Website design in South Africa
Get a website that shows people what you do, works on any screen and gives them a clear way to get in touch. We design and build websites for small businesses, government departments and organisations, planned around the text and images you have. Tell us what you need and we will quote it from your brief.
Situations we can help with
Which of these sounds like you?
You need a website
You are starting out, or the business has outgrown what it has. Send us a short brief and the text, logo and images you already have, and we design and build the site around them. If you don't have any content yet, tell us.
Your current site no longer works for you
It looks wrong on a phone, is slow, or no longer does what the business needs. Send your brief along with your existing site and we quote from both. For a full overhaul, see website redesign.
Your site has to do something specific
Forms, bookings, payments or a member area. We build the functionality your site needs. WordPress suits membership sites and shops: see WordPress development and ecommerce website development.
You want the domain and hosting looked after
If you want us to look after your domain and hosting, we do. If you would rather use your own providers, you can. Either way, you own your domain and your content.
What the work covers
Every project is quoted from your brief. These are the tasks in a typical quote, grouped by what they do for you.
A site built from your brief
We design and build the site from your brief, with your text and images placed on the pages.
A layout that fits every screen
The layout adapts to any screen, tested in Chrome first and then in other browsers and on other devices. More under responsive design.
The features you need
The functionality your site needs, such as forms, bookings, payments or member areas.
Google set-up and basic SEO
Google Analytics and Search Console set up, plus basic on-page SEO and speed work when needed or requested. We do not offer monthly SEO.
Domain and hosting
Domain and hosting, if you want us to look after them. More under domain, hosting and ownership.
How we quote
We have no fixed packages. Every project is quoted from your brief and itemised by task, so you can see what the work is made of before you approve it. The quote may show the hours involved.
To quote, we ask for:
- a short brief of what you want;
- your existing site, if you have one;
- whether you already have a domain and hosting;
- the text, logo and images you have.
Clients should prepare their own text and images. We build with your content; if you don't have any, tell us. For an existing site we ask for cPanel access first, and logins or FTP details are the minimum.
You pay a deposit before work starts and the balance at handover. Revisions are usually allowed for in the quote, and work outside the original scope is quoted separately when it comes up. Bugs in functionality that should have worked are covered.
How a project works
From your first conversation to handover, the project is handled remotely, and you review a draft before anything is final.
- Brief. You get in touch and we reply by email, asking for the things listed under how we quote.
- Quote. We send an itemised quote. When you approve it, you pay the deposit and we start.
- Draft. We build a draft on a private address for you to review. You send feedback and we revise it.
- Approval. You approve the draft and we do the final set-up: analytics, Search Console and basic on-page SEO.
- Handover. You pay the balance and we hand over the logins.
We keep you informed at every step. The biggest delay is usually waiting for feedback or content, so quick feedback and ready content keep the project moving.
WordPress or static HTML
Which one fits depends on the functionality your site needs, and the simpler option is sometimes the right one.
Static HTML
A standard option for us. It suits a static portfolio site: pages that present your work without needing memberships or a shop.
WordPress
Suits membership sites and shops, where the site has to do more than show pages.
We mostly work in WordPress, WooCommerce, PHP, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Other platforms are possible on request. Tell us what your site needs to do and we will quote the approach that fits. For custom features and plugins, see WordPress development; for selling online, see ecommerce website development.
Responsive design
Your visitors get a site that fits the screen they are using. A responsive site adapts to the screen it is viewed on, and we test in Chrome first, then in other browsers and on other devices. The fixes we make most often are to layout, text wrapping, image dimensions, font sizes, and padding and margins on mobile.
Domain, hosting and who owns what
You own your domain and your content. You can use your own providers or ask us to host your site and domain, and if you later move to another provider, we handle the move.
Useful answers
Who supplies the text and images?
Clients should prepare their own text and images, and we build the site with your content. If you don't have any, tell us when you send your brief.
Can clients review the site before paying the balance?
Yes. We build a draft on a private address for you to review, you send feedback and we revise it. You pay a deposit before work starts and the balance at handover, when we hand over the logins.
Who owns the domain and the content?
You do. You can use your own providers or ask us to host your site and domain, and if you later move to another provider, we handle the move.
What happens if changes are needed, or something does not work?
Revisions are usually allowed for in the quote, and work outside the original scope is quoted separately when it comes up. Bugs in functionality that should have worked are covered.
Do you offer monthly SEO?
No. We set up Google Analytics and Search Console and do basic on-page SEO and speed work when needed or requested, but we do not offer monthly SEO.
Tell us about your website
Send a short brief: what you want, your existing site if you have one, whether you already have a domain and hosting, and the text, logo and images you have. We reply by email and take it from there.
Other services
Already have a website? See website redesign. Selling online? See ecommerce website development. Need custom features or plugins? See WordPress development. After launch, see website maintenance. Need a logo or brand identity for the site? See logo design, brand identity design and graphic design. Or browse all our services, or read about Bro Media.
Have a project in mind?
A new website, a shop, a design refresh or a feature your site is missing: tell us a little about what you need and we will talk through the options.