Websites posts from Will's Journal.
These are the Websites posts from Will's Journal — writing from this practice, not the Websites service page.
The Websites practice: A site people can buy from — page 4 of this archive.
Which Websites posts are in this archive?
Websites What questions should I ask a web designer before hiring
Ask who owns the domain, code, CMS, and hosting, how you edit, how SEO and AEO are handled, what is in scope, and what happens if the designer disappears.
Websites Should my homepage use a background video
Default to a still plus optional play. Use homepage background video only when the motion is the brand and the fold still converts on a mid-range phone.
Websites Google Business Profile Gets the Call — Your Website Closes the Ones Who Need Proof
On a limited budget, fix Google Business Profile first for map calls — then add an owned site for proof, services, and a fallback if Google suspends you.
Websites Lighthouse 90+ Without Killing the Design
Keep cinema-grade brand design and still hit strong Lighthouse and Core Web Vitals on real phones. Treat 90 as a tradeoff, not a chase for a perfect 100.
Websites Is autoplay hero video bad for Core Web Vitals
Autoplay hero video is often bad for Core Web Vitals. Poster must win LCP, muted is not a pass, and phones must not download the loop if p75 is to hold.
Websites Put Merch Where Checkout Wins — Keep Brand Where Fans Decide
Put merch checkout on Shopify where carts and drops win; keep the artist website as the brand surface where fans decide who you are before they buy anything.
Websites Framer vs Webflow vs Custom: Picking the Stack for the Job
Framer wins designer-led motion. Webflow wins collection CMS. Custom wins unusual systems. Pick by editor, lifespan, and performance — not vendor logos.
Websites Above the Fold That Works: One Job, One Proof, One Action
The first viewport gets one job, one proof, and one action. Cut badge walls, dual filled CTAs, and carousels — the fold is a title card, not a collage.
Websites Leave Squarespace Without Torching the Rankings You Already Paid For
Leave Squarespace without torching SEO: inventory every URL, ship a 1:1 301 map, keep launch-week signals stable, and monitor Search Console for 30–60 days.
Websites Design Systems for Marketing Sites That Are Not Product Apps
A marketing-site design system is tokens, type, a short component list, and CMS limits — not a product UI kit. Ship the thin vertical first, then grow.
Websites Stock Photos Are Fine Until They’re Doing the Selling
Use real photography where trust sells — hero, about, work, and proof pages — and keep licensed stock for texture surfaces that never close a deal alone.
Websites CMS Choices Clients Will Actually Use
Pick a CMS by who edits weekly: field limits, preview, locked roles, and training so clients update dates and case studies without wrecking the live film.
What should I know about this Websites archive?
- What is this Websites archive?
- These are the Websites posts from Will's Journal — writing from this practice, not the Websites service page.
- Is this the Websites service page?
- No. This is a journal lane archive. The Websites practice is at /websites. A site people can buy from.