Shissou Creative field notes

Practical guidance for better website decisions.

Straight answers about website cost, planning, design, local search, ownership, and choosing the right person to build it.

Browse the guides
Website planning library

Start with the question you are trying to answer.

Each guide is written to help a small-business owner make one decision more confidently—before, during, or after a website project.

01Plan the project

Scope, cost, and the right kind of build

Understand what affects a responsible quote and which questions clarify the work before it begins.

  1. Guide 014 min readSmall-Business Website Costs on Long Island

    A practical look at Long Island small-business website costs, what different project levels include, and the factors that shape a responsible quote.

    Read guide
  2. Guide 024 min readCustom Website vs Wix or Squarespace

    Compare custom-coded websites with Wix and Squarespace, including where each option fits, the tradeoffs, and when custom development makes sense.

    Read guide
  3. Guide 039 min readQuestions to Ask a Long Island Web Designer

    Fifteen practical questions about process, ownership, content, SEO, support, and cost to ask before hiring a Long Island web designer.

    Read guide
02Improve what exists

Know whether to repair, redesign, or maintain

Separate real website problems from cosmetic preferences and choose the next useful improvement.

  1. Guide 047 min readSigns Your Business Needs a New Website

    Seven practical signs that a business website is no longer doing its job, plus what to examine before planning a redesign.

    Read guide
  2. Guide 058 min readSmall-Business Website Redesign Checklist

    A practical website redesign checklist covering content, analytics, SEO, redirects, mobile usability, and launch planning for small businesses.

    Read guide
  3. Guide 065 min readHow Often to Update a Business Website

    Learn which website updates matter, how often to make them, and when a simple content dashboard can help a small business handle changes directly.

    Read guide
03Choose local direction

Evaluate the partner and the local foundation

Look beyond location claims to process, ownership, useful proof, mobile clarity, and search fundamentals.

  1. Guide 076 min readChoosing a Long Island Web Developer

    What to look for, what to compare, and which questions to ask before hiring a web developer for a small business on Long Island.

    Read guide
  2. Guide 084 min readWhat Every Long Island Business Website Needs

    Five essentials for a useful Long Island business website, from mobile clarity and local trust signals to speed, content, and a clear next step.

    Read guide
Cigna Roofing and Construction website homepageInside a real build
Case study5 min read

A 30-Page Roofing Website for Local Search

Inside the strategy behind Cigna Roofing’s 30+ page website, including service architecture, project proof, local relevance, and inquiry paths.

30+ pages9 service journeys1 connected search system
Cigna Roofing & ConstructionRead the build breakdown
A practical first conversation

Need advice for your specific website?

The articles cover common decisions. Your project starts with the business, customers, and constraints in front of us.

Discuss Your Website