The Small-Site Handbook

Modern websites, made by hand.

A guide to web development, social media management and creative design for small business, non-profits and individuals.

Guide overview See project examples
A tidy modern web design workspace with a laptop, notebook and coffee

Modern, hand-crafted websites and well-run social media are within reach of small businesses, non-profits and individuals — on budget, on time, and with no hidden costs.

Establishing an online presence should not require a computer science degree or an open-ended monthly bill. A good developer works directly with you to plan, build and maintain a site that fits your goals, and stays around to support it. Every project should be fully responsive and built to meet WCAG accessibility standards so that all of your visitors can use it.

What This Guide Covers

Web Development

Web development helps small business, non-profits and creatives establish and maintain their online presence. A good site is fully responsive, tuned for performance, and built to meet modern accessibility standards — without the surprise costs.

Web Development →

Digital Marketing

Keeping up with social media is hard when you have a business to run. Digital marketing involves managing posts and advertising while monitoring performance across the major platforms.

Digital Marketing →

Creative Design

Creative design gives your brand a unified, coherent presence — from menu boards to business cards, with graphics and small-batch printing planned around your budget.

Creative Design →

Planning a Project

Begin by reviewing the website, social-media and branding service pages, then compare their scope with the examples in the project gallery.

Principles Worth Insisting On

  • Transparency. Expect solid numbers and clear communication throughout the project, with no hidden costs.
  • Ownership. When the project is finished, you should own your files and content and be free to host them anywhere.
  • Craft. Look for a site built by hand using modern, well-supported tools — not spun up from a bloated template.
  • Relationships. Agree on what completion means and how issues will be addressed after launch.

Review the guide overview, see the project examples, or read the articles.