Black Anchor Frequently Asked Questions

No. Every potential client goes through a qualification process. We turn down projects that aren’t the right fit, whether that’s budget, timeline, industry, project goals, collaboration style, or overall readiness. We look for clients who value clear communication, are prepared to actively participate, and have well-defined objectives for their site. This isn’t arrogance. It’s how we protect the quality of work we deliver to clients who do make the cut.

Most bad experiences stem from one of three things: a lack of a clear contract, a lack of a defined scope, or a designer who disappeared after launch. At Black Anchor Design, every project starts with a signed agreement, a defined project calendar, and direct access to Bobby throughout. You’re not handed off to anyone. Ever.

It depends on the platform and the extent of the damage. We specialize in Duda, Wix, Drupal, and Magento — and we support Webflow and Shopify for audits and repairs. If your site is built on one of those platforms, we can assess what needs fixing and go from there.

WordPress is a different story. We don't work on WordPress — period. Not for repairs, not for updates, and especially not for sites with malware, security breaches, or damage from years of improper use. In those cases, a rebuild on a supported platform is almost always the faster and more cost-effective path anyway.

We'll tell you honestly which direction makes sense after reviewing what you have.

You don’t need it finished, but you need a plan for it. Content — copy, photos, logos, brand assets — is the most common reason projects stall. We’ll give you a content checklist at kickoff, along with a deadline for each item. If you need help with copywriting or photography referrals, we can point you in the right direction.

Copywriting is not included in standard web packages but can be added as a service. We can write strategy-driven, SEO-optimized copy for your pages. Rates are quoted per project based on page count and complexity. If you write your own copy, we’ll review and refine it to ensure it works as hard as the design.

We don't design logos. If you have an established brand identity, bring it and we build to your standards. We'll review your guidelines at kickoff and flag anything that may not translate well to web — color contrast, font licensing, responsive logo behavior — before we start building. If you don't have a logo yet, you'll need to have one completed before your project kicks off with us.

Access to your current domain and hosting credentials (if applicable), existing brand assets, any competitor sites you admire or want to distance yourself from, and your signed contract with retainer payment. The faster you get us what we need, the faster we move.

Post-launch changes are handled through a support agreement or billed at our standard hourly rate. Minor fixes within the scope of the original project are addressed during the included post-launch support window, which lasts 30 days from the launch date. Major additions or redesigns are scoped as new work.

Yes — and honestly, starting from scratch is sometimes easier than repairing a brand that’s been inconsistently applied for years. If you have no logo, no colors, and no defined voice, we start with brand strategy and build everything from there.

Absolutely. If you have an established brand identity you’re happy with, we build to your standards. We’ll review your guidelines at kickoff and flag anything that may not translate well to web — color contrast, font licensing, responsive logo behavior — before we start building.

Our projects start at $5,500. To reserve your spot on our calendar, a 10% non-refundable deposit is required upfront — that deposit is applied directly toward your first payment. If you decide not to move forward after booking, the deposit is forfeited.

Payment is structured in three stages: 60% due at contract signing, 25% at the design completion milestone, and the final 15% upon project delivery. No surprises, no moving targets.

If $5,500 isn't where your budget is right now, a private coaching session at $220 per hour is the right starting point. We'll help you understand exactly what you need, what to prioritize, and how to plan for a full project when you're ready. We'd rather give you a straight answer than fit you into a scope that won't serve you.

Most integrations are possible and are scoped during discovery. Common integrations include contact forms, email marketing platforms, booking systems, and Google Analytics. Third-party software with proprietary APIs may require additional development time and cost. We’ll identify what’s needed before the contract is signed.

No ethical agency guarantees specific rankings or revenue. We guarantee that every site we deliver is built to the current technical and strategic standards for SEO, performance, and conversion. Results depend on your market, your offer, and what you do after launch. We give you the best possible foundation — the rest is execution.

Black Anchor Design is a boutique operation led by one principal, Bobby. For the vast majority of projects, Bobby is your sole point of contact and directly handles all project communications and deliverables. On occasion, trusted specialist contractors may assist with tasks such as custom development or advanced SEO, but oversight and client communication remain with Bobby. In the unlikely event of an extended absence, all project files, credentials, and documentation are stored securely and accessible for client handoff. This is addressed in your contract.

Yes. If your project involves proprietary business information, competitive strategy, or sensitive data, we’re happy to execute a mutual NDA before the consultation.

Feedback is collected at defined checkpoints — not in a continuous open loop. Each phase has a review window where you submit consolidated feedback. Revision rounds are included in each phase, as outlined in your contract. Scattered feedback and last-minute directional changes outside of review windows are the fastest way to blow a timeline and budget.

Design is presented after a thorough discovery and strategy phase — so major misalignments are rare. If a direction isn’t landing, we course-correct at the designated review checkpoint. Design is collaborative, not a guessing game. The more clearly you communicate your vision upfront, the less friction there is mid-project.

Yes. We don’t send blind proposals. The consultation exists to ensure we understand your actual needs—not what you think you need—before putting numbers on paper. A proposal without a conversation is just a price sheet.

The initial 30-minute Zoom consultation is complimentary. If your project requires extended discovery, strategy sessions, or pre-contract research, those sessions are billed at $220 per hour. We’ll tell you upfront if a paid discovery phase is warranted.

On a case-by-case basis. We evaluate readiness, not just enthusiasm. If you have a validated concept, a clear audience, and the budget to invest properly, we’ll talk. If you’re still in the idea stage, a coaching session is the right first step.

You can, but it requires careful handling. AI content that isn’t reviewed, fact-checked, and aligned to your brand voice is a liability — both for your credibility and your SEO. We won’t build a site on raw AI-generated copy without a proper editorial review. If you want to use AI tools as part of your content workflow, we can show you how to do it right.

We evaluate conflicts of interest on a case-by-case basis and are transparent about it during the consultation. In most cases, vertical overlap doesn’t disqualify a project. If there’s a genuine conflict, we’ll tell you before we go any further.

Waiting too long and then rushing. They let a bad website sit for two or three years, then panic when a competitor outranks them, and want everything done in two weeks. The best results come from clients who plan ahead, have their content ready, and treat the project like the business investment it is — not a last-minute fix.