FAQ
Your questions, our answers
Welcome to our FAQ! Here we've put together the answers to the questions you most often ask us about website design, SEO optimization, digital marketing, and much more.
Whether you're curious about turnaround times, included services, or post-launch follow-up, this page is here to make your life easier. Browse the different categories for quick and clear information, and discover how our team can support you in all your digital projects!
General Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "responsive" site and why is it important?
A responsive site automatically adapts to different screen sizes (computer, tablet, smartphone), offering fluid, optimal navigation, whatever the medium used.
Find out more about the risks of a non-responsive site
Not having a responsive site can have significant consequences:
- Loss of 50% of potential traffic - given that more than half of all visitors consult a site from a mobile device.
- Bounce rate up to 70% higher - visitors quickly leave a site that isn't optimized for their device.
- Negative SEO impact - Google penalizes non-responsive sites, which can lower your ranking in search results.
- Conversion reduced by up to 30% - a site that doesn't display correctly can discourage visitors from taking key actions (purchase, contact).
How long does it take to see the results of an SEO strategy?
SEO results usually take between 3 and 6 months to materialize. We monitor your progress and adjust the strategy to maximize your visibility and ROI.Â
Due to all the regulations on data management, some data is no longer directly accessible without explicit consent. As a result, Google uses modeling techniques to fill in this missing data, which takes some time to achieve levels of accuracy and reliability.
Why choose an e-commerce site rather than a storefront?
An e-commerce site lets you sell online, offering your customers a complete experience. A showcase site is ideal for presenting your services, your company, your news or even your blog without the option of online purchasing.
What's the difference between SEO and SEA?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) improves your visibility organically, while SEA (Search Engine Advertising) involves paying to appear at the top of search results. A combination of the two is often recommended.
How can I track my website's performance?
We connect each site we develop to a Google Analytics account, enabling us to retrieve standard data from the dashboard. Depending on requirements, we implement Google Tag Manager tags to retrieve additional data, and Google Ads campaigns can be set up.Â
We also create customized dashboards via Google Looker Studio so you can analyze your site's performance and track your goals from one place, in real time.
What if I need updates or improvements after launch?
Our maintenance service provides the necessary technical updates and enhancements after launch, to ensure that your site continues to perform and evolve.
Find out more about maintenance issues here:
Building your dream site
Website creation services: choice of CMS, deadlines, budget
What types of sites do you develop?
The Smotly agency specializes in the creation of e-commerce websites. Our expertise also covers the creation and redesign of showcase and corporate sites, without an e-shop component.
Depending on projects, needs and objectives, we identify the most suitable CMS solutions: Shopify, BigCommerce, WordPress, Strapi, Webflow, ...
Do you use specific platforms (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)?
We use several solutions depending on projects, needs and objectives: Shopify, BigCommerce, WordPress, Strapi, Webflow...
CMS selection will depend primarily on the following factors: Type of project: e-commerce, blog, corporate site, portfolio, etc.
- Target audience: B2B, B2C, etc.
- Available technical skills: in-house team, external resources.
- Budget: Hosting, maintenance and development costs.
- Scalability: Ability to adapt to company growth.
What are the different CMS solutions available, and how do they compare in terms of features and benefits?
Detailed comparison :
- E-commerce: BigCommerce and Shopify are specialized for e-commerce, offering dedicated functionalities. Webflow also supports e-commerce, but with more limited options. WordPress becomes a powerful e-commerce CMS when combined with WooCommerce.
- Flexibility and customization: WordPress and Strapi stand out for their flexible customization, especially for custom projects. BigCommerce and Shopify are more rigid, but offer simplified configuration for e-commerce.
- Ease of use: Shopify and Webflow are ideal for non-technical users. Strapi, for developers, is better suited to projects requiring headless architecture.
By clearly identifying your needs and objectives, you can choose the CMS solution that's right for you. If you have specific requirements or a project in mind, don't hesitate to share them for more targeted recommendations and support from our teams.
Boost your visibility
SEO/SEA optimization: online visibility
What SEO services do you offer?
We've got plenty of SEO services to offer! All the sites we create are delivered SEO ready and friendly. In other words, they're designed and built to appeal to search engines while maintaining a maximum user experience. From code and metadata to resource optimization, every technical aspect is taken care of. We also offer site audits to see where you stand, identify areas for improvement and share an action plan: keyword optimization, resource enhancement, work on content....Â
We're here to make your site shine on search engines!
What SEA services do you offer?
We offer a range of SEA services to help you achieve your advertising goals and maximize your online visibility.
Read more
Depending on your needs and budget, we can guide you in the :Â
- Creation of advertising campaigns: We design google ads campaigns tailored to your needs.Â
- Keyword research: We perform in-depth keyword analysis to target the terms that will bring the most relevant traffic to your site.
- Bid management: We optimize your bids daily to maximize your return on investment, ensuring that you get the best possible placement while controlling your costs.
- Ad copy: Our copywriters create attractive, compelling ads that capture your audience's attention and encourage them to click.
- Performance tracking and analysis: We track the performance of your campaigns using advanced analysis tools. Every month, a progress review is organized to present you with the monthly performance report in order to evaluate results and adjust strategies.
- Ongoing optimization: We don't stop once the campaign has been launched! We make regular, data-driven adjustments to improve performance and achieve your objectives.
- Strategic advice: In addition to campaign management, we offer advice on best practices and market trends to maximize your impact.
How does SEA campaign tracking work?
Our Google experts, Google Ads & Data analyst, monitor the performance of your ads thanks to key indicators and KPIs identified and relevant to your objectives. Strategies are optimized on a daily basis to ensure your objectives are always met. We take care of everything to free your mind from managing these rather complex matters. We're like the GPS for your campaigns!
In addition to shared monthly reports, performance can be tracked from Google dashboards. We also create customized dashboards (Google looker studio) to centralize all SEA and SEO analyzed data and enable you to track your performance.
How long does it take from idea to deadline?
Processes and deadlines
What's your approach to launching a project?
At the heart of our methodology: communication and collaboration. Every project starts with a discussion about you: your business, your history, your experiences and your needs. Once we have a first idea of your expectations, we refine your needs together to define a functional and technical scope adapted to your time and budget constraints. As soon as the quotation and project have been validated, we launch the project, respecting the 3 main phases: design(UI/UX methodology right here), production, deployment.
How long does it take to create a site?
The time it takes to create a site really depends on what you want! In general, here's an idea of how long it can take:
- Showcase site: Between 2 and 5 months - again depending on site size, functional requirements and your ability to deliver content and elements quickly.
- E-commerce site: For a more complex e-commerce site, allow around 6 months or more. Identifying and implementing the functionalities and technicalities needed to sell online effectively requires considerable thought and rigor.
What collaboration tools do you use during the project?
After many years of experience and 100s of projects, we are convinced that communication is essential to the success of a project! We use collaboration tools such as Monday for project management, Slack for fast, fluid communication, and Google Drive to share documents and work together in real time. You'll be involved every step of the way, and have access to these tools to track project progress, ask questions and share feedback easily.
Let's talk budget without taboos
Pricing and payment: costs, payment options
How is the cost of a site calculated?
The cost of a site depends on several factors. To establish a budget, we take into account the complexity of the project, the functionality required, the custom design, and the development time. Once we've discussed your requirements, we'll provide you with a detailed quote that explains each element of the cost. Our quotation includes layout work, development and project management costs. We also include any additional costs for licenses to be purchased (direct) and options such as maintenance.
How much does a website cost?
THE ultimate question. The budget for a website depends on its technical and functional complexity. It varies considerably according to these elements, but prices generally start at around €10,000 for a showcase site.Â
Don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your project. At the end of this 1st discussion, we'll be able to give you an initial budget range.
What's the right budget for an e-commerce site?
For an e-commerce site, it's important to plan a budget that takes into account not only design and development, but also elements such as hosting, payment solutions and maintenance. In general, for a basic e-commerce site, consider a minimum budget of €20,000. Of course, this will depend on the specific functionalities you wish to integrate, such as inventory management, custom design or specific integrations.
Don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your project. At the end of this 1st discussion, we'll be able to give you an initial budget range.
Do you offer instalment options?
We offer instalment options to make your project more affordable! All payment terms are discussed at the time of contract signature, to make things as simple and flexible as possible for you. Our quotes are co-constructed to match your budget as closely as possible. We offer "drawer" options, and can divide the project into batches to move forward step by step according to the budget available and the feedback on your site.
Don't worry, we'll take care of everything!
Support and Maintenance
Do you offer post-launch maintenance services?
Yes, we offer maintenance services to ensure that your site remains up-to-date and efficient. Maintenance includes user support Monday to Friday during office hours, technical updates and security adjustments.
Read more
Depending on your preferences, there are a number of different ways of working. The most frequently used formula is maintenance in the form of a time credit (6-day, 14-day or longer formula). This maintenance includes the necessary technical updates and all elements reported by tickets and confirmed by Smotly. For each request, a ticket specifying the need and the degree of priority is opened. After review, we estimate the workload required and deduct the time available if confirmed.Â
For more details on our maintenance services, please contact us.
How do you manage updates and enhancements?
We apply regular software and security updates to avoid any risk. In the event of new features or enhancements, we coordinate with you to integrate them without disrupting the user experience or your business imperatives.
Can I customize maintenance services to suit my needs?
Absolutely, we offer flexible maintenance packages tailored to your specific needs. Don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirements and define the TMA support best suited to your needs and budget. Our time credit maintenance packages (per day or per hour) are fully customizable and can be adapted to a wide range of situations.
What happens if my site encounters a technical problem?
In the event of a problem, our technical support team is on hand to intervene quickly and get your site back online as quickly as possible. As soon as the alert or malfunction is identified, the incident is classified (blocking, critical, major). Depending on the degree of urgency, the incident is dealt with without delay (immediately), within 8 working hours or within 6 working hours.
Are content updates included?
Yes, on request.
Note that we build sites hand in hand to identify, right from the start of your project, content that is regularly updated, so that you can have control over it (as far as possible) without having to call on us. Whatever CMS you use, our teams create the necessary fields to give you autonomy in managing your content.
Do you offer site performance monitoring?
Each site is delivered with a go-live report detailing the site's performance at the date of go-live. Several elements are evaluated (content, metadata, structure, performance, exploration), highlighting key KPIs.Â
We then offer performance analysis services and site audits to help you improve your existing site in all areas: performance, security, user experience, design...
Working together, hand in hand
Collaboration and Communication
How does communication work during the project?
With us (and we can't stress this enough), communication is at the heart of every project! We use several collaborative tools:Â
- Slack for live communication - so we're all one team. Messages are shared instantly between your teams and our teams for maximum responsiveness. We also limit the number of emails we send out this way.
- Monday to follow each step or for maintenance issues. We build groups on each dashboard according to theme to give you real-time access to progress, so you can ask questions and follow each step. We also organize regular check-ups to review progress together, gather feedback and make sure everything is in line with your vision.
- Google Drive / Droppbox: depending on your preferences, we share storage spaces for project management elements (deliverables, reports, graphics, editorial content, training materials, etc.).Â
Of course, the great classics of e-mail and telephone are useful and used in every project.
Am I involved in the design stages?
Absolutely! For us, a successful project is one in which you are fully involved. We're one team. From the very first stages of design, we share our working materials (wireframes or mock-ups) with you in collaborative mode, so that you can give us feedback and make adjustments almost directly. The first workshops are co-creative, during which we build blocks, sections and graphic elements (depending on the project) hand in hand.Â
At every stage, we integrate your feedback to ensure that the final project is perfectly aligned with your expectations. You'll be our co-pilot every step of the way!
What tools do you use for project management and follow-up?
We use several tools to keep everyone on the same wavelength. For project management, we work with Monday to centralize all tasks, deadlines and updates. For documents and file sharing, we use Google Drive (or Dropbox) to facilitate real-time access. For quick discussions, we favor Slack for fluid and convenient instant messaging, but emails and phone calls are also used.
How often will we meet?
We like to keep in regular contact throughout the project. Depending on your preferences and the progress of the project, we offer bi-monthly, monthly or quarterly meetings to review progress, answer questions and make adjustments if necessary. Each session is an opportunity to check that we're on track, and to make adjustments if necessary.Â
We can also schedule meetings on request to discuss your changing needs and new requests.
Can I make changes or give my opinion along the way?
Of course you can! A project needs to be flexible to accommodate new ideas. If you have any suggestions or modifications along the way, we welcome them. Our process is designed to remain agile, incorporating your feedback at every stage, whether it's on design, functionality or content. Our collaborative tools facilitate this mode of operation. The design phase is particularly conducive to this kind of back-and-forth, and our team will be sure to ask you questions to challenge your proposals.
We're here for you!
Please do not hesitate to contact us via our contact page. We'll be delighted to help you find out more about our services.
