Elev8d Custom Build
Recommended- Design
- Fully custom to your brand
- Speed
- Optimised, fast by default
- SEO
- Built in from day one
- Ownership
- You own everything
- Support
- Ongoing, direct access
- Cost
- $2,400+
- Best for
- Businesses serious about growth
Melbourne · Web design that performs
Web Design Melbourne. Built to Convert, Not Just to Launch.
Less agency. More results.
We build fast, custom websites that are engineered to perform, not templates with your logo dropped in. Every page has a job to do, every site has SEO built in from day one and you own all of it.
- Avg build
- 4 to 8 wks
- PageSpeed
- 90+ Score
- Ownership
- 100% yours
- Built in
- Onsite SEO
Our approach
What Every Site We Build Has to Do
Every page on your site has a job to do. Capture a lead, sell a product or build trust: we plan each one around how your customers actually behave, not around a template's limits.
Four connected strengths. One business goal.Read how +
Every page on your site has a job to do. Capture a lead, sell a product or build trust: we plan each one around how your customers actually behave, not around a template's limits.
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01
Fast by Default
Speed isn't an afterthought, it's engineered in. Clean code, optimised assets and a mobile first build mean pages that load in a blink, keep visitors around and score where it counts on Core Web Vitals.
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02
Designed to Convert
A beautiful site that doesn't convert is just expensive art. We design around customer behaviour and clear next steps, so visitors don't just admire your site. They take the action you built it for.
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03
SEO Built In
Your site is built to be found from day one. Clean structure, fast load and proper markup. Not bolted on later as an upsell, but baked into how we build, so you're not starting your Melbourne SEO from behind.
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Yours to Own
No proprietary platforms, no being held hostage. You own your site, your code and your hosting, fully. If we ever part ways, everything stays with you, exactly as it should.
A site that performs
Fast, conversion focused, search ready and fully yours. That is the standard every build ships at.
Services
Web Design and Development Services
From a single high converting landing page to a full custom build or eCommerce store, here's everything we do. Whatever the project, it's built fast, clean and to last.
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01
Custom Website Design
The part your customers see and use. Designed for your business rather than taken from a theme, built mobile first with clean, modern code that's fast on every device.
- Responsive, mobile first builds
- Custom layouts and interactions
- Accessibility and performance
- Core Web Vitals optimisation
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02
Custom Features and Integrations
When your site needs to do more than show pages. Custom functionality and connections to the tools you already use, built securely so your site does exactly what your business needs.
- Custom functionality and APIs
- Database and CMS architecture
- Third party integrations
- Security and performance
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03
eCommerce Development
Online stores built to sell. Fast, easy shopping on Shopify, WooCommerce or a fully custom build.
- Shopify and WooCommerce
- Payment and shipping setup
- Product and catalogue structure
- Conversion optimised checkout
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04
WordPress Development
The world's most popular CMS, built properly. Custom themes and easy to edit sites that give you control without the bloat of page builder spaghetti.
- Custom theme development
- Easy to edit content blocks
- Speed and security hardening
- Plugin and integration setup
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05
Website Redesigns
Got a site that looks dated or underperforms? We rebuild it into something fast, modern and built to convert. Without losing the rankings you've earned.
- Performance and UX overhaul
- SEO safe migration
- Modern, on brand redesign
- Conversion rate improvements
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06
Landing Page Design
Single purpose pages built to convert one audience on one offer. Made for your Google Ads and paid social campaigns.
- Conversion focused layout
- Fast load for paid traffic
- A/B testing ready
- Built to pair with ad campaigns
Not sure which build you need?
Get a Free Website Review →Prefer to text? 0494 740 873
Website redesigns
Redesign Without Losing Your Google Rankings
A new site can wipe out years of rankings overnight when old pages disappear. Before launch we map every page that brings in visitors to its new address, so Google and your customers follow you across.
A redesign shouldn't cost you the rankings you have.Read how +
A new site can wipe out years of rankings overnight when old pages disappear. Before launch we map every page that brings in visitors to its new address, so Google and your customers follow you across.
Old siteNew site
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/services.html301/services -
/hot-water-tips301/hot-water -
/plumbing.php301/plumbing -
/contact-us.php301/contact -
/about-us.html301/about -
/gallery.html301/our-work
Crawl the old site
Every page, image and link, and which of them Google ranks and customers visit.
Map every address
Each old page gets a 301 redirect to its new home, so none are left to a dead end.
Keep what already ranks
Titles, headings and the content that earns rankings carry across, improved rather than thrown out.
Check after launch
We submit the new sitemap and watch Search Console, fixing anything that slips.
Redesigning a site that already ranks?
Get a Free Website ReviewPrefer to text? 0494 740 873
How we work
What a Website Build Looks Like, Week by Week
Here is the usual shape of a business website build: what happens each week, what you will see and what we need from you, so you always know where things are up to.
A typical business website, illustrative
- Our work
- Your input
- What you see
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Week 1
Discovery and plan
A first conversation about your business, customers and goals, then a look at your competitors and your current site. Together we agree the pages, features and timeline. Strategy first, design second.
You seeSitemap and plan
From youTime for a first call, plus logins and anything you already have.
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Week 2
Wireframes and look
We lay out the key pages as simple wireframes, planned around how your customers actually buy, then design the home page in your brand so you can see the direction early.
You seeHome page design
From youFeedback on the wireframes and home page.
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Week 3
Design and content
The remaining pages are designed for your business, not a theme with your logo dropped in, and your content goes in. If your copy is not ready yet, we can help write it.
You seeEvery page designed
From youYour content and photos, and a round of feedback.
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Week 4
Build
We build the site on your CMS: mobile first, fast and with SEO foundations in place. You get a private link to click through as it comes together.
You seePreview link
From youClick through the preview and note any changes.
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Week 5
Test and launch
We test on phones, tablets and browsers, check speed and forms, set up redirects and tracking, then go live. Nothing launches until it is right.
You seeYour site goes live
From youFinal approval to go live.
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After launch
Handover and support
Training on your CMS, clear documentation and a check that everything is tracking. Ongoing support is there if you want it.
You seeTraining and documentation
From youA short training session.
Get a timeline for your own site
Every project is scoped individually. A landing page can be ready in about a week, while a larger site or an online store takes longer. You get a clear timeline before we start, and the biggest variable is usually how quickly content and feedback come back.
Before we start
What We Need From You, and What We Handle
Most of the work is ours. From you we need a handful of things at the start, and none of them has to be perfect: for each one, here is what happens if you don't have it yet.
Most of the work is ours.Read more +
Most of the work is ours. From you we need a handful of things at the start, and none of them has to be perfect: for each one, here is what happens if you don't have it yet.
Your logo
What to sendThe original file from whoever designed it, not a screenshot.
Don't have it yet?We work from what you have and tidy it for the web. If you need a new logo, we will point you to a designer we trust.
Brand colours and fonts
What to sendAny colour codes and font names, or a style guide if there is one.
Don't have it yet?We suggest a palette and type that suit your logo and your customers, and you choose.
Photos
What to sendYour work, your team and your place, the bigger the files the better.
Don't have it yet?We use quality licensed photos, or send you a short shot list to take on your phone.
Words for your pages
What to sendWhatever you have: an old site, a brochure, notes on what you do.
Don't have it yet?We can help write it, working from a conversation about your business.
Logins
What to sendYour domain, hosting and Google accounts, shared securely.
Don't have it yet?Not sure where they are? We help you find or recover them, in your name.
A few sites you like
What to sendTwo or three, in any industry, and what you like about them.
Don't have it yet?No problem. We bring examples from your industry to the first meeting.
Everything else is ours
- Planning and wireframes
- Design
- Build and CMS
- Speed and SEO set-up
- Testing on every device
- Launch and redirects
- Training
Why us
Why Melbourne Businesses Choose Elev8d
There are plenty of people who'll build you a website. Fewer who'll build you one that's fast, found and actually yours. Built by the people you talk to. Here's what sets us apart.
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You Talk to the People Doing the Work
No account manager filter, no junior playing telephone. You deal directly with the designers and developers actually building your site, so nothing gets lost in translation.
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We Won't Sell You What You Don't Need
If a five page site does the job, we won't push you into fifty. We scope what actually serves your goals and budget and tell you honestly when something isn't worth the spend.
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A Clear Plan Before We Start
Every build is scoped after a discovery call, so before any work begins you know the pages, the price and the timeline. No surprises halfway through.
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No Lock-In Contracts
You own your site, your code and your hosting. No proprietary platform holding you hostage, no surprise fees. If you ever want to take it elsewhere, you can, though our clients rarely do.
Want a team like this on your build?
Get a Website Quote →Prefer to text? 0494 740 873
Custom Build vs. Template vs. DIY
There's more than one way to get a website and they're not equal. Here's an honest look at how a custom Elev8d build compares to a template agency and a DIY builder. Yes, custom costs more. That's the point.
Template Agency
Pre made theme + your content
- Design
- Semi custom theme
- Speed
- Varies with the theme
- SEO
- Basic, add-on
- Ownership
- Depends on the agency
- Support
- Project based only
- Cost
- $1,000 to $3,000
- Best for
- Cheap and fast, for now
DIY Builder
Wix, Squarespace
- Design
- Template, looks like everyone
- Speed
- Often slow and bloated
- SEO
- Minimal, limited control
- Ownership
- Platform locked
- Support
- Self service help docs
- Cost
- $20 to $50/month
- Best for
- Hobby and side projects
Before you sign
Questions to Ask Any Web Designer
Six questions that separate a site you own and can grow from one you only rent. Here is what to listen for, and how we answer.
Six questions to ask before you sign.Read more +
Six questions that separate a site you own and can grow from one you only rent. Here is what to listen for, and how we answer.
YouWho will own the domain, hosting and site?
A typical agencyDon't worry, we look after all of that for you.
Red flagIf it is all in their name, leaving means starting again.
Elev8dYou do. The domain, hosting and site are in your name from day one.
YouIs it custom, or a template?
A typical agencyIt's a premium theme, fully customised.
Red flagOften a bought theme with your logo dropped in, and all its bloat.
Elev8dCustom. Planned from wireframes around how your customers buy.
YouHow fast will it be on a phone?
A typical agencySuper fast, don't worry!
Red flagNo number, or only a desktop score.
Elev8dWe build to 90+ on Google PageSpeed, on mobile and desktop.
YouCan I edit it myself?
A typical agencyJust email us any changes you need.
Red flagEvery change becomes a paid ticket and a wait.
Elev8dYes. An easy to use CMS, with training at handover.
YouWhat happens to my Google rankings at launch?
A typical agencyWe'll sort out redirects once it's live.
Red flagOld pages break, and rankings slip in the meantime.
Elev8dEvery page that ranks is mapped with a 301 redirect before launch.
YouWhat will it cost after launch?
A typical agencyHosting is included for the first year.
Red flagThen the renewal and support fees arrive.
Elev8dOngoing costs are set out before you sign: hosting, domain and any support.
Typical answers are illustrative
Quick check
Keep, Fix or Rebuild Your Website?
Five quick questions about your current site. Answer honestly and the dial gives you a first read on whether it needs a tune up, some fixes or a rebuild. Nothing you tap is sent anywhere.
Five taps to a first read on your site.Read more +
Five quick questions about your current site. Answer honestly and the dial gives you a first read on whether it needs a tune up, some fixes or a rebuild. Nothing you tap is sent anywhere.
Ask yourself
Question 1 of 5
Does your site load in about three seconds on a phone?
Slow pages lose visitors before they see anything.
Question 2 of 5
Is it easy to use on a phone, without pinching or zooming?
Most people will find you on their phone first.
Question 3 of 5
Can you change the words and photos yourself?
A site you can't update goes stale, and fast.
Question 4 of 5
Does it bring in enquiries most months?
A website's job is to turn visitors into customers.
Question 5 of 5
Does it still look and sound like your business today?
First impressions decide whether people stay to read.
Our quick read
Keep it, and tune it up
Your site has good bones. A few targeted fixes to speed, SEO or the path to an enquiry will likely do more than a rebuild.
Fix what is holding it back
Some of it works and some of it doesn't. A review will show which fixes pay off first, and whether a rebuild is worth it.
It is probably time to rebuild
Several basics are working against you. A new site built for speed and enquiries will likely cost less than patching this one.
A first read, not a verdict: the free review looks at the site itself.
What Is in Your Free Website Review
A real person reviews your site the way your customers use it. You get a plain answer on what is working, what is costing you enquiries and what to fix first, yours to keep whether you build with us or not.
Speed and Core Web Vitals
How quickly your pages load on a phone, and anything Google's Core Web Vitals flag.
Mobile experience
How the site looks and works on a phone: menus, buttons, forms and text size.
The path to an enquiry
Whether visitors can see what to do next, and how easy it is to call, book or send an enquiry.
SEO foundations
Page titles, headings, structure and indexing: the basics that decide whether Google can find and understand your pages.
Accessibility basics
Colour contrast, image descriptions, keyboard use and form labels, the common issues that shut people out.
Keep, fix or rebuild
An honest view on whether your site needs a rebuild, a refresh or just a few fixes, in order of impact.
Get a Free Website Review →
No obligation. You keep the review whether you build with us or not.
Review notes123456
Is This the Right Website Build for You?
We're not for everyone and that's the point. Here's an honest read on whether we're the right fit, so you can decide before you ever pick up the phone.
Good fit
You want a website built around enquiries, sales and trust.
You need proper structure, speed, SEO foundations and conversion thinking.
You want something custom to your business, not a generic template.
You see your website as a business asset, not just an online brochure.
Not the right fit
You only want the cheapest website possible.
You want a quick template with no strategy.
You do not care about SEO, speed or conversion.
You are not willing to clarify your offer, services and customer journey.
Sound like you?
Get a Website Quote →Prefer to text? 0494 740 873
Who we help
Web Design for the Industries We Know Best
Every industry sells differently. A tradie's customer wants a fast quote, a patient wants reassurance, a shopper wants zero friction. We design around those differences, not around a template.
Free tools
Free Tools for Planning Your Website
Planning a new site or a rebuild? Budget it, choose a platform, check it before launch and test its accessibility. Free, with no signup.
See all free tools →- Website Cost Estimator Build an itemised website estimate and saved scope brief, with separate operating budgets. Open the tool →
- Website Platform Comparison Compare five website platforms against what your business actually needs, before you commit to one. Open the tool →
- Website Launch Checklist Track essential launch checks, owners and evidence in separate projects on this device. Open the tool →
- Accessibility Quick Check A guided WCAG 2.2 AA self-review with prioritised fixes. Not a certification. Open the tool →
What a Website Actually Costs in Melbourne
"How much does a website cost?" is usually the first question, and most agencies dodge it. We won't. Here are honest ranges by project type. Every project is scoped individually after a discovery call.
Starter Website
$2,400 to $5,000
5 to 10 pages · typically 4 to 8 weeks
- Custom design, mobile first
- SEO built in
- Easy to edit CMS
Business Website
$5,000 to $12,000
10 to 20 pages, custom features · 4 to 8 weeks
- Everything in Starter
- Custom functionality
- Integrations and automations
- Conversion focused build
eCommerce Store
$8,000 to $20k+
Catalogue, payment, shipping · 4 to 8 weeks
- Shopify or custom build
- Payment and shipping setup
- Optimised checkout flow
- Product and catalogue structure
Landing Page
$800 to $2,000
One high converting page · about 1 week
- Built for one offer
- Fast load for paid traffic
- Pairs with Google Ads
Choose an option to explore what is included.
Prices are in Australian dollars and exclude GST. Ongoing costs like hosting, your domain name and maintenance are separate.
Ready to Build Something That Actually Works?
Every project is scoped individually, so the quickest way to a real number is a short conversation about what you need. Want the full breakdown first? Read our guide on how much a website costs in Melbourne.
After launch
After Launch: Hosting, Care and Support
Launch day is the start, not the end. Here is what keeps a site fast, safe and working, and your choice of who looks after it.
Launch day is the start, not the end.Read more +
Launch day is the start, not the end. Here is what keeps a site fast, safe and working, and your choice of who looks after it.
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Online
Hosting
Fast, reliable hosting in your name, set up and tuned for speed.
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Up to date
Updates and security
Software, plugin and security updates, tested before they go live.
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Backed up
Backups
Regular backups you can restore from if anything goes wrong.
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90+
Speed checks
Page speed and Core Web Vitals kept in the green as the site grows.
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On hand
Changes and support
Help and changes from the people who built it.
Take a care plan
We look after all of it for you, with no lock-in.
Or look after it yourself
Everything is in your name, and you have the training and notes from handover.
Ongoing costs like hosting, your domain and any care plan are separate from the build price, and set out before you sign. What to budget for after launch →
Want us to take care of it after launch?
Ask About Care PlansPrefer to text? 0494 740 873
Tools of the trade
Technologies We Work With
We choose the right technology for your project, not the one we're most comfortable with. Here's the toolkit we build on, grouped by what it does.
Platforms and CMS
- WordPress
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- BigCommerce
Frameworks, languages and design
- Laravel
- React
- Next.js
- Tailwind
- PHP
- JavaScript
- HTML/CSS
- Figma
We would build it onWordPress
Right for most business sites: easy to update, built without page builder bloat.
We would build it onShopify
For online stores that need dependable payments, shipping and stock. WooCommerce or BigCommerce when they suit you better.
We would build it onA custom build
React and Next.js for fast, app like sites; Laravel when you need a solid back end, your own data and integrations.
Common questions
Web Design Questions, Answered
Straight answers to the things business owners ask before commissioning a website.
Ask us directlyIt depends on scope. A small business website typically runs $2,400 to $5,000, a larger business site with custom features $5,000 to $12,000 and eCommerce stores $8,000 to $20,000+. A single landing page starts around $800. Every project is scoped individually after a discovery call, no hidden costs, no surprises. Before you set a budget, read about the hidden website costs most businesses do not see coming.
No. Our prices are in Australian dollars and exclude GST. Ongoing costs like hosting, your domain name and maintenance are separate from the build price. Our free website cost estimator shows the GST and the total including GST.
Most projects take 4 to 8 weeks from kickoff to launch, and many are live in 4 to 6. A larger custom build or eCommerce store sits toward the longer end. The biggest variable is usually how quickly content and feedback come back from your side. We'll give you a clear timeline before we start. For the full picture, read our web design in Melbourne guide.
Completely. You own the site, the code and the hosting, no proprietary platform, no lock-in. If you ever want to move it elsewhere or bring it in-house, you can. We think holding clients' sites hostage is a red flag and we refuse to do it.
Yes, SEO is built into how we build, not bolted on afterwards. Clean structure, fast load times and proper markup mean your site is ready to rank from day one. If you want to go further, our Melbourne SEO team can take it from there.
It depends on what the site needs to do. WordPress suits most business sites where you want to edit pages yourself. Shopify suits online stores that need dependable payments, shipping and stock. A custom build makes sense when you need features or integrations a CMS can't handle cleanly. We'll recommend one after the discovery call, and our free website platform comparison and our WordPress, Webflow, Shopify and custom guide set out the trade-offs.
Yes, redesigns are a big part of what we do. We rebuild dated or underperforming sites into something fast, modern and conversion focused, and we do it carefully so you don't lose the search rankings you've already earned. We'll audit your current site and tell you honestly what's worth keeping. Not sure you need one? These are the signs your website needs a redesign. And if the site is sound but brings in few enquiries, conversion rate optimisation may do more for you than a rebuild.
Not if it's done carefully. Before launch we map every old page to its new address with 301 redirects, and after go-live we check that Google is finding the new pages, so the rankings your old pages earned can carry across.
Absolutely. We build on easy to edit content management systems and train you on how to use yours at handover, with documentation to refer back to. Most clients manage day to day edits themselves and call us for the bigger changes.
You do. A domain name should always be registered in your business's name, not your web developer's, so it stays yours whoever builds or hosts your site. If you're not sure who holds yours, it's worth checking before a rebuild.
Accessibility basics are part of every build: readable colour contrast, image descriptions, keyboard navigation and labelled forms, so more people can use your site. If you need to meet a particular standard, tell us at the start so it's part of the scope. You can test your current site with our free accessibility quick check, and our guide to website accessibility in Australia explains the rules.
To begin, just a conversation about your business and goals. As we go we'll need your content, brand assets and feedback at key milestones, but if you don't have polished content yet, we can help with copy and design direction. We'll guide you through exactly what's needed and when.
Yes, if you want it. Some clients take an ongoing support and maintenance plan for updates, backups and peace of mind; others prefer to manage things themselves after handover. There's no obligation either way, we'll never lock you into a retainer you don't need. Our guide to website maintenance costs explains what to budget for after launch.
Web design in plain English
Website Terms You Will Hear, Explained
Building a website comes with its own jargon. Here is what the common terms mean, and where each one lives on a real page.
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- 301 redirect
- A permanent forward from an old page address to its new one. In a redesign it keeps the rankings and links the old pages earned.
- 404 page
- The page people see when an address no longer exists. A helpful one points them back to what they were looking for.
- A/B test
- Showing two versions of a page to different visitors to see which one brings in more enquiries.
- Above the fold
- What people see before they scroll. It should say what you do, who it is for and what to do next.
- Accessibility
- Building a site everyone can use, including people who rely on screen readers, keyboards or larger text. WCAG is the usual standard to build to.
- Alt text
- A short written description of an image. Screen readers read it aloud, and search engines use it to understand the picture.
- Analytics
- Tools like Google Analytics that show how many people visit, where they come from and what they do on your site.
- Backlink
- A link to your site from another website. Links from relevant, trusted sites help your Google rankings.
- Backup
- A saved copy of your site you can restore if something breaks, gets deleted or gets hacked.
- Bounce rate
- The share of visitors who leave after one page without doing anything. A high rate on a key page usually means something is off.
- Brand guidelines
- The rules for using your logo, colours, fonts and tone, so everything you publish looks and sounds like you.
- Breadcrumbs
- The trail near the top of a page, like Home / Services / Web design, that shows where you are and how to get back.
- Caching
- Storing ready made copies of pages and files so they load faster on the next visit.
- Call to action
- The button or link that asks for the next step, like Get a quote or Book now. Each page should have one main action.
- CDN
- Content delivery network: copies of your site's files kept on servers around the world, so pages load quickly wherever visitors are.
- CMS
- Content management system: the admin area where you edit pages, posts and images yourself without touching code. WordPress is the best known.
- Colour contrast
- How clearly text stands out from its background. Low contrast is hard to read, especially on a phone outdoors.
- Conversion rate
- The share of visitors who do what you want, such as sending an enquiry. A clearer site can lift it without any extra traffic.
- Conversion tracking
- Recording enquiries, calls and sales as goals in your analytics, so you can see what the site actually brings in.
- Cookie notice
- The message about the small files a site stores in your browser. Whether you need one depends on the tracking your site uses.
- Core Web Vitals
- Google's measures of how a page feels to use: how quickly the main content appears, how fast it responds and whether it jumps around while loading.
- CSS
- The code that controls how a page looks: its colours, fonts, spacing and layout.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
- How much a page jumps around while it loads. Under 0.1 is good, and nobody taps the wrong button by accident.
- Custom design
- A site designed for your business from the ground up, rather than a template with your logo added.
- DNS
- The internet's address book. It points your domain name to the server your site is on, and your email to your email provider.
- Domain name
- Your website's address, like yourbusiness.com.au. You renew it regularly, and it should be registered in your business's name, not your developer's.
- Domain registrar
- The company you register and renew your domain name with. The account should be in your business's name.
- Favicon
- The small icon in the browser tab and in bookmarks.
- Google Business Profile
- Your listing on Google Search and Maps. Your website and profile should show the same name, address and phone number.
- Google Search Console
- Google's free tool that shows which searches find your site and flags any problems Google has reading your pages.
- Hamburger menu
- The three line icon that opens the menu on a phone.
- Heading tags
- The H1, H2 and H3 headings that give a page its structure. They help readers scan and help Google understand each part.
- Heatmap
- A picture of where visitors click, tap and scroll, showing what gets attention and what gets ignored.
- Hero section
- The first block of a page, usually a headline, a short line about what you do and a button.
- Hosting
- The server your website runs on. Good hosting keeps a site fast and online; cheap, crowded hosting is a common reason a site feels slow.
- HTML
- The code that structures a page: its headings, paragraphs, images and links.
- Image compression
- Making image files smaller without a visible loss in quality. One of the easiest ways to speed up a page.
- Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
- How quickly a page responds when someone taps or clicks. Under 200 milliseconds is good.
- Internal link
- A link from one page on your site to another. It helps visitors and Google find your important pages.
- Keyword
- A word or phrase people type into Google. Good pages are written around the ones your customers actually use.
- Landing page
- A page built for one purpose, often for an ad or a campaign, with one clear thing to do next.
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
- How long the biggest thing on the first screen, often the main image or headline, takes to appear. Under 2.5 seconds is good.
- Lazy loading
- Loading images further down a page only as visitors scroll towards them, so the first screen appears sooner.
- Meta description
- The short summary under your page title in Google's results. It doesn't set rankings, but it does win clicks.
- Migration
- Moving a site to a new design, platform or host while keeping its content, links and rankings.
- Minified code
- Code with the spaces and comments stripped out so it downloads faster. Visitors never see the difference.
- Mobile first
- Designing for phones first and then adapting for bigger screens, because most visitors arrive on a phone.
- Navigation
- The menu that gets visitors to the page they want. Clear, plain labels work better than clever ones.
- Open Graph image
- The picture and text shown when someone shares your page on social media or in a message.
- Page builder
- A drag and drop tool for building pages. Quick to start with, but often heavy and slow to load.
- PageSpeed Insights
- Google's free tool that scores how fast a page loads on mobile and desktop, out of 100.
- Plugin
- An add-on that gives a WordPress site a new feature. Useful, but each one needs updates, and too many slow a site down.
- Privacy policy
- The page explaining what personal information your site collects and what you do with it. Most sites that take enquiries should have one.
- Responsive design
- A layout that adapts to the screen it is on, so one site works on a phone, a tablet and a desktop.
- Schema markup
- Code that tells search engines exactly what is on a page, like your business details, prices or questions and answers.
- SEO
- Search engine optimisation: making pages Google can find, understand and trust, so they show up for the searches your customers make.
- Shopify
- A platform for online stores that looks after payments, shipping and stock.
- Sitemap
- A file listing your site's pages so search engines can find them all. You submit it through Google Search Console.
- SSL certificate
- What puts the padlock and https in the address bar. It encrypts what visitors send you, and browsers warn people away from sites without one.
- Staging site
- A private copy of your site for building and testing changes before they go live.
- Sticky header
- A menu bar that stays at the top as you scroll, keeping the navigation and main button within reach.
- Template
- A ready made design that many sites share. Cheaper to start with, but harder to make your own and often slower.
- Thank you page
- The page people see after sending a form. It confirms they are done and lets you count enquiries.
- Typography
- How text is set: the fonts, sizes and spacing. Good typography makes a page easier to read and to trust.
- UI
- User interface: the parts of a site people see and use, like buttons, menus and forms.
- Uptime
- How much of the time a site is online. Good hosting keeps it close to 100%.
- URL
- The full address of a page, like yourbusiness.com.au/services.
- UX
- User experience: how easy and pleasant a site is to use, from finding what you need to getting in touch.
- WCAG
- The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the international standard for sites everyone can use. Level AA is the usual target.
- White space
- The empty space around text and images. It makes a page easier to read and draws the eye to what matters.
- Wireframe
- A simple black and white plan of a page, used to agree what goes where before any design or code.
- WordPress
- The most widely used CMS. Flexible and easy to edit when it is built properly, without piles of plugins.
No term matches that yet. Ask us and we will explain it.
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