Website development
built to rank and convert.

Website development in the UK typically costs between £3,495 and £18,000+ depending on scope. Elite Digital Agency prices: Brochure websites (up to 8 pages) from £3,495; Business websites (up to 20 pages, custom UX, CMS) from £8,495; Enterprise and e-commerce builds from £18,000. All prices are all-inclusive — design, development, SEO configuration, mobile optimisation, and post-launch support. Registered UK charities receive a 20% discount across all web packages.

Most brochure websites are delivered in 6–8 weeks from kickoff. Business websites with custom functionality take 10–14 weeks. Enterprise and e-commerce builds typically run 16–24 weeks depending on integrations. The biggest variable is content supply — we send a structured content brief at kickoff so you know exactly what's needed and when, keeping projects on schedule.

Web design covers the visual layer — layout, typography, colour, and user experience. Web development covers the technical build — the code that makes the design work in a browser, handles forms, integrates APIs, connects databases, and ensures performance. At Elite Digital Agency, we do both in-house: our designers and developers work together from day one so the visual design is always buildable, fast, and optimised for search from the ground up.

WordPress suits most UK businesses needing a professional, manageable website — it powers over 43% of the web, has a mature plugin ecosystem, and can be updated by non-technical staff. Custom development (React, Next.js, headless) suits businesses with unique functional requirements, high traffic demanding maximum performance, or complex integrations (ERP, CRM, custom APIs). We advise on the right approach after understanding your goals — we are not platform-agnostic on principle; we recommend what is genuinely best for your business.

Our standard stack depends on requirements. For content-managed websites: WordPress with custom themes (no page-builder lock-in). For e-commerce: Shopify or WooCommerce. For performance-critical or headless builds: Astro, Next.js, or React with a headless CMS (Contentful, Sanity, or WordPress as API). All builds include Tailwind CSS for styling, schema markup for SEO and AEO, and Cloudflare for CDN and security. We do not use Wix, Squarespace, or drag-and-drop builders for client projects.

Headless development separates the content management system (the 'back end' where you write content) from the front-end website users see. The front end fetches content via API and renders it as a fast, modern web application. Benefits include significantly faster page load speeds, better Core Web Vitals scores, stronger security, and flexibility to publish the same content across web, app, and other channels. It suits businesses with high traffic, complex content structures, or multi-channel publishing needs.

Yes. We build e-commerce websites on Shopify (preferred for product-catalogue businesses), WooCommerce on WordPress (preferred for businesses already on WordPress or needing content-commerce integration), and custom builds for complex requirements. Every e-commerce build includes product pages optimised for SEO and AEO, structured data (Product, Offer, Review schema), Core Web Vitals optimisation, and conversion-focused UX. E-commerce builds start from £8,495.

Core Web Vitals are Google's set of user experience metrics: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP — how fast main content loads), Interaction to Next Paint (INP — how responsive the page is), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS — how stable the layout is). They are a Google ranking factor and directly impact how visitors experience your site. We build every website to pass Core Web Vitals on mobile and desktop — this means optimised images, deferred non-critical JS, stable layout, and server response times under 200ms. A website that fails Core Web Vitals loses rankings and conversions.

Yes — AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is built into every website we develop. This means structured data (FAQPage, HowTo, Service, Organization schema), semantically correct HTML, comprehensive FAQ sections answering the questions your audience asks AI tools, and content architecture that matches how large language models index and cite sources. We are one of very few UK agencies that treats AEO as a development requirement, not an afterthought.

Every website we build is mobile-first by default. This means the design and development process starts with the smallest screen and scales up — not the other way around. All layouts are fluid and tested on iOS Safari, Android Chrome, and a range of viewport widths. We also test touch target sizes, font legibility, and form usability on mobile specifically. With over 60% of UK web traffic on mobile, responsive development is not optional.

Look for: (1) a clear, structured development process with defined milestones and deliverables; (2) transparency on tech stack — avoid agencies that only work on closed platforms; (3) SEO built into development from the start, not bolted on after; (4) evidence of post-launch performance — page speed scores, Core Web Vitals results, ranking improvements; (5) a named project manager, not just a support inbox. Ask specifically about their process for content handover, testing, and post-launch support duration. Avoid agencies that quote without a discovery conversation.

Every web development project includes 30 days of post-launch support for bug fixes and minor adjustments at no extra cost. After 30 days, options include: an ongoing maintenance retainer from £149/month (covering updates, backups, security patches, and uptime monitoring); an SEO or content retainer to grow organic visibility; or a CRO programme to improve conversion rates. Most clients continue with at least a maintenance retainer — a website that is not actively maintained loses performance, security, and eventually rankings.