Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1

What is Next.js and why do you use it?

Accepted Answer

Next.js is a modern React framework that we use to build lightning-fast websites. Unlike traditional website builders, Next.js pre-renders pages at build time, resulting in 0.9-second load times compared to WordPress's average 4.8 seconds. We use Next.js because it's the same technology powering Netflix, TikTok, and Nike—proven to handle billions of visitors while maintaining perfect performance scores. For Southport businesses preparing for the MLEC visitor influx, this speed advantage directly translates to higher Google rankings and better conversion rates. Learn more about our Next.js web design services.

Question 2

How fast are Next.js websites compared to WordPress?

Accepted Answer

Our testing shows Next.js websites load in 0.9 seconds on mobile, while WordPress sites average 4.8 seconds—that's 5x faster. This isn't just about user experience; Google's Core Web Vitals directly impact your rankings. A faster site means lower bounce rates (53% of users abandon sites over 3 seconds), higher conversion rates, and better SEO performance. For local Southport businesses competing for 'near me' searches, this speed advantage can be the difference between appearing in the Map Pack or being invisible. Check out our detailed comparison of Next.js vs WordPress.

Question 3

Can I edit a Next.js website myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We implement headless CMS systems like Sanity or Contentful that give you a clean, intuitive dashboard to update text, images, prices, and publish blog posts—just like WordPress, but without the security risks and plugin conflicts. You get the editing simplicity you want with the blazing performance your customers demand. For businesses that need frequent updates, we provide training and documentation. Learn more about our headless development approach.

Question 4

Is Next.js suitable for small businesses?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! In fact, Next.js is perfect for small businesses because it eliminates ongoing costs. While WordPress requires £150-300/month for hosting, security, and plugin fees, Next.js sites can be hosted free on Vercel's tier or for £10-20/month. Over 3 years, you'll save £5,000-10,000. Plus, the speed advantage helps you compete with larger competitors in local search. For Southport small businesses, this technology levels the playing field. View our small business packages.

Question 5

What's the difference between Next.js and a traditional website?

Accepted Answer

Traditional websites (like WordPress) generate pages on-demand every time someone visits, querying databases and loading plugins. Next.js pre-builds your entire site into optimized static files served from a global CDN. Think of it like the difference between cooking a meal to order vs. having it ready to serve instantly. This approach means faster load times, better security (no database to hack), lower hosting costs, and superior Google rankings. It's the difference between a 2003 architecture and 2026 web standards.

Question 6

Do Next.js websites work on mobile?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and they excel at it! Next.js sites are built mobile-first with automatic image optimization, responsive layouts, and instant page transitions. Google now uses mobile-first indexing, meaning your mobile site determines your rankings. Our Next.js sites score 95+ on mobile PageSpeed, compared to WordPress's typical 40-60. With 70% of Southport searches happening on mobile, this isn't optional—it's essential for local business success.

Question 7

Can you migrate my existing WordPress site to Next.js?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We specialize in WordPress-to-Next.js migrations. We'll import your existing content, blog posts, images, and pages into a new Next.js site in 2-4 weeks. You keep your domain, Google rankings, and content—you just get a massive performance upgrade. Our client Alotek Shelters saw their organic traffic triple in 6 weeks after migrating. Read the full case study.

Question 8

What is Vercel and why do you use it for hosting?

Accepted Answer

Vercel is the company behind Next.js and provides the world's fastest hosting infrastructure. They invented the Edge Network that serves your website from 100+ global locations, ensuring visitors in Southport load files from Manchester (15ms) rather than Texas (200ms). Vercel handles automatic SSL, infinite scalability, and zero-downtime deployments. Best of all, their free tier handles most small business traffic, saving you hundreds monthly compared to WordPress hosting.

Question 9

How does Next.js handle image optimization?

Accepted Answer

Next.js has built-in automatic image optimization that's frankly miraculous. Upload a 4MB iPhone photo, and Next.js automatically compresses it to under 100KB, converts it to WebP format (50% smaller than JPEG), lazy-loads it (only loads when scrolled into view), and serves the correct size for mobile vs. desktop. This single feature can cut your page weight by 80%. In contrast, WordPress does nothing to stop you from uploading massive files that kill your load time and Google rankings.

Question 10

Is Next.js SEO-friendly?

Accepted Answer

Extremely! Next.js sites have built-in advantages: server-side rendering for perfect crawler access, automatic sitemap generation, optimized meta tags, lightning-fast Core Web Vitals, and clean URL structures. We inject custom JSON-LD schema directly into every page, telling Google exactly what your content means. This helped our client Alotek Shelters go from Page 5 to AI Overview Winner in 6 weeks. Traditional WordPress SEO plugins add bloat; Next.js builds SEO into the foundation. See our SEO services.

Question 11

How does server-side rendering (SSR) work in Next.js?

Accepted Answer

SSR means your pages are fully rendered on the server before reaching the visitor's browser. When someone visits your Southport business page, the server fetches the content, builds complete HTML with all your text and images, and sends it ready to display. This gives Google's crawler perfect access to your content—no JavaScript needed. Next.js also offers static generation (pages built at deploy time) and incremental static regeneration for the best of both worlds. Each approach has use cases; we choose based on your content update frequency.

Question 12

What is ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration)?

Accepted Answer

ISR lets Next.js serve static pages that automatically update in the background. Say you publish a new menu—the page stays fast (served statically) but regenerates within seconds so the next visitor gets fresh content. It's the perfect middle ground for Southport restaurants, hotels, and retail shops that update content regularly but need lightning speed. No full rebuild required. Your site stays at 0.9-second load times even with frequent updates. WordPress can't replicate this without expensive caching setups.

Question 13

What are React Server Components?

Accepted Answer

Server Components are React components that run entirely on the server—they never ship to the browser. This means zero JavaScript bloat for things like header text, product descriptions, or blog content. Your pages load faster, rank better, and cost less to host. Next.js 15 uses Server Components by default. For Southport businesses, this translates to even faster Core Web Vitals and better Google rankings. It's cutting-edge tech that we've been using since it launched.

Question 14

How does Next.js compare to Wix?

Accepted Answer

Wix is a drag-and-drop builder that's fine for hobbyists but terrible for business. Wix sites average 3.5-second load times, lack proper SEO control, and lock you into their platform. Next.js gives you custom everything—design, functionality, speed—without Wix's limitations. Our Next.js sites load in 0.9 seconds vs Wix's 3.5 seconds. For Southport businesses competing for Map Pack rankings, that speed gap means the difference between visibility and invisibility. Plus, you own your site with Next.js; Wix owns it.

Question 15

How does Next.js compare to Squarespace?

Accepted Answer

Squarespace has beautiful templates but suffers from slow load times (3-4 seconds) and limited customization. Their SEO tools are basic—no schema markup, limited meta control. Next.js gives you bespoke design, 0.9-second loads, full SEO control, and no monthly Squarespace fees. For professional services, restaurants, and retail in Southport, the performance and flexibility of Next.js justify the initial investment. You're not paying for a template—you're getting a custom-built growth engine.

Question 16

Can Next.js handle high traffic?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Next.js powers sites with billions of monthly visitors—Netflix, TikTok, Nike, Notion. Vercel's edge network auto-scales to handle traffic spikes. When the MLEC brings conference delegates flooding Southport, your Next.js site won't crash. WordPress sites routinely fail under 100 concurrent users. Our Next.js sites have handled 10,000+ simultaneous visitors without breaking a sweat. For seasonal businesses or event-driven traffic, this scalability is essential.

Question 17

What is the App Router in Next.js?

Accepted Answer

The App Router is Next.js's modern routing system (released 2023) that uses a folder-based structure. Each folder represents a route; files inside define the UI. It enables Server Components, streaming, and parallel data loading by default. We use the App Router for all new projects—it's faster, more maintainable, and better for SEO. The old Pages Router still works, but we're building on the cutting edge for Southport businesses who want every performance advantage.

Question 18

Do you offer website hosting?

Accepted Answer

We use Vercel for Next.js hosting—the same company that builds Next.js. It's the fastest hosting available: global edge network, automatic SSL, zero-downtime deploys. Most small business sites run on Vercel's free tier (bandwidth included). Paid tiers start at £20/month for higher traffic. We handle the setup; you get enterprise-grade hosting at small business prices. Compare that to WordPress hosting at £50-150/month. Learn about our full service including hosting.

Question 19

Can I add a blog to my Next.js site?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We integrate headless CMS platforms (Sanity, Contentful) that give you a WordPress-style blog editor. Write posts, add images, schedule publishing—all through an intuitive dashboard. Your blog loads in 0.9 seconds while WordPress blogs average 4+ seconds. SEO-friendly URLs, automatic sitemaps, and schema markup come built-in. For Southport businesses building authority in their industry, a fast blog is a ranking machine. Many of our clients see 3x traffic growth from their blog within 6 months.

Question 20

What forms and integrations can you add?

Accepted Answer

We integrate contact forms, quote request forms, booking systems, newsletter signups, and more. All forms connect to your email, CRM, or automation tools. We've built forms that sync to HubSpot, Mailchimp, Google Sheets, and custom APIs. Form submissions don't require page reloads—instant feedback with proper validation. For Southport businesses, we often add 'Book Now' buttons that connect to your Google Calendar or booking software. Tell us what you need; we'll make it work.

Question 21

Will my Next.js site work with my existing domain?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We configure your Next.js site to work with your current domain—whether it's yourbusiness.co.uk or yourbusiness.com. DNS changes take 24-48 hours to propagate. We handle the technical setup; you keep your established domain authority and email. For Southport businesses with years of domain history, preserving that SEO value is critical. We never recommend changing domains unless there's a compelling reason.

Question 22

What about accessibility (a11y)?

Accepted Answer

We build accessible websites by default—proper heading hierarchy, alt text for images, keyboard navigation, sufficient color contrast. Accessibility isn't just ethical; it's good business. 15% of people have some form of disability; accessible sites rank better and convert better. We test with screen readers and follow WCAG 2.1 guidelines. For Southport businesses serving diverse customers, accessibility means no one gets left behind. It's included in every project.

Question 23

Can you add WhatsApp or live chat?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We integrate WhatsApp Business buttons, live chat widgets (Crisp, Intercom, Tawk), and click-to-call functionality. For Southport businesses, WhatsApp is huge—many customers prefer messaging over phone calls. A prominent WhatsApp button can increase enquiry conversion by 40%. We place these strategically for maximum impact without annoying visitors. All integrations are mobile-optimized since 70% of local searches happen on phones.

Question 24

Do Next.js sites work with Google Analytics?

Accepted Answer

Flawlessly. We integrate Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, and Google Search Console on every project. Next.js's client-side navigation means page views track correctly without extra configuration. We set up conversion tracking, event tracking, and custom dimensions for your business goals. You get the data you need without the performance hit that bloated WordPress analytics plugins cause. Data flows from day one.

Question 25

What happens if I need new features later?

Accepted Answer

Next.js is endlessly extendable. Need a new page, booking system, or integration? We can add it. Our clients often start with a 5-page site and expand to 20+ pages over time. The architecture scales without rebuilds. We offer optional £50/month support for ongoing feature additions, or you can commission one-off projects. Unlike WordPress where plugins often conflict, Next.js extensions integrate cleanly. Plan for growth from day one.

Question 26

Is Next.js overkill for a simple 5-page site?

Accepted Answer

No! Next.js shines at any scale. A 5-page site gets the same speed benefits: 0.9-second loads, free hosting, zero maintenance. The 'overkill' myth comes from agencies charging £10k for simple sites. We build 5-page Next.js sites for £2,500-3,500. You're not paying for complexity—you're paying for performance and future-proofing. That simple site will still be fast and secure in 2030. WordPress 'simple' sites become maintenance nightmares.

Question 27

Can you rebuild my Wix or Squarespace site?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We migrate from Wix, Squarespace, and other builders to Next.js. We'll export your content, redesign for performance, and launch a site you actually own. Many clients come to us frustrated with builder limitations and monthly fees. The migration typically takes 2-3 weeks. You keep your domain and content; you gain speed, SEO control, and freedom from platform lock-in. Popular with Southport businesses outgrowing DIY solutions.

Question 28

What's your web design process?

Accepted Answer

We start with discovery—understanding your business, audience, and goals. Then we create wireframes and designs for your approval. Development follows in 2-3 week sprints. You get a staging site to review before launch. We handle DNS, go-live, and training. The whole process takes 2-4 weeks for standard sites. We're collaborative but efficient—no endless revision cycles. See our portfolio for examples of the final result.

Question 29

Do you design from scratch or use templates?

Accepted Answer

We design from scratch based on your brand, industry, and goals. No cookie-cutter templates—each site reflects your business. We create custom layouts, typography, and components. For budget-conscious projects, we have design systems we adapt (faster, lower cost) but never generic templates. Your Southport business deserves to stand out, not look like every other site in your industry. View our custom work.

Question 30

What industries do you build websites for?

Accepted Answer

We've built sites for restaurants, hotels, retail, professional services (lawyers, accountants, consultants), trades (plumbers, electricians), healthcare, and more. Our Southport focus means we understand local business needs—from Lord Street shops to Marine Drive attractions. Next.js works for any industry; we specialize in making it work for businesses competing in local search. Check our case studies across different sectors.

Question 31

Why is WordPress slow?

Accepted Answer

WordPress generates pages dynamically—every visitor triggers 50+ database queries, loads 15-30 plugins (each with their own CSS/JS files), runs PHP scripts, and stitches everything together before finally sending HTML to the browser. This process takes 2-5 seconds on good hosting, 8+ seconds on cheap shared hosting. It's like building a house every time someone wants to visit, rather than having it ready to show. Next.js pre-builds everything once, serving optimized static files in milliseconds. Read our comprehensive comparison.

Question 32

Is WordPress still good in 2026?

Accepted Answer

WordPress powers 43% of the web, but it was built in 2003 for blogging—before the iPhone existed. The web has evolved; WordPress hasn't. It's still good for hobby bloggers who don't care about speed or security, but for businesses competing in 2026, it's a liability. Google's algorithm now prioritizes Core Web Vitals (speed metrics), and WordPress sites consistently fail these tests. With the MLEC bringing 500,000 new visitors to Southport, local businesses need technology that can compete for 'near me' searches—WordPress can't deliver that anymore.

Question 33

Why do so many developers still recommend WordPress?

Accepted Answer

Honestly? Recurring revenue. Many web designers recommend WordPress because it requires ongoing maintenance fees (£50-150/month for updates, security, troubleshooting). It's a business model: create dependency, charge monthly. At Churchtown Media, we're transparent about this. We build Next.js sites that rarely break and don't require constant babysitting. Our clients pay once for quality work, not monthly for maintenance. It's better for your bottom line, even if it's less profitable for us.

Question 34

Can WordPress be as fast as Next.js?

Accepted Answer

No. Even with aggressive caching plugins and expensive hosting, WordPress is fundamentally limited by its architecture. You can optimize a milk float, but it'll never be a Ferrari. The database queries, PHP processing, and plugin overhead create an unavoidable performance ceiling. Our testing of 50 Southport business websites showed WordPress averaging 4.8 seconds vs. Next.js at 0.9 seconds. That 5x gap isn't fixable with plugins—it requires a complete architectural change, which is exactly what Next.js provides.

Question 35

What about WordPress security issues?

Accepted Answer

WordPress accounted for 94% of all hacked CMS websites in 2025, according to Sucuri's Threat Report. Why? Because it's the #1 target for hackers, and most small businesses never update their plugins. A single outdated plugin (Contact Form 7, Yoast SEO, etc.) can give attackers a backdoor to your entire site. Next.js sites don't have this vulnerability—they're static files served from a CDN with no admin panel, no database, and no plugin ecosystem. Hackers can't inject malicious code into files that don't exist on the server.

Question 36

WordPress vs Next.js for restaurants?

Accepted Answer

Restaurants need fast menus, easy updates, and Map Pack visibility. WordPress restaurant sites average 4.2 seconds load time—diners bounce before seeing your menu. Next.js restaurant sites load in under 1 second. Menu updates? Use a headless CMS—simpler than WordPress. For 'restaurant near Marine Lake' searches, that speed difference is the difference between #1 and #10. We've built Next.js sites for Southport restaurants that saw 40% more online orders. The tech choice directly impacts revenue.

Question 37

WordPress vs Next.js for hotels?

Accepted Answer

Hotels need booking integrations, fast room galleries, and visibility for 'hotel Southport' searches. WordPress hotel sites with booking plugins (WPBooking, Hotel Booking) become slow, fragile beasts. Next.js handles booking APIs cleanly—instant loads, no plugin conflicts. With 500,000 MLEC visitors needing accommodation, Southport hotels need sites that rank and convert. Our Next.js hotel clients report 3x faster page loads and 25% higher booking conversion vs their old WordPress sites.

Question 38

What about WordPress's WooCommerce vs Next.js e-commerce?

Accepted Answer

WooCommerce is powerful but slow—the average WooCommerce store loads in 5+ seconds. Plugin conflicts, database bloat, and security vulnerabilities plague it. Our Next.js e-commerce (Shopify headless or custom) loads in under 1 second. Amazon research shows every 100ms costs 1% of sales. That 4-second gap could mean 40% fewer conversions. For Southport retailers selling online, Next.js stores rank better, convert better, and handle traffic spikes that would crash WooCommerce.

Question 39

Can I keep my WordPress blog and use Next.js for the main site?

Accepted Answer

Not practically. Running two systems means two hosting bills, two security surfaces, and split SEO authority. Better approach: migrate everything to Next.js with a headless CMS. Your blog gets WordPress-style editing (Sanity/Contentful) but Next.js speed. We've migrated 50+ WordPress blogs—content, URLs, everything. The blog often gains traffic from the speed improvement. Going half-and-half creates technical debt that costs more long-term.

Question 40

Why does my WordPress site keep breaking?

Accepted Answer

Plugin conflicts. Theme updates. PHP version changes. Hosting config shifts. WordPress has dozens of moving parts that break each other. A client updates Yoast, their contact form stops working. They change hosting, everything breaks. Next.js eliminates this—fewer dependencies, simpler architecture. Our Next.js clients go months without touching anything. The 'WordPress breaks constantly' experience isn't bad luck; it's architectural. We fix it by removing the architecture.

Question 41

Isn't WordPress free? Next.js must be expensive.

Accepted Answer

WordPress is 'free' like a free puppy. Hosting: £50-150/month. Security plugins: £10-30/month. Developer for when things break: £50-100/hour. Over 3 years: £5,000-10,000 in running costs. Next.js: £2,500-3,500 build, £10-20/month hosting. Total 3-year cost: £2,800-4,200. WordPress 'free' costs more. Plus you get a faster site that ranks better. The ROI math favors Next.js for any business serious about online presence.

Question 42

My developer says WordPress is fine. Are they wrong?

Accepted Answer

Many developers recommend WordPress because they know it—it's what they've always used. Or because WordPress creates ongoing work (updates, fixes) that pays their bills. We're honest: Next.js reduces our recurring revenue because sites don't break. But it's better for you. If your developer hasn't built a Next.js site, they may not understand the performance gap. Our audits show the difference clearly. Sometimes the right tech means finding the right developer.

Question 43

What about WordPress page builders like Elementor?

Accepted Answer

Elementor and similar builders let you design visually—but they add massive bloat. A typical Elementor page loads 2MB+ of CSS/JS. Your 'fast' WordPress site becomes a 5-second slug. These builders also create lock-in: migrating to anything else means rebuilding from scratch. Next.js gives you custom design without the bloat. We build what you want, optimized from the ground up. No builder overhead. No migration nightmare later.

Question 44

WordPress has more plugins. Doesn't that mean more features?

Accepted Answer

WordPress has 60,000+ plugins—and most add bloat, conflicts, and security holes. Need a contact form? That's 3 different plugins fighting each other. Next.js doesn't need plugins—we build or integrate what you need. Booking system? API integration. Newsletter? Mailchimp/SendGrid API. Each integration is custom-fit, not a generic plugin. Quality over quantity. Southport businesses need specific solutions, not plugin soup.

Question 45

How does WordPress compare to Next.js for professional services?

Accepted Answer

Lawyers, accountants, and consultants need credibility and lead capture. WordPress professional sites often look dated and load slowly—not great for trust. Next.js professional sites: sleek, fast, conversion-optimized. Contact forms that actually work. No plugin-induced SSL errors. For 'solicitor Southport' or 'accountant Sefton' searches, the faster site often wins. We've built Next.js sites for professional services that doubled their online enquiries.

Question 46

Will migrating from WordPress hurt my SEO?

Accepted Answer

Done right, migration improves SEO. We preserve every URL with 301 redirects, migrate all content, maintain internal linking. Our client Alotek Shelters tripled organic traffic after migrating—the speed improvement alone boosted rankings. The risk is amateur migrations: broken redirects, lost content, downtime. We've done 50+ migrations with zero ranking drops. Often rankings improve within weeks as Google rewards the faster, cleaner site.

Question 47

What about WordPress multisite for multiple locations?

Accepted Answer

WordPress multisite is complex, slow, and creates a single point of failure. One hacked site affects all. Next.js handles multi-location differently: we build location pages (like our location pages) within a single fast site. Each Southport, Liverpool, or Manchester location gets optimized pages without multisite overhead. Cleaner, faster, more maintainable. Multi-location businesses deserve better than WordPress multisite.

Question 48

My WordPress site has 500 blog posts. Can you migrate that?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We've migrated sites with thousands of posts. We export content, images, and metadata, then import into your new Next.js + headless CMS setup. URLs get 301 redirects so no links break. Categories, tags, and structure transfer. The process takes 1-2 weeks for large content sites. Clients are always surprised how smooth it is—and how much faster the blog performs afterward. Big content = bigger speed gains from Next.js.

Question 49

WordPress vs Next.js for local trades (plumbers, electricians)?

Accepted Answer

Trades need one thing above all: Map Pack visibility. When someone searches 'emergency plumber Southport,' they call whoever Google shows first. WordPress trades sites average 4+ seconds—Google penalizes that. Next.js: under 1 second. Faster site + proper local SEO = Map Pack dominance. We've built Next.js sites for Southport plumbers and electricians that went from invisible to #1 in their area within 8 weeks. The tech choice determines who gets the call.

Question 50

What's the real total cost of WordPress over 5 years?

Accepted Answer

Let's do the math. Build: £800-2,000. Hosting: £600-1,800/year. Security/maintenance: £600-1,800/year. Fixes when things break: £500-2,000/year. Plugin premiums: £200-500/year. Total 5 years: £8,000-18,000. Next.js: Build £2,500-3,500. Hosting £120-200/year. Maintenance: minimal. Total 5 years: £3,100-4,500. WordPress costs 2-4x more over time. The 'cheap' option is the expensive one.

Question 51

Can WordPress ever match Next.js performance?

Accepted Answer

Theoretically, with aggressive caching, CDN, and expensive hosting, you might get a WordPress site to 2 seconds. Maybe. Next.js hits 0.9 seconds on £0-20/month hosting. The architecture is fundamentally different—WordPress builds pages on every request; Next.js serves pre-built files. You can't patch architecture with plugins. We've audited 100+ WordPress sites; none matched our Next.js baseline. The gap is structural.

Question 52

What about headless WordPress with Next.js frontend?

Accepted Answer

Headless WordPress (WordPress as API, Next.js as frontend) is possible—but you're keeping WordPress's worst parts. You still have plugin vulnerabilities, database bloat, and update headaches. You're just hiding them behind a fast frontend. Pure Next.js + Sanity/Contentful gives you the editing experience without WordPress's baggage. We've built both; the headless CMS approach is simpler, more reliable, and often cheaper to maintain.

Question 53

Why do big companies still use WordPress?

Accepted Answer

Legacy. Many big WordPress sites were built 5-10 years ago; migration is a massive project. That doesn't mean WordPress is better—Netflix, Nike, and TikTok use React/Next.js-style tech. New enterprise projects increasingly choose modern stacks. For Southport businesses starting fresh, why inherit 2003 technology? Build on 2026 standards from day one. The companies 'stuck' on WordPress would migrate if they could justify the project scope.

Question 54

WordPress vs Next.js for healthcare and medical practices?

Accepted Answer

Healthcare sites need speed (patients research on mobile), security (HIPAA considerations), and trust signals. WordPress medical sites often struggle with all three—slow loads, plugin vulnerabilities, dated designs. Next.js delivers fast, secure, professional sites. We add proper schema for medical practices, service pages, and practitioner info. For 'GP Southport' or 'dentist Churchtown' searches, the clean, fast site builds confidence. Medical practices deserve better than template WordPress.

Question 55

What's the biggest misconception about WordPress?

Accepted Answer

That it's 'easy.' Yes, you can install it. But maintaining it, keeping it secure, making it fast, fixing it when it breaks—that's not easy. Small business owners waste hours monthly on WordPress problems. Next.js seems 'technical' but you never touch it—we build it, it runs. The 'easy' platform creates ongoing headaches. The 'technical' platform runs silently. For Southport business owners who'd rather run their business than their website, Next.js is actually the easy choice.

Question 56

How long does SEO take to show results?

Accepted Answer

For local Southport businesses, you can see Map Pack rankings improve within 4-8 weeks with proper optimization. Organic rankings for competitive keywords typically take 3-6 months. However, technical SEO fixes (like site speed improvements) can boost rankings within days. Our client Alotek Shelters went from Page 5 to AI Overview Winner in 6 weeks by fixing technical errors and targeting the right keywords. SEO isn't magic—it's mechanical. Fix the errors, create the right content, and Google responds. View our SEO services.

Question 57

What are Core Web Vitals and why do they matter?

Accepted Answer

Core Web Vitals are Google's speed metrics: LCP (how fast your main content loads), CLS (does your page jump around while loading), and INP (how quickly your page responds to clicks). Google made these direct ranking factors in 2021. If your site is slow, you don't just lose visitors—you lose rankings. Our audits show WordPress sites averaging 4.2s LCP vs. Next.js at 1.1s. That difference can be 10-20 positions in search results. For Southport businesses competing for local searches, Core Web Vitals are make-or-break. Get a free speed audit.

Question 58

Why am I not ranking on Google?

Accepted Answer

Usually, it's one of five issues: 1) Technical errors blocking Google's crawler, 2) Slow site speed failing Core Web Vitals, 3) Zero structured data (schema markup), 4) Thin/duplicate content, or 5) Weak local signals (inconsistent NAP data). We've audited 100+ Southport business websites and found that 52% weren't even fully indexed by Google—half their pages were invisible. Our free audit identifies exactly what's blocking your rankings and provides a fix-it roadmap. Book a free audit.

Question 59

Do you guarantee number one rankings?

Accepted Answer

No ethical SEO company guarantees #1—Google's algorithm has 200+ ranking factors we don't control. What we do guarantee: we'll fix technical errors, optimize your site, and execute proven strategies. Our clients typically see 50-200% organic traffic improvement within 6 months. Alotek Shelters went from Page 5 to AI Overview Winner. We guarantee the work, not specific positions. Anyone promising guaranteed #1 is either lying or doing something that will get you penalized.

Question 60

What's the difference between SEO and Google Ads?

Accepted Answer

Google Ads = pay per click. You pay when someone clicks; stop paying, traffic stops. SEO = organic rankings. You invest once (or ongoing), traffic keeps coming. For Southport businesses, SEO typically delivers 3-5x more value long-term—but it takes 3-6 months to see results. Ads work immediately. Best strategy: combine both. Use Ads for immediate visibility while SEO builds. We offer both; we'll tell you which makes sense for your situation.

Question 61

How do I rank for 'near me' searches?

Accepted Answer

'Near me' searches use location + device GPS. Google shows businesses geographically close with strong local signals. To rank: optimize your Google Business Profile, ensure NAP consistency everywhere, get local reviews, add LocalBusiness schema to your site. Your physical proximity matters—a Southport business won't rank for 'near me' in Liverpool. We focus on dominating your actual service area. Map Pack optimization is the key. See our local SEO services.

Question 62

What keywords should I target for my Southport business?

Accepted Answer

We start with keyword research: what do people actually search? 'Plumber Southport,' 'restaurant Lord Street,' 'hotel near Marine Lake.' We map search volume, competition, and intent. Then we prioritize—sometimes 'Southport plumber' (500 searches) beats 'emergency plumber' (2000) if competition is lower. We also identify MLEC-related keywords for 2026. Every business is different; cookie-cutter keyword lists don't work. Our audit includes custom keyword recommendations.

Question 63

How much does SEO cost?

Accepted Answer

Our SEO packages range from £500/month (local optimization) to £1,500+/month (full organic strategy). One-off technical SEO audits: £350. The right investment depends on your competition and goals. A Southport plumber might need £500/month; a regional professional services firm might need £1,200. We're transparent—we'll tell you what'll move the needle and what's overkill. Compare to agencies charging £2,000+/month for the same work. View our SEO pricing.

Question 64

What's an AI Overview and how do I get in it?

Accepted Answer

AI Overviews are Google's new featured snippets—AI-generated summaries that appear above traditional results. Getting featured requires: comprehensive content that answers the question, proper schema markup, and authority signals. Our client Alotek Shelters achieved AI Overview Winner status in 6 weeks through technical fixes and content optimization. It's not magic—it's about being the clearest, most complete answer. We optimize for AI Overview eligibility on every project.

Next.js & Web Development