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TL;DR (What You’ll Learn in This Post)
This post walks you through the exact process I used to design a modern, user-friendly small business website for Hello Bambinos, an at-home non-diagnostic ultrasound service for expecting families.
You’ll learn:
- How I combine branding, SEO strategy, and Showit website design
- A step-by-step breakdown of my full process (8 steps)
- What goes into building a small business website that’s easy to navigate and optimized for search
- How design, messaging, and user experience work together to increase clarity and trust
- What the collaboration experience looks like from start to finish
“It has been wonderful working with you. Thank you for the guidance and your expertise. Hiring you for the website design was one of the best investments I have made so far in this business. I am grateful for the process and having you along for part of it.” – Brittani Schwartzkopf
Introduction
Designing a small business website is about so much more than choosing pretty colors or layouts, it’s about creating an experience that helps people understand what you do and confidently take the next step.
For this project, I built a fully custom Showit website for Hello Bambinos. They provide at-home non-diagnostic ultrasound services for expecting families.
The goal for their website was simple:
- Make it easy for visitors to learn about their ultrasound options
- Help people book quickly
- Create a warm and welcoming brand experience
In this behind the design breakdown, I’ll walk you through my exact SEO and website design process for this launch.
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About the Client: Hello Bambinos
What they do:
Hello Bambinos provides comforting, memorable at-home non-diagnostic ultrasounds to expecting families who want a more personal experience.
Project goals:
- Create a small business website that feels welcoming, professional and modern
- Clearly explain each type of ultrasound
- Help visitors easily compare packages
- Create a simple and intuitive booking experience
- Build a strong SEO foundation
My 8-Step Small Business Website Design Process
Below is the same process I follow for all my small business website design projects personalized for Hello Bambinos.
1. SEO Keyword Research (Based on Client Questionnaire)
Before I even start thinking about the website design, I first focus on SEO keyword research. This helps me determine what their clients are actually searching for. With this data we see what pages they need to have on their website and what to target for each.
Why this matters:
Search engines need context, and keyword strategy helps structure the website so it can appear in search results.
Now, before you say that AI is taking over, SEO is still a foundation to build off of in order to appear in AI Search like ChatGPT.
2. Creating the Website Strategy + On-Page SEO Plan
Once the keywords were set, I map out the website pages with the following:
- Navigation titles
- Pages required
- Page structure
- Page layout and flow
- Where keywords should naturally appear
- Calls-to-action and booking placement
- Internal linking
- Messaging priorities
- User journeys
This ensures the design has a clear purpose before visuals even begin.
3. Reviewing the Plan With the Client
I always review the strategy with my client before designing anything. This really helps make sure the strategy is aligned with the clients vision. Sometimes they don’t feel as aligned with some of the high opportunity keywords so we review the list of keywords together and choose what best fits their messaging.
There might be some additional pages we can create based on the date from the research. We decide if we want to add these additional pages or modify existing page options.
For Hello Bambinos, this allowed us to refine how their packages were presented and how clients move from curiosity → clarity → booking.
4. Designing the Website Pages
Now the creative part begins.
For Hello Bambinos, I developed:
- A warm, inviting brand color palette
- Modern, clean typography
- A soft, nurturing brand vibe
- A clean layout easy for users to navigate
Even though they provided their logo, I created their color palette and typography package to align with their website vision.
5. Client Feedback
I start off by designing the Homepage first. Once completed, I sent over 2 different versions for my client to review. They picked the one they felt most aligned with and provided any revisions.
Focusing on just the Homepage first is helpful because it allows me to truly understand what my client is looking for. It avoids having to redo additional work for the rest of the pages.
Once they approved the Homepage I designed the rest of the pages for their website.
6. Revisions + Design Refinements
I allow my clients two rounds of revisions. I send over each page for them to review individually and provide feedback. And after implementing those requests I send over a link for them to review the entire website. This allows them to see it all working together and gives them a last chance for modifications.
The final revision round is just for refinements. For example, swapping out an image or small edits. It’s not for design changes as that’s already created and complete after the first round of feedback and revisions.
For this client, there wasn’t very much they wanted to change so the revision phase was quick and easy!
7. On-Page SEO, Google Analytics + Search Console Setup
Once the design was approved, I finalize technical SEO which includes:
- Meta titles + descriptions
- Image alt text
- HTML tas
- URL slugs
And then I set up their Analytics so we can monitor their results through:
- Google Analytics
- Google Search Console
8. Launch + Celebrate
Launching a small business website is always exciting! I love being a part of their business coming to life online and am always so honoured to be the one to create their website!
The final Hello Bambinos site is:
- Modern and clean
- Easy to navigate
- Clear and informative
- Fully mobile optimized
- Built with a solid SEO foundation
Website Maintenance
Finally, I provide my clients with training videos so they can easily update their own website! I don’t want you to feel like you have to spend money every time you need to make any changes. I want you to feel empowered to update your website as needed!
However, for those clients who do not want to make their own updates, I do offer an hourly service to happily do it for them!
FAQ
Q: Why use Showit for small business website design?
A: Showit offers flexible layouts, creative freedom, and easy updates without needing code. My clients don’t have to
Q: Can this process be used for any small business?
A: Absolutely! The strategy, SEO framework, and design flow apply to any service-based business.
Q: How long does a custom website design take?
A: From SEO strategy to designing and launching the website, it can take anywhere from 8-12 weeks.
TL;DR Recap (What You Learned)
Here’s a quick recap of the entire small business website design process:
The 8 Steps
- SEO keyword research
- Website strategy + SEO plan
- Client review and alignment
- Custom design in Showit
- Client feedback
- Revisions
- Final SEO + analytics setup
- Launch
Key Takeaways
- A small business website needs strategy + SEO, not just visuals
- Clear navigation and package clarity increase conversions
- Branding plays a major role in building trust
- Optimizing your site for mobile improves user experience
- Collaborative communication ensures the design feels aligned and intentional
If you’re ready for a strategic, modern, and SEO-friendly website for your own small business, I’d love to help.
Explore my Website + SEO Services
Or reach out for a consultation
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