Question 1

How much does a website cost for a small business?

Accepted Answer

I offer three tiers, all custom-coded (no templates). The Starter ($2,500) gets you 3–5 pages, custom design, mobile + Core Web Vitals optimization, technical SEO foundation, and 14-day post-launch support. The Standard ($5,000) covers 5–10 pages with custom layouts, service area pages, full schema markup, lead capture optimization, and 30-day support including 1 month of Foundation SEO. The Full Build (starting at $10,000) is for businesses that need custom functionality like booking systems, multi-location architecture, content strategy, or CRM integration. Every site is built with Next.js and Tailwind CSS, which means it’s fast, secure, and built to rank.

Question 2

How long does it take to build a website?

Accepted Answer

Starter sites take 3–4 weeks. Standard builds run 4–5 weeks. Premium projects with custom functionality take 6–8 weeks. You’ll see progress throughout, not just a big reveal at the end. I share staging links so you can watch your site come together and give feedback in real time.

Question 3

Do I need a new website or can you fix my current one?

Accepted Answer

Depends on what you’re working with. Sometimes a few targeted fixes are all you need. Other times, rebuilding from scratch is actually cheaper and faster than patching a bad foundation. Start with the free audit. I’ll look at your current site and tell you honestly which path makes more sense for your situation and budget.

Question 4

Will my website work on phones?

Accepted Answer

Every site I build is mobile-first. That means I design for phones first and scale up to desktop, not the other way around. Over 60% of local searches happen on phones. If your site doesn’t work well on mobile, you’re losing more than half your potential customers before they even see what you offer.

Question 5

Do you use WordPress?

Accepted Answer

No. I build with Next.js, React, and Tailwind CSS. WordPress powers a lot of the internet, but it comes with baggage: plugin bloat, constant security patches, slow load times, and a target on its back for hackers. My stack loads faster (which Google rewards in rankings), requires no plugin updates, and is inherently more secure. You also won’t need to pay for a dozen premium plugins just to get basic functionality.

Question 6

How long does SEO take to work?

Accepted Answer

Expect 3–6 months for meaningful results. SEO compounds over time. Month one is mostly technical fixes and foundation work. By month three, you’ll start seeing movement in rankings. By month six, you should have measurable increases in organic traffic and leads. Anyone promising page-one rankings in 30 days is either lying or using tactics that’ll get your site penalized by Google.

Question 7

What’s the difference between SEO and paying for Google Ads?

Accepted Answer

SEO is organic. You earn your rankings through good content, technical optimization, and authority building. Google Ads (PPC) is paid. You pay every time someone clicks. The big difference: SEO compounds over time. The work you do in month one keeps paying off in month twelve. Ads stop the moment you stop paying. I focus on SEO because it builds lasting value. I don’t manage PPC campaigns.

Question 8

What is local SEO and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

When someone searches "plumber Norfolk VA" or "best restaurant Virginia Beach," local SEO determines who shows up. It’s a mix of Google Business Profile optimization, review management, local content, consistent business citations, and schema markup. For Hampton Roads service businesses, local SEO is usually the highest-ROI marketing you can do. Most of your competitors aren’t doing it well, which means there’s real opportunity.

Question 9

Do you guarantee first page rankings?

Accepted Answer

No. And you should run from anyone who does. Google’s algorithm uses hundreds of factors, and no one outside Google controls it. What I guarantee: transparent work, monthly reporting with real data you can verify, and a strategy built on 15+ years of experience. If something isn’t working, I’ll be the first to tell you and adjust the approach. I’d rather be honest than overpromise.

Question 10

What about AI search like ChatGPT?

Accepted Answer

This is something I’m actively researching. I do original work in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), which is about making sure your business shows up in AI-generated answers, not just traditional search results. Most agencies haven’t started thinking about this yet. I build AI search readiness into every SEO strategy because the way people find businesses is changing fast, and I want my clients ahead of that curve.

Question 11

Do you require long-term contracts?

Accepted Answer

No. SEO retainers are month-to-month. Website projects are fixed-price with a clear scope. You stay because the results justify it, not because you’re locked into a 12-month agreement. I’ve seen too many businesses stuck paying agencies that stopped delivering months ago. That’s not how I operate.

Question 12

What’s included in your SEO retainer?

Accepted Answer

Three tiers. Foundation ($750/mo) covers monthly reporting, Google Business Profile management, basic on-page SEO, citation building, 1 blog post per month, and local rank tracking. Growth ($1,500/mo) adds content creation (4 blogs/mo), link building, service area pages, schema optimization, quarterly strategy call, and on-page CRO recommendations. Domination ($2,500/mo) is the full package: everything in Growth plus AI search optimization, deep competitor monitoring, technical audits, conversion rate optimization, monthly strategy calls, and a 24-hour priority response SLA. Most businesses start with Foundation or Growth and scale up as they see results.

Question 13

Are there any hidden fees?

Accepted Answer

No. Everything is spelled out in the proposal before you sign anything. If the scope changes mid-project, I’ll tell you exactly what it costs before I do the work. Third-party costs like hosting, domain registration, and premium tools are always disclosed upfront. You’ll never get a surprise invoice from me.

Question 14

How do you handle payments?

Accepted Answer

Website builds are typically 50% upfront and 50% at launch. SEO retainers are billed monthly. For larger projects, I’m open to discussing flexible arrangements if the project is a good fit. The upfront deposit covers my time and commitment to your project. The final payment happens when you’re happy with the result.

Question 15

Is it just you or is there a team?

Accepted Answer

Two of us. I (Nick) handle all the technical work: code, SEO, audits, strategy, and implementation. Ishan handles business operations, client relationships, and project coordination. No junior staff learning on your dime, no outsourcing to overseas contractors. When you hire Ravana, you get direct access to the person doing the work.

Question 16

What if I’ve been burned by an agency before?

Accepted Answer

You’re probably my ideal client. I built Ravana specifically for businesses that are skeptical of agencies, because I’ve seen from the inside how the big ones operate. Here’s how I earn your trust: free audit first so you see the quality before spending a dollar, no contracts so you can leave anytime, monthly reports with real numbers, and I’ll be the first to tell you if something isn’t working. I’d rather lose a client by being honest than keep one by hiding bad results.

Question 17

How often will I hear from you?

Accepted Answer

Monthly reports at minimum with every SEO retainer. But I’m also available by email and phone whenever you need me. You won’t be chasing me for updates or waiting a week for a reply. I work at a 950-person agency by day. I know what bad communication looks like, and I make sure Ravana is the opposite.

Question 18

Do you work with businesses outside Hampton Roads?

Accepted Answer

Selectively. My core focus is Hampton Roads because local SEO works best when you actually know the market. I live here, I understand the business landscape, and I can reference local landmarks and neighborhoods naturally. That said, if your project is a good fit and doesn’t depend on local expertise, I’m happy to talk.

Question 19

Will I own my website?

Accepted Answer

Yes. 100%. You own all the code, designs, content, and assets. I provide full source code access on day one. If you ever want to take your site to another developer, you can. You’re never locked in or held hostage by proprietary systems. That’s your site, period.

Question 20

What happens after my website launches?

Accepted Answer

I don’t disappear. I’m available for updates, fixes, and improvements after launch. If you want ongoing maintenance, I offer that. If you just need occasional help, that works too. No retainer required for basic support questions. I want your site to keep performing well long after we launch it.

Question 21

Can you help with Google Business Profile?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Google Business Profile optimization is included in all SEO retainers. It’s one of the most important ranking factors for local businesses, and most businesses have it set up wrong or barely filled out. I’ll optimize your categories, services, posts, photos, and review response strategy. For Hampton Roads businesses, a well-optimized GBP is often the fastest win.

Question 22

What tools do you use for SEO audits?

Accepted Answer

I built my own. Raptor is an open-source SEO audit tool I wrote in Rust with 114+ analyzers. It checks everything from page speed and Core Web Vitals to schema markup, security headers, meta tags, and internal linking structure. Most agencies use off-the-shelf tools and just hand you a generic PDF. I built a tool specifically designed to catch what matters and explain it in plain English.

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