Custom design, not a template
I design your site around your business, your photos and your services. It is not a template with your logo dropped in, so it does not look like the next plumber's site.
website design
Website design for South African businesses
A good business website does three things well. It shows people what you do, it makes it easy to call or message you, and it loads quickly on the phone in their hand. That is what I design and build.
Spark Website Studio is a new studio, run by me, Joshua Webb. I work online only, over WhatsApp and email, with businesses across South Africa. You never need to travel or sit in a meeting. You send me the basics, and I send you back something you can look at on your own phone.
What's included
Every website I build includes the same solid foundations, so you are not paying extra for things that should be standard.
Built for phones first
Most of your customers will find you on a phone, often with one hand and a weak signal. I design the small screen first, then scale up to laptops.
Fast loading
Pages are kept light: compressed photos, no heavy plugins and no slow page builders. A site that loads quickly keeps people from giving up and calling someone else.
Quote and contact forms
A short form lets people describe what they need, so you get useful enquiries instead of vague ones. Forms can include a photo upload where it helps.
A WhatsApp button
A large call button and WhatsApp button sit within reach on every screen. For most local businesses, this is where the work comes from.
Basic SEO setup
Clear page titles, descriptions, headings and a sitemap, so Google and Bing understand what you do and where. I do not promise rankings, because nobody honestly can.
A POPIA privacy notice
Your site comes with a privacy notice written for your business, and no tracking or advertising cookies unless you ask for them.
Room to grow
You can start with one page and add a gallery, a shop, bookings or a customer portal later, without starting again.
How it works
A free preview
Tell me about your business on WhatsApp or email. I build a preview of your new website and send you a link. You look at it on your phone and your computer. It costs you nothing.
A written quote
If you like where it is heading, I send a clear written quote that lists what is included and any running costs, such as your domain name. Nothing starts until you agree to it.
The build
I finish the design, add your real text and photos, and set up your forms and WhatsApp button. You see each step and ask for changes until you are happy.
Launch
I connect your own domain, switch the site on and check it on a few different phones. You pay once you are happy with the result.
Support
After launch you can ask for small changes on WhatsApp or email. Larger additions are quoted separately and in writing.
Who it suits
A custom website suits businesses that already do good work and want more of the right enquiries. That includes workshops, panelbeaters, electricians, plumbers, builders, solar installers, salons, restaurants and other local services.
It also suits you if you have a website that is slow, broken or was built years ago and never touched again. A rebuild is often quicker than patching it.
It is probably not the right fit if you want a huge online shop with thousands of products on day one, or a site you will build and manage entirely yourself. In those cases a different kind of project, or a website builder, may serve you better. I will say so honestly.
Where to go next
If you want to see how this looks in practice, the Work section on the home page has demo websites and apps. They are demos for made-up businesses, built to show what is possible. They are not client sites.
For a sense of what a site could cost before you talk to anyone, read the website cost guide. If your trade is covered, these pages go into more detail: panelbeaters and workshops, electricians, plumbers and builders and solar installers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a website take?
It depends on the number of pages and how quickly you send me your text and photos. A simple one-page site is quicker than a ten-page site with a quote form. I give you a realistic timeline in the written quote, so you know what to expect before you commit to anything.
What does a website cost?
Every business needs something different, so I quote in writing after a free chat. To see what South African businesses typically pay for different kinds of website, read the website cost guide.
Why should the domain be registered in my own name?
Your domain, such as yourbusiness.co.za, is your address on the internet. If it is registered in a designer's name, you cannot move it, renew it or switch designers without their permission. I register it in your name, or help you do it yourself, and you keep full control.
How do changes work later?
Before launch, we change the preview until you are happy. After launch, you can send small changes on WhatsApp or email, such as new opening hours, a new photo or a new service. How any later changes are charged is set out in the written quote, so there are no surprises.
next step
Start with a free preview and a written quote
You see a free preview before you pay anything, and you get a clear written quote before any work starts. Tell me what you need and I will reply on WhatsApp or email.