Frequently asked questions
Practical answers about process, timing, payment, and how I work.
Starting out
How does a project start?
With an email or a short call about your site and the problem. If I'm the right person, I send a written scope for a paid diagnostic: the questions, the deliverable, the access needed, the timeline, and the price.
Do you offer a free audit?
The first conversation is free and short, enough to tell whether I can help and where I'd start. The diagnosis itself is paid work, because that's where the real value is.
Who does the work?
I do, personally, on every engagement. Gerris Corp is my consultancy.
What kinds of clients do you work with?
Funded companies, established businesses, agencies that need a specialist, and individuals whose public record matters, in any industry and any country.
Timing
How long does a diagnostic take?
Usually one to three weeks, depending on the size of the site and the number of separate problems. The timeline is agreed in writing before work starts.
How soon can you start?
Usually within one to two weeks of a signed scope and payment. Urgent problems, such as a sudden traffic collapse or a failed launch, get priority when I have capacity.
How long until results show in Google?
Fixes take effect as Google recrawls the affected pages: days for important pages, weeks or months for large sites. I track the change in Search Console and report it.
Payment
How do you charge?
New engagements are quoted as a flat fee, settled in conversation once I understand the problem and written into the scope.
Can I hire you through Upwork?
Yes. Many clients hire me through Upwork, which handles contracts and payment.
Working together
What access do you need?
Usually Search Console, analytics, and read access to the CMS or repository. DNS and CDN access when the work involves them. I document every account I use.
Which platforms do you work on?
WordPress, Umbraco, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, Magento, Netlify, GitHub Pages, static sites, and JavaScript frameworks such as Next.js, React, Vue, and Alpine.js, with Cloudflare in front of many of them.
Do you recommend Cloudflare?
For nearly every site, yes: DNS and caching through Cloudflare, configured so search engines and AI crawlers get in. The free plan does a lot, and when a site runs through Cloudflare and benefits from the paid features, I suggest budgeting about $50 a month. Hosted builders such as Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix are the exception. Details are in my Cloudflare guide.
How do you communicate during a project?
In writing, in Basecamp or by email, so every decision and status update is on the record. Calls are scheduled when they're useful.
Do you work with in-house developers?
Yes, and it's one of the things I do best. I write precise tickets with acceptance criteria and check the result once it ships.
Is the work confidential?
Yes. I name clients only with their permission, and I'm happy to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
Something else? Ask me directly.
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