds to load.
  • Conversion Failure: You’re getting traffic, but no one is calling or buying.

It can if not handled correctly, but it shouldn’t. When you change your URL structure or page content, you must use 301 Redirects. These tell Google, “This old page has moved to this new address.” Without them, you lose your “SEO juice.” A professional redesign includes an SEO migration plan to protect your hard-earned rankings.

  • Refresh: Minor tweaks like changing colors, updating fonts, and swapping out photos. It’s like buying new furniture for a room.
  • SEO: You invest in “organic” rankings. It takes longer to build, but the traffic is “free” once you are there, and users often trust organic results more than paid advertisements.

For a small business site (5–10 pages), a redesign usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.

  • Weeks 1-2: Strategy, site mapping, and wireframes (the “blueprint”).
  • Weeks 3-5: Design mockups and content creation.
  • Weeks 6-8: Development (coding), testing, and the official launch.

Content is usually the #1 reason redesign projects get delayed. While you know your business best, a professional copywriter knows how to write for conversion and SEO. If you decide to write it yourself, ensure you focus on the benefits to the customer rather than just listing your features.

Yes. Most modern redesigns use a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress, Webflow, or Shopify. Part of the redesign process should include a “handover” session where your designer shows you how to swap images, update text, and add blog posts without needing to write code.

Search Engine Optimization

Frequently Asked Questions About SEO

SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Typically, it takes 4 to 6 months to start seeing significant movement in rankings.

  • Phase 1: Google needs to find and “crawl” your new changes.
  • Phase 2: Your site begins to build “authority” and trust.
  • Phase 3: You start climbing the ranks for competitive keywords. If anyone promises “Page 1 overnight,” it is likely a scam or a tactic that will eventually get your site penalized.

Think of SEO as a two-part strategy:

  • On-Page SEO: Everything you do on your website (keywords, fast loading speeds, high-quality content, and clear headings).
  • Off-Page SEO: Everything that happens away from your site that builds its reputation, primarily through “backlinks” (other reputable sites linking to yours) and social media mentions.

That is Google Ads (PPC), not SEO.

  • Ads: You pay for every click. Once you stop paying, your traffic disappears.
  • SEO: You invest in “organic” rankings. It takes longer to build, but the traffic is “free” once you are there, and users often trust organic results more than paid advertisements.

If you have a physical location or serve a specific area, you need Local SEO. This involves optimizing your “Google Business Profile” so you show up in the “Map Pack” (the map that appears at the top of search results). For a local business, appearing in that map is often more valuable than being the #1 regular text result.

Not anymore. Google has moved away from rewarding “keyword stuffing” or high-volume, low-quality articles. Today, SEO is about Quality and Intent. One 1,500-word article that genuinely answers a customer’s question is worth more than twenty 300-word posts that provide no real value.

Unfortunately, no. SEO is an ongoing process for two reasons:

  • Competition: Your competitors are likely working on their SEO to outrank you.
  • Algorithm Updates: Google changes its ranking formulas hundreds of times a year. Ongoing SEO services ensure your site adapts to these changes so you don’t suddenly lose your ranking.

eCommerce Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions About eCommerce

The “best” platform depends on your technical comfort and growth plans:

  • Shopify: The “gold standard” for ease of use. It’s a hosted solution, meaning they handle security and hosting for a monthly fee.
  • WooCommerce (WordPress): Offers total control and no monthly platform fee, but you are responsible for your own hosting, security, and updates.
  • Squarespace/Wix: Great for businesses with a small number of products (under 20) who want a highly visual, simple setup.

This is the most common “headache” for new owners. Modern eCommerce platforms can automate this:

  • Shipping: You can set “Flat Rates,” “Free Shipping over $X,” or “Live Carrier Rates” (where the site talks to USPS/UPS in real-time to give the customer an exact price based on weight).
  • Taxes: Most platforms use your location to calculate sales tax automatically via services like TaxJar or Avalara.

Yes, provided you use a Payment Gateway (like Stripe, PayPal, or Square). As a business owner, you should never “touch” or store the actual credit card numbers on your own server. The gateway handles the encryption and PCI compliance, keeping you and your customers safe from data theft.

Cart abandonment is when someone adds an item to their cart but leaves before buying (the average rate is around 70%). You can lower this by:

  • Streamlining Checkout: Don’t force users to create an account; allow “Guest Checkout.”
  • Automated Emails: Setting up a system that automatically emails the customer an hour later with a “Did you forget something?” reminder or a small discount code.

In eCommerce, the photo is the product. Customers can’t touch or smell what you’re selling, so high-quality imagery is non-negotiable.

  • The Standard: At least one “Hero” shot on a pure white background and one “Lifestyle” shot showing the product in use.
  • The 2026 Trend: Short 5-10 second video loops of the product are currently outperforming static images in conversion rates.

Your website acts as your central brain. When an item sells, the site automatically deducts it from your “Stock on Hand.” If you also sell in person (at a physical shop or markets), you should use a Point of Sale (POS) system that syncs with your website so your online stock levels stay accurate in real-time.

Web Maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions About Web Maintenance

Think of your website as a high-tech car. Even if it looks great today, the software it runs on (like WordPress, Shopify, or PHP) is constantly being updated. Without maintenance, your site becomes slow, prone to bugs, and vulnerable to hackers. Regular updates ensure that new features work correctly and that your site remains compatible with modern web browsers.

Google prioritizes sites that are fast, secure, and frequently updated.

  • Speed: Maintenance clears out “digital junk” that slows your site down.
  • Security: If your site gets hacked, Google will blackhole it and show a “This site may be compromised” warning.
  • Freshness: Regularly updating your content and fixing broken links tells search engines your business is active.

Yes. Many small business owners think they are “too small” to be targeted, but most attacks are automated bots looking for unpatched software. If your plugins or CMS are out of date, you’re leaving the digital front door unlocked. Maintenance includes security monitoring and malware scans to prevent these breaches.

This is a frequent point of confusion:

  • Hosting: This is the “rent” you pay for your website to live on a server so people can access it.
  • Maintenance: This is the “property management.” It covers the actual labor of updating the site, fixing errors, backing up data, and ensuring the software is running optimally.

Ideally, every 24 hours. If you update your site frequently (like a blog or an inventory list), daily backups are essential. If your site is mostly static, a weekly backup might suffice. The goal of maintenance is to ensure that if the site ever “breaks” during an update, you can restore a working version in minutes.

Technically, yes. Most platforms have an “Update” button. However, updates can sometimes break your site’s layout or functionality because of conflicts between different pieces of software. A professional maintenance service tests updates in a safe environment and knows how to fix things immediately if something goes wrong.

Client Feedback That Speaks for Itself

Hamilton Web Designer Client Testimonials

I don’t chase reviews but when clients take the time to share their experience, it means everything. This isn’t just about web design, it’s about people. These testimonials are not curated fluff, they’re the real outcomes of working together with clear communication, shared goals and a genuine focus on helping your business succeed.


  • Very Impressed!

    I had the pleasure of working closely with Nilton over the last few months on both of my business’ on presence. Very impressed with the work and presence of our websites and attention to detail in getting them where they are now. Nilton is a hard worker and very knowledgeable in his profession. He cares about your vision and input and makes great suggestions to maximize your benefit. I highly recommend working with him! You won’t be disappointed
    Carm Milioto
    Studio 410 Productions
    Recording Studio & Video Production
    Hannon, Ontario


  • Would Highly recommend to anyone!

    Amazing to work with! This guy helped us develop our website from the ground up and made the process so smooth. Any questions or concerns I had regarding our site he answered promptly and explained it thoroughly. Really easy to work with and would highly recommend to anyone.
    Andrew Gaidola
    New Mile Video
    Video Production
    Welland, Ontario

  • Very skilled and amazing ideas!

    Nilton was very informative, knowledgeable and easy to work with. In addition to being very skilled, he shared his amazing ideas and was a key part in my website development. I highly recommend.
    Carlo Fazzari
    Muscle Crusher Fitness
    Fitness Equipment
    Hamilton, Ontario

Let’s Talk

I’m a one-person web studio based in Hamilton, focused on building smart, clean websites that work — and work well for you. Whether you’re starting from scratch, rebuilding, or need expert advice, I’m here to help.

Personal Service, Professional Results

Whether you need a new website, an upgrade, or extra features, you’ll get clear communication, expert advice, and a solution built to last. I work one-on-one with every client to create tailored designs that reflect their unique brand and business goals.

  • It was a real pleasure working with you!

    I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work on my website. You did everything I requested in a timely manner. It was a real pleasure working with you. I have worked with a lot of people on many projects over the years and I have to say working with a true professional like yourself was effortless.

    Thank you again and I want you to know I will be recommending you to anyone looking for your services.
    Bill Clifford
    Print Design Plus

I’m here when you Need Help

Reach out Anytime.

If something’s not working the way it should or you just need a bit of guidance, this is the place to get in touch. Whether it’s a quick fix, a how-to question, or something that’s been bugging you for a while, I’m just a message away. Complete the form below to get started.

I’m here when you Need Help

Reach out Anytime.

If something’s not working the way it should or you just need a bit of guidance, this is the place to get in touch. Whether it’s a quick fix, a how-to question, or something that’s been bugging you for a while, I’m just a message away. Complete the form below to get started.