Websites Built to
Rank, Convert, and Grow.
Most web design agencies build beautiful sites that search engines can’t find and visitors don’t convert on. Firestarter builds websites where SEO is baked into the architecture from day one — so your site looks great and actually generates business.
A Website Is Only Valuable If People Can Find It
Design and SEO aren’t in conflict — but most agencies treat them separately. We build sites where every decision, from URL structure to heading hierarchy to image optimization, is made with both the user and the search engine in mind.
Architecture & URL Structure
We plan your site’s information architecture before a single page is built — logical URL hierarchies, proper internal linking, canonical structure, and page roles that support your target keyword strategy from the start.
Core Web Vitals & Page Speed
Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor. We build with performance in mind — optimized images, minimal render-blocking scripts, efficient CSS, and server-side caching — so your site scores well before any optimization work begins.
On-Page SEO Built In
Title tags, meta descriptions, heading hierarchy, schema markup, image alt text, and internal link structure — all configured at build time, not patched in afterward. Every page launches optimized.
Mobile-First Responsive Design
Over 60% of search traffic is mobile. We design mobile-first — meaning the mobile experience is designed first and the desktop expands from it, not the other way around. Google's mobile-first indexing rewards this approach.
Technical SEO Foundation
XML sitemaps, robots.txt, structured data, canonical tags, redirect architecture, and Google Search Console verification — all handled at launch so your site is indexed correctly from day one.
Conversion Architecture
Every page is designed with a primary conversion goal. Clear CTAs, trust signals, strategic form placement, and logical visitor flow — so the site doesn't just look good, it actively moves visitors toward becoming leads.The Right Platform for Your Business
We don't have a preferred platform — we match the tool to your business, your team's capabilities, and your long-term goals. Here's how we think about each one.
WordPress
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The world's most widely used CMS — flexible, scalable, and with the deepest SEO plugin ecosystem available. Best for businesses that want full control, custom functionality, and a site that can grow with them.
- Custom theme development or premium theme build
- Yoast / RankMath SEO configuration
- WooCommerce for e-commerce
- Performance optimization and caching setup
- Ongoing maintenance and updates
Webflow
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The designer's platform — pixel-perfect control without the technical complexity of WordPress. Webflow produces exceptionally fast, clean code with built-in hosting, a visual CMS, and strong SEO defaults out of the box.
- Custom Webflow design and development
- CMS collections for blog, team, and portfolio
- Built-in SEO fields and clean semantic HTML
- Webflow hosting and CDN setup
- Client editor training and handoff
Wix
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When simplicity and speed to market are the priority. Wix is ideal for small businesses that need a professional, manageable website without the overhead of a WordPress build — and modern Wix is far more SEO-capable than its reputation suggests.
- Custom Wix design and template build
- SEO Wiz and manual meta optimization
- Wix Stores for e-commerce
- Blog and booking app integration
- Owner training for self-management
Web Design Done Right vs. The Alternatives
Most businesses choose between a cheap freelancer, a generic agency, or a DIY template. Here’s how Firestarter is different.
| What Matters | Generic Agency / Freelancer | Firestarter |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Architecture | Bolted on after launch | Built in from day one |
| Platform Recommendation | Whatever they know best | Matched to your business |
| Conversion Strategy | Design-driven, not conversion-focused | Every page has a conversion goal |
| Page Speed & Core Web Vitals | Rarely a build-time priority | Performance-first development |
| Ongoing SEO Integration | Separate teams, no coordination | Design & SEO under one roof |
| Post-Launch Support | Handoff and disappear | Ongoing maintenance available |
| Content Strategy | Lorem ipsum until you provide copy | SEO-informed copy and content structure |
Everything in a Firestarter Web Design Engagement
Every project includes the full scope needed to launch a site that performs — not just looks good.
- Discovery, sitemap, and information architecture planning
- Keyword research to inform page structure and copy
- Custom design — desktop and mobile wireframes before build
- Full responsive development across all devices
- On-page SEO: title tags, meta descriptions, headings, alt text
- Schema markup (LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ)
- XML sitemap, robots.txt, and Search Console setup
- Google Analytics 4 and Tag Manager installation
- Page speed optimization and Core Web Vitals review
- Form setup and conversion tracking configuration
- Cross-browser and device QA testing before launch
- Client training and post-launch documentation
From Discovery to Launch
Every project follows a structured process that eliminates surprises, keeps timelines on track, and ensures the finished site performs from day one.
Discovery & Strategy
We audit your current site, research your target keywords, map your competitors, and define the site architecture — page roles, URL structure, and conversion goals — before any design work begins.
Design & Wireframe
Desktop and mobile wireframes for every key page, reviewed and approved before development starts. Visual design follows wireframe approval — so the layout and conversion architecture are locked before aesthetics are applied.
Development & SEO Build
Full development with on-page SEO, schema, tracking, and performance optimization built in throughout — not added at the end. Staging environment review before any content goes live.
QA, Launch & Handoff
Cross-browser testing, mobile QA, speed audit, Search Console verification, and analytics confirmation — all before launch. Post-launch documentation and training so you can manage your site with confidence.
Common Web Design Questions Answered
For a standard business website (5–10 pages), we typically deliver in 4–6 weeks from signed agreement to launch. Larger sites or e-commerce projects run 8–12 weeks. The biggest variable is content — projects where content is provided promptly move significantly faster than those waiting on copy or images. We send a content checklist at project kickoff so nothing stalls the build.
We assess four things: your technical comfort level for ongoing management, your budget, your functional requirements (e-commerce, booking, membership, etc.), and your long-term growth plans. WordPress is best for businesses that want maximum flexibility and plan to invest in SEO. Webflow is ideal when design quality is a priority and you want clean, fast code. Wix suits smaller businesses that need simplicity and want to manage updates themselves.
Yes — and preserving existing rankings is a core part of every redesign project. We audit your current site’s ranking pages before touching anything, implement a redirect map for any URL changes, carry forward all existing on-page SEO signals, and monitor Search Console closely post-launch for any unexpected drops. Redesigns done without this process are one of the most common causes of ranking losses.
Yes — we offer monthly maintenance plans that cover plugin/theme updates, security monitoring, uptime monitoring, backups, and a set number of monthly edit hours. Many of our web design clients also run ongoing SEO campaigns with us, so the site and search strategy stay aligned over time.
We can — copywriting is available as an add-on to any web design project. Our copy is written with SEO in mind from the first draft: keyword-informed, structured for heading hierarchy, and designed to convert. For clients providing their own copy, we provide detailed content briefs for each page that specify keyword targets, heading structure, and recommended word count.
Your Website Should Be
Working Harder Than It Is.
Get a free website review — we’ll audit your current site for SEO issues, conversion problems, and technical gaps, and show you exactly what a properly built site would look like for your business.