Common questions about working with us

Pricing, timelines, technology choices, and how AI fits into your project.

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Psst... As you dive deeper with more FAQs, we're not just answering; we're subtly boosting our SEO game. A cheeky tactic? Maybe. But it's all in good fun and smart strategy.

How much does a website cost in New Zealand?

Depends what you need. A clean brochure site is $3,000-$6,000. Something custom with a CMS and forms runs $6,000-$12,000. E-commerce starts around $10,000. If you want AI automations baked in — chatbots, lead capture, smart workflows — that is $12,000-$25,000. We charge $115/hr and always scope upfront. No surprises.

What makes Makings different from other Auckland web agencies?

We build with AI at the core. Not just a nice website — the automations behind it too. Lead bots, smart follow-ups, reporting that runs itself. We use Nuxt.js with server-side rendering so your site loads fast and ranks well. And we use AI in our own dev process, which means we ship faster and cost less than most agencies.

How long does it take to build a website?

Brochure site: 3-4 weeks. E-commerce or custom app: 6-10 weeks. A chatbot or lead capture system can be live in 1-2 weeks. We work in weekly sprints so you see progress the whole way. Biggest hold-up is usually content — get your copy and images sorted early and we fly.

Do I need a custom website or should I use Shopify or WordPress?

Shopify if you are selling products and want something proven. WordPress for content-heavy blogs. Custom Nuxt.js or React when you need specific functionality, speed, or AI integrations. We build on all three and will tell you straight which one fits. No platform pushing.

What is AI automation and how can it help my business?

It handles the stuff you do not want to do manually. Lead capture, follow-up emails, chatbots answering questions at 2am, reporting dashboards that pull data from everywhere. Your team spends less time on admin, more time on the work that actually makes money. Most of our clients see ROI in the first month.

Can I update the website content myself after launch?

Yep. Every site comes with Directus — a clean CMS where you log in, click what you want to change, and save. No code required. We do a walkthrough after launch so your team is sorted. For bigger stuff like new features or design changes, just book us in.
FAQ Pic

Psst... As you dive deeper with more FAQs, we're not just answering; we're subtly boosting our SEO game. A cheeky tactic? Maybe. But it's all in good fun and smart strategy.

More questions

Details on our tech stack, hosting, SEO approach, migrations, and getting started.

Do you build Shopify stores for New Zealand businesses?

Yep. Custom Shopify stores, migrations, and custom apps. For businesses that need both a marketing site and a store, we pair Nuxt.js for the frontend with Shopify for transactions. Fast site, reliable checkout.

What technology stack do you use and why does it matter?

Nuxt.js and Vue.js frontend, Directus CMS, Railway hosting, Cloudflare CDN. Server-side rendering means Google sees your content straight away. Headless CMS means your content survives any redesign. Modern hosting means your site stays fast when traffic spikes.

How do you handle website hosting and ongoing maintenance?

Railway for hosting with Cloudflare in front for CDN, SSL, and DDoS protection. Auto-scales, deploys instantly, and way faster than traditional NZ shared hosting. Monthly support packages available, or just book us when you need something.

What does your web design process look like from start to finish?

Discovery session first. Then we design in Figma — you can click through it and approve before we write a line of code. Weekly sprints during the build. Full go-live checklist (performance, SEO, security, mobile). Two weeks post-launch monitoring and CMS training.

Do you work with businesses outside Auckland?

Absolutely. Based in Auckland but we work with businesses across NZ, Australia, and Fiji. Video calls and shared project boards — same quality whether you are across the road or across the Tasman.

How do you ensure my website ranks well on Google?

Built in, not bolted on. Server-side rendering, proper meta tags, schema markup, sitemaps, image optimisation — all standard. We set up Search Console and Analytics at launch. Want to go further? We do ongoing SEO too.

What do I need to provide to get my project started?

Your brand assets (logo, colours, fonts — we can help if you do not have them), your content (we give you a template), and access to any systems we need to hook into. We kick off with a paid discovery session that nails down the scope before any code gets written.

Can you help migrate my website from WordPress or another platform?

Yes — it is one of our specialities. WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, legacy PHP — we have migrated them all. Full content audit, SEO redirects so you keep your rankings, and DNS cutover with under 5 minutes downtime. Nothing falls through the cracks.
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