Website Design Services engineered with SEO from day one.
Whitewater builds custom business websites, with WordPress and Shopify options when a content management system or built-in commerce makes sense. Every site is designed for the search engines and built around the conversion paths that turn traffic into actual leads. Real SEO foundation, not a checklist bolted on after launch.
performance score
from kickoff to launch
across every breakpoint
to your business model
Three lanes every site has to win at the same time.
A site that looks good but loads slow is invisible. A fast site with no SEO foundation gets buried. A site with traffic but no conversion design generates nothing. Whitewater builds for all three from the first wireframe.
Performance
Page speed and Core Web Vitals are now ranking factors. Slow sites rank lower and convert worse.
- Image compression and lazy loading on every page
- CSS and JS optimized before launch, not after
- Server-side caching configured pre-launch
- Critical CSS inlined for first-paint speed
- CDN integration for static asset delivery
SEO foundation
Most agencies bolt SEO on after launch. Whitewater wires it in during the build so the site is indexable on day one.
- Keyword research per page before any design
- Schema markup for LocalBusiness, FAQ, Services
- Semantic HTML structure (proper H1/H2 hierarchy)
- XML sitemap and robots.txt configured
- Google Search Console and Analytics on launch day
Conversion design
Traffic is wasted if visitors do not act. Every page is structured around a specific conversion goal, not a portfolio screenshot.
- Clear visual hierarchy that guides toward the CTA
- Trust signals placed where decisions get made
- Lead capture forms optimized for completion
- Sticky CTAs on mobile so the button is always one tap away
- A/B-testable templates for ongoing optimization
What you actually pay for when you invest in design.
A $500 template-flip and a $5,000+ custom build can look similar from the outside. The difference shows up in load time, conversion rate, and how many leads the site actually generates over its life.
What $500 actually gets you.
- Pre-made template with stock copy and stock photos
- Locked into a SaaS platform you can't fully control
- Bloated CSS and JS slowing every page
- Generic page structure not aligned to search intent
- No keyword research, no on-page SEO setup
- Contact form that may or may not actually send
What a real build does for the same business.
- Custom design aligned to your brand and audience
- Platform picked for your business (custom, WordPress, or Shopify)
- Optimized assets and clean code for fast load
- Page structure mapped from keyword research
- LocalBusiness, FAQ, and Service schema implemented
- Lead capture engineered and tested before launch
What's inside every Whitewater website.
Three workstreams running in parallel through the build. Design and UX, development and performance, SEO foundation. Documented deliverables, no upsells halfway through.
Design & UX
- Custom design from the ground up
- Mobile-first responsive layouts
- Conversion-focused page hierarchy
- Brand system applied site-wide
- Typography pairing for readability
- Accessible color contrast ratios
- Custom iconography and image direction
- User journey mapping for primary pages
Development & Performance
- Hand-coded HTML, CSS, and JS (or platform-optimized)
- Image optimization and lazy loading
- Core Web Vitals optimization
- Compressed CSS and JS delivery
- Caching configured before launch
- SSL and HTTPS setup
- Cross-browser and cross-device testing
- 301 redirects from old URLs
SEO Foundation
- Keyword research per page
- On-page SEO (titles, descriptions, headings)
- Schema markup (LocalBusiness, FAQ, Services)
- XML sitemap and robots.txt
- Internal linking architecture
- Semantic HTML structure
- Search Console + Analytics setup
- Indexability audit before launch
One site, every screen size.
Every Whitewater build is designed mobile-first and tested across every breakpoint. The same site adapts cleanly from phone to tablet to desktop without losing layout or readability.
The build process, phase by phase.
Six documented phases, each with deliverables you sign off on before the next phase starts. No surprise scope creep, no week-five "we need another month."
Discovery
- Kickoff call
- Existing site audit
- Brand interview
- Goal alignment
Strategy & Wireframes
- Sitemap mapping
- Content map
- Page wireframes
- Keyword targeting
Design
- Homepage design
- Interior templates
- Mobile breakpoints
- Design review
Build
- Front-end development
- Content placement
- Form integrations
- Platform setup
SEO & QA
- Schema markup
- On-page SEO setup
- Cross-device testing
- Redirect mapping
Launch & Support
- DNS migration
- Monitoring setup
- Client training
- Post-launch tune
Two builds, same audit.
Same audit tool, same throttled mobile test, same Core Web Vitals thresholds. Here's what a typical template-flip site scores compared to a Whitewater build.
Work that earns its keep after launch.
Three industries, three different layout approaches. The structure of a law firm site is not the same as a contractor site, which is not the same as a B2B operation. Whitewater designs each build around the buyer's actual decision path.
Single-location law firm
Custom build with practice area pages, attorney bios, and case result content. Schema for LocalBusiness, Attorney, and FAQ. Trust-heavy hero with credentials prominent.
Local moving company
Statewide service area site with quote form on the hero, route mapping, and project gallery. Action-oriented layout designed for fast quote conversion on mobile.
Industrial B2B operation
Technical services site with capabilities grid, spec sheets, industries served, and integrated lead funnel. Data-driven hero with capability metrics overlay.
Three platforms, picked for what fits your business.
Most agencies hand every client the same platform regardless of fit. Whitewater scopes the platform to your business model: custom code for performance and control, WordPress for content-heavy sites, Shopify for product-based businesses.
- Hand-coded HTML, CSS, and JS for maximum speed
- No theme bloat, no plugin sprawl, no platform fees
- Highest Lighthouse scores possible (95+ typical)
- Full SEO control with zero CMS limitations
- You own everything: code, content, and hosting
- Headless CMS option for parts you want to self-edit
- Powers roughly 43% of all websites globally
- Massive plugin ecosystem for any business need
- Easy client editing through the admin dashboard
- Full SEO control with Yoast or Rank Math
- Hostable anywhere, fully exportable, no lock-in
- No monthly platform fees
- Checkout, payments, and inventory built in
- 99.99% uptime backed by Shopify infrastructure
- Tax and shipping calculations handled automatically
- App ecosystem for added functionality
- Mobile-optimized themes out of the box
- PCI compliance and security handled by Shopify
Three tiers, scoped to where your business is now.
Pricing reflects the scope and depth of the build. Every tier includes the SEO foundation, the conversion-focused page hierarchy, and the platform that fits. The difference is page count, design depth, and integration complexity.
- 5 to 7 page service business site
- Platform picked for fit (custom, WordPress, or Shopify)
- Mobile responsive across breakpoints
- Core SEO foundation (schema, sitemap, on-page)
- Basic lead capture form integration
- Google Analytics + Search Console setup
- Two rounds of revisions before launch
- 10 to 15 pages with custom design
- Full brand system applied site-wide
- Mobile-first responsive design
- Full SEO foundation (schema, internal linking, content optimization)
- Advanced lead capture and CRM integration
- Blog or news architecture for content marketing
- Three rounds of revisions before launch
- 30 days of post-launch support included
- 20+ pages or complex site structure
- Shopify e-commerce, membership, or LMS functionality
- Third-party integrations (CRM, ERP, booking systems)
- Custom development for unique functionality
- Advanced schema and technical SEO
- Dedicated senior analyst on the project
- Ongoing engagement post-launch
Will the site pay for itself?
If a Whitewater build generates enough leads to cover its own cost in a few months, the site has effectively paid for itself and runs on profit after that. Move the sliders to your numbers and see the payback time for each tier.
0.4 months
0.7 months
1.7 months
Four reasons clients pick us over the cheaper template-flippers.
There are plenty of agencies offering $500 template sites. There are also plenty of clients who hire one, regret it within six months, and call us to rebuild. Here is what is different about how we work.
SEO foundation built in from the start
Most sites bolt SEO on after launch. Whitewater wires it in during the build. Schema, semantic HTML, internal linking architecture, indexability, all configured before the site ever goes live.
You actually own your site
Custom and WordPress builds run on your hosting account with full admin access and exportable code. No platform holding your content hostage, no monthly fees just to keep the site online. Shopify clients get the same content ownership with the platform's commerce infrastructure included.
In-house team, never offshore
Every Whitewater project is built by our in-house team in Florida. No offshore freelancers, no project coordinators who do not know your business. You get a small, accountable group running the build from kickoff to launch.
Designed for the lead, not just the look
A pretty site with no conversion path is a portfolio screenshot. Whitewater builds are structured around specific conversion goals. Trust signals, lead capture, sticky CTAs, and the kind of page hierarchy that turns traffic into actual customers.
Frequently asked, straight answers.
How long does a typical website build take?
What's the difference between a $500 site and a $5,000 site?
Can you redesign my site without losing my SEO rankings?
Do you build e-commerce sites?
Will I actually own my site after the build?
Can I edit the site myself after launch?
What if I already have a website?
Do you provide ongoing maintenance and updates after launch?
Ready for a website that earns its keep?
Start with a free consultation. We'll review your current site (or your plans for a new one), talk through goals, timeline, and platform fit, and lay out exactly what a Whitewater build would look like for your business.