Web Development

Websites built so you can actually run them.

We build new sites, modernize existing ones, and manage everything in between. From Astro to WordPress, Shopify to Wix, we develop sites that deliver for you and your business.

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A representation of code being transformed into a website

Philosophy

We deliver sites our clients can comfortably manage

The single most useful thing we can hand over is control.

Our development philosophy is simple: it is never in a client’s interest to own a website they cannot manage or update themselves. Many of our clients prefer that we handle ongoing maintenance and content changes, and we are happy to do so. But building needlessly complex systems that force a permanent dependency on one developer is a disservice.

Every site we build comes with your own administrative access, on a platform you could hand to another developer tomorrow. We can deliver sites that a team member of any technical ability can confidently update, with the training to go with them.

New builds

Platforms we build on

A variety of options, chosen based on project requirements and client needs.

WordPress

WordPress powers a large share of the web and is the foundation for most of our projects. It is open source, which means you own your data and can host it almost anywhere. Paired with a modern builder such as Bricks or Elementor, we can move quickly and still hand over something intuitive to manage. Unlike proprietary platforms, moving a WordPress site elsewhere does not mean starting over.

Static and modern frameworks

For sites that do not need frequent updates — marketing sites, documentation, landing pages — a statically generated site is faster, cheaper to host and extremely secure. The Potomac Technologies site is built on Astro, a static site generation framework. The downside is that static sites are not as easy to update, although they can be paired with a Content Management System (CMS) if this is a need. We can develop and host static sites at low cost - if you're looking for a fast, basic site for your business, a static site may be a great approach.

Shopify and e-commerce

Shopify is many times the right answer when selling is the exclusive purpose of the site. We also work with WooCommerce and BigCommerce, and for simpler needs we can wire up Stripe or PayPal directly rather than taking on a full storefront. Which one fits depends on your transaction volume, inventory and growth plans, and we are happy to talk it through before you commit.

Squarespace, Wix, Stripe and other platforms

We build on and support these too. If you already have a Squarespace site that is working well, we would rather improve it than sell you a migration you do not need. Ultimately, one of the largest considerations is what platform you are most comfortable with - we can discuss the pros and cons of each and find the best fit.

Existing sites

Updates, rebuilds, and ongoing changes

Many of the sites we are handed have not been touched in years.

Plenty of organizations are running a website that was built once and then left alone. That usually means known security vulnerabilities, an unsupported PHP version, and pages that load slowly enough to cost real traffic.

We start with an audit: what is installed, what is out of date, what is actually exposed, and how the site performs. Then we give you a recommendation with numbers attached. Sometimes a strategic rebuild is genuinely the cheaper path; sometimes a few hours of updates is all it takes. We review the configuration first and tell you which, rather than assuming.

For WordPress that just need ongoing attention, a WordPress Care Plan handles updates, security monitoring and backups for a fixed monthly fee.

Consulting

Platform selection and integrations

Advice you can act on even if we do not do the work.

Clients often bring us in to work out how to make an idea real, and how to balance affordability, functionality and ease of use when choosing a platform.

A frequent need is connecting a website to a CRM or email marketing platform, or unifying data that currently lives in three separate systems — a calendar here, a contact list there, a signup form somewhere else. We can advise on the platforms and the architecture to tie them together, and we are equally happy to hand that plan to whoever implements it.

Email configuration and deliverability

Ensuring your mail gets to the inbox - not the spam folder.

A branded email address at your own domain complements the professional look of your new website. However, major mail providers have tightened their requirements for sending email significantly. Messages that used to arrive in the inbox now risk landing in spam if the right configurations aren't put in place.

We help clients pick the right email platform and handle the technical implementation of the authentication records that make delivery work: SPF, DKIM and DMARC. These also protect your domain from being spoofed by someone else. We can also advise on BIMI implementation if you want to differentiate your messages by having your logo appear alongside them in your inbox.

For our clients, we monitor these settings on an ongoing basis at no additional charge, so a misconfiguration gets caught before it turns into a week of undelivered invoices.

Training

Training and documentation

Setting you up for success with your new (or existing) site.

There is plenty of free training online, but none of it is about your site and your workflows. We can produce training specific to how you actually work: short instructional videos, written documentation, and live sessions over Zoom or Google Meet.

Sessions can be recorded and handed over, which turns them into a permanent reference library — useful when you need to refresh your memory on a specific step, or an employee moves on.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to use WordPress?

No. WordPress is what many of our clients end up on because it is flexible, portable and inexpensive to maintain, but we also build on a variety of static site frameworks, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Squarespace and Wix. If your needs point somewhere else, we will say so.

Will I be able to update the site myself?

That is the goal on every build. We think it is a disservice to construct something so complicated that you are permanently dependent on a developer. Plenty of clients still prefer that we make their changes, and that is fine — but it should be a choice, not a requirement.

Can you work from a design someone else created?

Yes. We are happy to implement a design from your agency, in-house designer or a freelancer you already like working with. We can also handle design ourselves, or recommend designers.

What does a website typically cost?

We bill at $105/hr for actual time worked, so the honest answer depends on scope. A basic project can be completed in a couple of hours, while more advanced sites may require twenty, thirty, or more hours of work. A straightforward brochure site for a small business is usually a fraction of what most agencies quote. We will give you an estimate before starting and tell you if the project is tracking over. Fixed-price quotes are available when the scope is well defined and changes are limited.

My site is several years old and nobody has touched it. Can you help?

Yes, and this is a common starting point. We audit what is there, check for known vulnerabilities and unsupported software, and then give you a straight recommendation: update in place, or rebuild. Sometimes rebuilding is genuinely cheaper than untangling. We can review the options and pros and cons of each.

Also available

Let's talk

There is no charge for an introductory conversation. Tell us what you are trying to do and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit — and roughly what it should cost.