Web Design
Websites built for your next chapter.
We craft digital experiences with a focus on clean code, accessible layouts, and seamless user journeys. The result is a high-performing website that leaves a lasting impression from the very first click.
Fast, flawless, and primed for your next chapter.
Before you build a new website, there are a few key questions you need to answer: Who is your target audience? What do they need from you? And what does a successful visit actually look like?
Whether you need a standout portfolio, a platform to drive bookings, or a clean digital space to advertise your business, Golden Dog has you covered. Before we write a single line of code, we chat with you to nail down these answers - and then we build a digital experience tailored exactly to your goals.
What to expect
Here's what we deliver for you.
When we partner on a web project, we handle the heavy lifting from the first sketch to the final launch. Here is what is included under the hood of every Golden Dog website:
Custom design
Design tailored to your brand
Thoughtful user journeys and sharp visuals that bridge the gap between your goals and your customers' needs.
Responsive layouts
A website for all devices
Your website will look brilliant and function perfectly, whether your customers are browsing on a desktop or scrolling on their phones.
As involved as you like
Easy management
Whether you want to update the website yourself, or prefer to take a more hands-off approach, we make it work for you.
Foundational SEO
Built with SEO and accessibility in mind
Your site is built with technical SEO foundations to help you get found, and accessibility standards to ensure everyone feels welcome.
Here's a glimpse of the process.
Every great digital space needs a solid blueprint. Here is a look at how we take your project from a rough idea to a beautifully finished product.
We start with an onboarding call and questionnaire to get the vitals in place, like "who is the target audience?" and "what does a successful visit look like?".
Once we’ve laid the groundwork, we get to work crafting the visual direction. We'll share concepts and layouts with you, with a round of changes to make sure we're happy to proceed.
This is where we handle the heavy lifting. We take those approved designs and turn them into fast, clean, and responsive code behind the scenes. This also includes a round of changes at the end to make sure you are happy with how it looks.
We thoroughly test everything, hit the big green button to go live, and then show you exactly how to use your new setup.
The timelines for these steps will vary depending on factors such as how many pages need to be created, if it is built on a CMS, and how many custom plugins and details need to be coded together. Once some details have been hashed out, the timescales should become clearer. If this sounds like your cup of tea, or you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us!
Frequently Asked Questions
More information about the web design service
Here is some extra information about our web design service, clarifying things like web hosting options and what a CMS is.
Once the website is created, who actually owns it?
You own the website. Once the final invoice is paid, everything to do with the website is yours to do with, however you please. There are no sneaky licensing fees, and we don't hold your site hostage - it is your digital asset, through and through.
What is "web hosting" and a "domain name"?
"Web hosting" is where your website actually lives. Your website needs a reliable home where all its data is stored so that when someone clicks your link, the site actually loads. You pay a hosting provider to keep your website online, fast, and secure around the clock.
A "domain name" is your web address. It's a bit like a digital signpost that points to your website, and you typically renew it on a monthly or annual basis so people always know where to find your business online. You can buy multiple and direct them all to one website, or you can just buy the one.
Do I need to buy my own hosting and domain name(s)?
In short, yes, but don't worry - we’ll guide you through this. Every website needs a domain name and a host to be able to go live online, but they are not difficult to set up.
If you prefer to sort your own out, we can recommend some options that can work for you, and we'll help you get it all set up so everything is safely registered in your name. Many hosting providers include a free domain name on signup as part of a package (e.g. Hostinger). It is worth noting that, to be able to deploy the website files, we will need access to the hosting setup you choose - you can however remove the access after everything is live, should you wish.
We also offer hosting and domain names ourselves, which can be transferred or moved elsewhere at a later date if needed. We use Cloudflare to get domain names, guaranteeing the best price for domains (bundled services add on extra fees on renewals). We also have our own cloud server setup that can accommodate your website, which we maintain ourselves.
What is a CMS, and how do I know if I need one?
A CMS (Content Management System) is the behind-the-scenes dashboard that lets you edit your website without touching any code. If you plan on updating your site regularly (like adding new portfolio pieces, writing news articles, or tweaking your services), you should look at using a CMS.
We tend to build website using WordPress, which is an open-source CMS that powers over 40% of the internet currently. It’s the industry standard, meaning it is secure, flexible, and incredibly easy for you to use once we hand the site over.
We also have experience using Contentful, if a headless CMS is preferred (a CMS that is separate from the code of a website). If your project is a larger Web App or requires a modern "headless" architecture to push content across multiple platforms, we have the technical chops to set that up, too. We’ll chat through your goals during our discovery phase and recommend the perfect fit.
What happens if something breaks after the website goes live?
We don’t just launch your site and vanish. Every website we build comes with a support window (typically 30 days) where we'll monitor performance and fix any post-launch bugs free of charge.
After that, we offer simple monthly maintenance plans to keep your site updated, secure, and running fast, or you can just call us on an ad-hoc basis. Ad-hoc changes outside of a maintenance plan will incur hourly charges.
Do I need to provide anything for the website?
Usually, yes - no one knows your business better than you do! However, we don't expect you to have it all perfect on day one.
We’ll provide you with a clear content outline to show you exactly what we need. If writing isn’t your thing, we can also collaborate with professional copywriters to help shape your message.
Can I update the website myself, or will I need a developer for every change?
The answer to this question depends entirely on whether the website uses a CMS or not. One of the initial questions in the onboarding helps to figure out if you need a CMS or not, and if the website does use a CMS then you can change things like text, images and layout easily.
If your website isn't using a CMS however, then you will likely need a developer to make the changes. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though - using a CMS always opens up the chance of something being done incorrectly, so sometimes if a website doesn't need to be changed often it makes more sense to only make changes when required.
Regardless of whether you have a CMS or not though, we will be happy to help you and can guide you as to what will be required.
How long does a typical website project take?
Every project is a bit different depending on the complexity, but a standard custom brochure website usually takes between 4 to 8 weeks from our initial discovery call to the final launch. We'll give you a clear timeline and milestone dates before we start so you always know what to expect.
Let's work together.
Whether you have a project ready to kick off, a few questions to run by us, or just fancy a coffee and a chat about the latest Norwich City match — our inbox is always open.
Please visit our contact page for more details, or feel free to email us at [email protected]
