Straight answers, no jargon.
Everything you might want to know about web design, SEO, Google Ads, social media, and how we work. If your question is not here, ask us on a free call.
Working with Sourcewise
Where are you based and who do you work with?
Sourcewise is a Perth-based digital agency working with small and medium businesses across Australia. Everything runs online, so your location is never a barrier.
Do I need to use all your services?
Not at all. Most clients start with one thing, like a website or local SEO, and add more as they grow.
Can I bundle services together?
Yes. Bundle two or more of web design, SEO, Google Ads, or social media and we will price them together on a free call.
How do we get started?
Book a free discovery call. We learn about your business and goals, then recommend the one or two things that will make the biggest difference first.
How quickly will you reply?
We reply within one business day.
Websites and development
How much does a small business website cost?
Our websites start at $1,500 for a clean 5-page site, with larger business and e-commerce builds scoped from there. That sits well below the typical Australian agency range of $3,000 to $8,000.
How long does a website take to build?
Most small business websites are live in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how quickly content and feedback come back from your side.
Do I own the website?
Yes. Website builds are a one-off project and you own the site outright, with no ongoing build fees. An optional care plan keeps it updated and secure.
Can I update the site myself?
Yes. We build with simplicity in mind and hand it over so you can make basic changes without a developer for every small edit.
Do you build online stores?
Yes. Whether you need a few products or a full store, we scope the build around what your business actually needs.
Is my website good for SEO?
We build every site SEO-ready from day one: clean structure, fast loading, mobile-first, and schema markup. A solid site makes the SEO work that follows far easier.
Getting found on Google
How much does SEO cost for a small business in Australia?
Our local SEO starts at $300 a month. Most local clients land between $600 and $1,000 a month depending on how competitive their industry and area are. That sits at the accessible end of the Australian market, where retainers often run $1,000 to $2,500 a month.
How long does SEO take to work?
SEO is a long game. Most clients start seeing movement within 3 to 6 months, and stronger results build from there. Competitive industries take longer. We focus on searches that bring real customers, not vanity traffic.
What is local SEO and why does it matter?
Local SEO helps your business show up when people nearby search for what you do, like a plumber near me or a cafe in your suburb. For most small businesses, local searches drive the calls and visits that pay the bills, so it is usually where we start.
What is a Google Business Profile and do I need one?
It is your free listing that appears in Google Maps and the local results, and it is one of the biggest levers for local ranking. We optimise your profile, categories, photos, and posts so you show up in the map pack when locals search.
Do you guarantee first-page rankings?
No, and you should be careful with anyone who does. Nobody controls the Google algorithm. What we do is the work that reliably moves rankings over time, and we report on it honestly so you can see progress.
What is the difference between SEO and Google Ads?
Google Ads puts you at the top instantly, but you pay for every click and it stops when the budget stops. SEO builds rankings that keep working after the work is done. Many businesses run both: ads for quick leads, SEO for long-term growth.
How do you choose which keywords to target?
We look at what your customers actually type, the intent behind it, and how realistic it is to rank. We favour terms with buying intent in the areas you serve, not high-volume words that bring browsers instead of buyers.
What is technical SEO?
It is the behind-the-scenes work that helps search engines crawl and understand your site: page speed, mobile-friendliness, site structure, indexing, and schema markup. If the foundations are broken, content and links struggle to rank.
What is on-page SEO?
On-page SEO is optimising the pages themselves: titles, headings, content, internal links, and meta descriptions, so each page clearly targets what people search for. It is one of the fastest wins on most small business sites.
Do I need to publish blog posts or content for SEO?
Often yes. Helpful content aimed at what your customers search for gives you more chances to rank and answers questions before people call. We plan content around real searches, not filler for the sake of word count.
What are backlinks and do they still matter?
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours, and they still count as a strong trust signal. We focus on relevant, quality links like local directories, partners, and press, not spammy link schemes that can get you penalised.
Can you do SEO for more than one location or service?
Yes. We build dedicated pages for each location or service so you can rank in multiple suburbs or for multiple offerings, without them competing against each other.
How do you measure SEO success?
By the things that matter to your business: rankings for your key terms, organic traffic, calls, and enquiries. You get a monthly report in plain English, plus a call on higher plans to talk through what is working.
What happens to my rankings if I stop SEO?
Rankings you have earned do not vanish overnight, but they tend to slip as competitors keep working and content ages. SEO is ongoing maintenance as much as a one-time push.
Can I do SEO myself?
You can handle the basics, like keeping your Google Business Profile updated and writing honest content. The technical work, keyword strategy, and consistency are where most owners run out of time, which is where we help.
Will SEO work if my website is slow or old?
A slow or dated site holds rankings back. We will tell you upfront if the site is the bottleneck. Sometimes a few fixes are enough, sometimes a rebuild pays for itself, and we are honest about which.
Paid search
How much does Google Ads management cost?
Management starts at a flat $300 a month plus your ad spend, which you pay to Google directly. Most Australian agencies charge $800 to $2,000 a month or 15 to 20% of spend.
Do I pay for the ad budget separately?
Yes. The management fee is what you pay us to run the campaigns. The ad budget is billed by Google directly, so you stay in control.
How much should I spend on ads?
Most Australian small businesses spend $1,000 to $2,500 a month on ads. If the management fee would be bigger than your spend, your budget is too low to justify an agency yet, and we will say so.
Google Ads or SEO, which should I choose?
Ads bring leads immediately but stop when the budget stops. SEO takes months but keeps working. If you need leads now, start with ads. For long-term growth, invest in SEO. Many businesses do both.
Is there a lock-in contract?
No. Google Ads plans are month-to-month and you can cancel anytime with 30 days notice. You keep your ad account.
Protection
Do you offer cybersecurity for small businesses?
Yes. We coordinate practical protection through trusted specialist partners, so you get the right coverage without managing multiple providers yourself.
Why do small businesses need cybersecurity?
Small businesses are targeted precisely because they often have weaker defences than larger companies. The cost of recovering from a breach is far higher than preventing one.
How is cybersecurity priced?
It is scoped to your needs and delivered through our partners. Tell us your setup on a call and we will put together the right level of protection.
Billing and commitment
Are your prices fixed?
They are starting points. We confirm the exact figure on a free call once we understand your goals. No hidden fees, no surprises.
Do you lock me into a contract?
No lock-in on our monthly plans. Cancel anytime with 30 days notice. Website builds are one-off projects.
How does billing work?
Monthly services are billed monthly. Website builds are quoted upfront and split into a deposit and a final payment. We keep it simple.
Do you offer discounts for longer commitments?
Yes on some services. Social plans lock in 30% off on a 6-month commitment, and Google Ads setup is waived on six months.
What if I want to change or cancel my plan?
You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel monthly plans with 30 days notice. We adjust from the start of the next month.
Still have a question?
Book a free discovery call and we will give you straight answers about your business, no obligation, no sales pitch.
Social media management
What do your social media packages include?
A monthly content calendar, on-brand graphics and captions, scheduling, engagement monitoring, and a monthly report. Plans start at $200 a month with your first month free.
Is the first month really free?
Yes. Your first month is free on any social plan. We use it to onboard your brand, set up profiles, and draft the first content calendar.
Do I approve content before it goes live?
Always. We share the calendar in advance so you can approve, change, or add notes before anything is published.
Which platforms do you manage?
Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn as standard, with TikTok and Google Business posts available as add-ons.