Web Design & Marketing in Santa Rosa Beach

North Florida Web Design

Why hire a local web design team?

Too often, businesses turn to national web design firms only to be left disappointed. We’ve seen it firsthand—clients come to us to repair overpriced, cookie-cutter websites that don’t reflect their brand or meet their goals. The worst part? These national companies operate at arm’s length, leaving you with little recourse for subpar results.

At North Florida Web, we’re different. Reputation means everything to us. As a local business, our success depends on the trust and satisfaction of our community. One unhappy client could jeopardize the relationships we’ve worked so hard to build. That’s why we take the time to understand your business, your audience, and your role in our local economy.

We design websites tailored not only to your specific needs but also to the unique flavor of the Emerald Coast. Your website won’t just look great—it’ll resonate with the community and give your business the competitive edge it needs to thrive.

Our team lives, works, and shops locally. We’re your neighbors, and we’re committed to delivering exceptional results because we know the value of keeping our standing in the community strong. And while the saying goes, “You can’t please everyone,” we beg to differ. At North Florida Web, we stand behind our work with a 100% quality guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, you don’t pay—it’s that simple.

When you choose North Florida Web, you’re not just getting a website. You’re gaining a partner who’s as invested in your success as you are. Read More About Us Here

One Page Wonder

$299
  • Free Domain Name
  • Hybrid Design
  • Mobile Optimized Theme
  • Pro Design Template
  • Easy Access Web Builder
  • SiteJet Builder
  • W3C Code Validation
  • Site Speed Optimization
  • 1 Page – 4 Sections
  • W3C Code Validation
  • Site Speed Optimization
  • SEO Optimized Page
  • 1 Contact Form
  • Domain Based Email
  • Google Maps Integration
  • 1 Month Free Hosting

Standard design

$799
  • Free Domain Name
  • Built on WordPress
  • WordPress Control Panel
  • 301 Redirects on Transfer
  • ReCAPTCHA Integration
  • Kadence Theme
  • Mobile Optimized
  • W3C Code Validation
  • Site Speed Optimization
  • Standard Web Template
  • Mobile Call Buttons
  • Google Maps Integration
  • SEO Optimized Front Page
  • Up to 5 Finished Pages
  • Up to 5 Custom Banners
  • 10 Licensed Stock Images
  • Up to 4 Contact Forms
  • Unlimited Email Addresses
  • One on One Training
  • 1 Month Free Hosting

PRO Web design

$1579
  • Free Domain Name
  • Built on WordPress
  • WordPress Control Panel
  • 301 Redirects on Transfer
  • ReCAPTCHA Integration
  • Premium Kadence Theme
  • Mobile Optimized
  • W3C Code Validation
  • Site Speed Optimization
  • Premium Web Template
  • Mobile Call Buttons
  • Social Media Icons
  • Google Maps Integration
  • SEO Optimized Front Page
  • Up to 10 Finished Pages
  • Up to 10 Custom Banners
  • Unlimited Stock Images
  • Unlimited Contact Forms
  • Unlimited Email Addresses
  • Google Essentials Upgrade
  • Social Media Upgrade
  • Content Creation Upgrade
  • Stock Images & Media Upgrade
  • Theme & Plugin Upgrades
  • Blog Design Engine
  • Facebook Business Page
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Google Seach Console
  • Google/Bing XML Sitemaps
  • One on One Training
  • 1 Year Website Management
  • 3 Months Free Hosting

Pro-Ecom Design

$2239
  • Free Domain Name
  • Ecommerce Engine Lvl 1
  • Built on WordPress
  • WordPress Control Panel
  • 301 Redirects on Transfer
  • ReCAPTCHA Integration
  • Premium Kadence Theme
  • Mobile Optimized
  • W3C Code Validation
  • Site Speed Optimization
  • Premium Web Template
  • Mobile Call Buttons
  • Social Media Icons
  • Google Maps Integration
  • SEO Optimized Front Page
  • Up to 25 Finished Pages
  • Up to 15 Custom Banners
  • Unlimited Stock Images
  • Unlimited Contact Forms
  • Unlimited Email Addresses
  • Google Essentials Upgrade
  • Social Media Upgrade
  • Content Creation Upgrade
  • Stock Images & Media Upgrade
  • Theme & Plugin Upgrades
  • Blog Design Engine
  • Facebook Business Page
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Google Search Console
  • Google/Bing XML Sitemaps
  • One on One Training
  • 1 Year Website Management
  • 6 Months Free Hosting
Supercharge Your Website with Web Engines!

Add-ons & Web Engines

What are “Web Engines” and “Add-ons?” Addons enhance the web design look and feel and functionality, whereas Web Engines are basically extensions crafted to infuse your standard website with advanced functionalities, transforming it into an interactive, “smart” platform. They act as the core driving force, much like an engine powers a car, enabling your website to perform tasks it’s specifically designed for, far beyond the basics. Web Engines are added to the price of your base web design.

eCommerce Engine

eCommerce Engine

eCommerce Engine Elevate Your Business with Our Ecommerce Package In today’s digital marketplace, your online storefront is not just a part of your business—it is your business. Embracing the right Ecommerce Package is essential for tapping into the expansive potential…

Add-on: Blog Section

Add-on: Blog Section

Blog Details Adding a blog component to your standard web design package offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance your online presence, engage your audience, and drive business growth. Here are some compelling selling points for including a blog in…

Online Courses LMS Engine

Online Courses LMS Engine

Expand Your Educational Reach with Our Online Courses Engine Discover the potential of digital learning with our Online Courses Engine, powered by LearnDash, one of the most trusted and innovative Learning Management Systems (LMS) available today. Designed for educators, institutions,…

The Question You’re Really Asking Yourself …

“Can I save money if I
build the website myself?”

It Depends, How Important is Your Time?

Nowadays, building a website isn’t rocket science. That’s right, we said it—let all the high-priced web designers roll their eyes and sigh. At North Florida Web, we’ve been building and marketing business and niche websites for over 20 years, so we know what we’re talking about. With the explosion of ready-made templates and drag-and-drop web builders like our Site Builder, building websites has never been easier!

With a little up-front money, some trial and error, and a fair amount of Googling “what does this mean,” most people can build and publish their own website. However, there are a lot of other nuts and bolts that go into publishing a successful website besides the actual building of the site. These include:

  • API services
  • Google Search Console
  • Google Business Manager
  • XML sitemaps
  • Analytics … and a host of other connective concerns that go into a modern website these days.
  • SMTP Mail connectivity

The thing is, every day we hire professionals to do tasks that, if we put our minds to it, we could probably do ourselves (Like installing a garbage disposal under the sink, I highly suggest hiring a plumber for this, Never Again!!! ). However, when you hire a pro, not only will you skip the chore, time, and aggravation, you’ll know that the job was done correctly and will stand the test of time. After all, it’s not like small business owners have a lot of spare time on their hands, right?

Building a website is akin to building a house; it’s never as cheap as you originally planned, and there’s going to be an unpleasant surprise along the way. The web, as it relates to web development, is generally free or very cheap to get set up to build a website. However, that is where the charity ends because those “free” plugins or extensions all have “premium” versions that you will need to purchase to get the full functionality of the plugin. You will probably need a premium theme because all of the “free themes” are desperately wanting.

Ensuring that Google and Bing can easily find and index the website is just as critical, or even more so, than building a nice-looking website. We call it “making the trains run on time.”

These are:

  • Web hosting
  • DNS management
  • Domain management
  • SEO optimization
  • Schema markup
  • Caching for server speed
  • CSS and HTML validation and much more.
  • Social media connectivity
  • Google My Business

One of the most common questions we get from customers is: “Why are you guys less expensive than the other web designers?” The answer is simple: because we can.

In our opinion, the main reason web design is so expensive is that everyone is specialized to a specific niche of the web design process. For example, most design agencies will reference “our design team” when quoting a job or marketing their business. The problem with the word “team” is not the aspect of a team working together; it’s the fact that they MUST have a team in order for them to build a website.

In today’s era of specialization, you have front-end designers, back-end coders, graphic designers, video editors, JavaScript gurus, CSS & HTML experts, IT and server support services, and more. Generally speaking, people in these positions usually only function in THAT specific role. Nowadays, asking a “front-end” person to work on “back-end” issues is analogous to going to a podiatrist for a sore throat. Meaning, most of the larger companies that we compete with have a “team” because it LITERALLY takes a team to build a functioning website.

At North Florida Web, we do 99% of all our projects in-house. This is because we are “the team.” North Florida Web is run by two experienced web developers who can complete almost every aspect of the web design process from start to finish. We don’t need a team of high-priced specialists making $90 an hour to do the things that it takes to get a website up and running. We can do it cheaper, simply because we can.

A Little More About North Florida Web …

North Florida Web was preceded by Aunica Media LLC, a web publishing company that, at its height, published and managed well over a hundred websites. In 2008, we sold the publishing end of our business and all of our revenue-producing web properties and semi-retired.

In retirement, we learned that we did not miss the business end of the publishing business, but we did miss the creative end of the business. We missed that feeling we would get from taking a single idea and transforming it into something both meaningful and beautiful. Something that has a purpose, form, and function. In short, we missed building websites.

So, we opened North Florida Web … and now we do webby things 🙂

WordPress vs. Wix:

If you’re deciding between WordPress and Wix for your website, the right choice depends on your goals, budget, and whether you’re building the site yourself or working with a professional.

While Wix is beginner-friendly, WordPress offers far greater flexibility, scalability, and long-term value—especially when paired with professional design services like those offered by North Florida Web. Let’s explore the differences and why WordPress, built by professionals, is the smarter choice.

1. Wix Pricing: The Long-Term Costs Add Up

Wix offers tiered pricing plans that seem affordable initially, but most businesses quickly find themselves needing higher-priced plans to unlock necessary features:

  • Light: $17/month
  • Core: $29/month
  • Business: $36/month
  • Business Elite: $159/month

For larger eCommerce sites, you’re effectively locked into the $159/month Business Elite plan. Over time, these costs can exceed your budget, leaving little room for growth or customizations.

WordPress Pricing Advantage with North Florida Web

When you partner with North Florida Web, we design your website on WordPress and provide hosting for just $10/month. With no hidden fees and fully transparent pricing, you’ll save significantly compared to Wix while getting a professionally crafted website tailored to your needs.

2. Ease of Use Comparison: WordPress vs. Wix

Wix: Great for DIY Beginners

WordPress: Better with Professional Help

WordPress has a steeper learning curve, but when you work with professionals like us, you skip the headaches. We handle the setup, design, and functionality, giving you the best of WordPress without the DIY frustration. The result? A website that looks amazing, functions flawlessly, and can grow with your business.

Ease of Use Verdict

  • Wix: Best for beginners building their own site.
  • WordPress: Best for professionally built websites with long-term goals in mind.

3. Design and Customization Comparison

Wix: Simple, But Limited

Wix provides pre-designed templates that are visually appealing but limited in customization. Significant design changes often require starting from scratch, making it hard to evolve your site as your brand grows.

WordPress: Tailored to Your Brand

With WordPress, the design possibilities are endless. When you work with North Florida Web, we create a custom website that reflects your brand and future-proofs your online presence. Whether you need advanced functionality or unique design elements, WordPress delivers.

Design Verdict

  • Wix: Good for templated designs with minor customizations.
  • WordPress: The ideal choice for professional websites that prioritize flexibility and branding.

4. Blogging Comparison

Wix: Simple Blogging Platform

Wix works for basic blogging needs, offering straightforward features like categories and tags. However, it lacks the depth and functionality required for serious bloggers.

WordPress: The Gold Standard for Blogging

WordPress remains the top choice for bloggers, from beginners to professionals. At North Florida Web, we optimize your blog for performance, SEO, and audience engagement, giving you a robust platform to grow your readership.

Blogging Verdict

  • Wix: Suitable for casual bloggers.
  • WordPress: Ideal for professional and high-growth blogging.

5. Speed and Performance Comparison

Wix: Managed Speed

Wix handles speed and performance for you, but the proprietary platform can sometimes limit advanced optimizations.

WordPress: Customized Performance

When North Florida Web builds your WordPress site, we ensure it’s optimized for speed and performance using tools like LiteSpeed Cache and QUIC.cloud. This means faster loading times, better user experiences, and higher rankings on Google.

Performance Verdict

  • Wix: Reliable for basic websites.
  • WordPress: Superior for performance-focused, professionally optimized websites.

6. Security Comparison

Wix: Set-and-Forget Security

Wix provides built-in security and automatic updates, which is great for beginners who don’t want to worry about maintenance.

WordPress: Professional-Grade Security

When you work with North Florida Web, we handle your WordPress site’s security, ensuring it’s always up to date and protected with industry-leading plugins and practices. From SSL certificates to backups, we’ve got you covered.

Security Verdict

  • Wix: Best for beginners managing their own site.
  • WordPress: Perfect for professionally managed websites with advanced security needs.

7. eCommerce Comparison

Wix: Basic Online Stores

Wix’s eCommerce tools are easy to set up but limited in scalability and functionality. Costs can also escalate quickly for larger stores.

WordPress: Powered by WooCommerce

For businesses serious about eCommerce, WordPress with WooCommerce is unbeatable. At North Florida Web, we set up and customize your store to handle everything from inventory to shipping, payment gateways, and more—without the hefty monthly fees of Wix.

eCommerce Verdict

  • Wix: Best for small, straightforward online stores.
  • WordPress: Ideal for professional-grade eCommerce stores that grow with your business.

8. Marketing and SEO Comparison

Wix: Beginner-Friendly SEO

Wix offers basic SEO tools like metadata editing and guided tutorials, suitable for those with minimal experience.

WordPress: Advanced Marketing Power

With WordPress, you get access to powerful marketing tools like Yoast SEO and Google Analytics integration. At North Florida Web, we optimize your site for SEO, helping you rank higher on search engines and drive more traffic.

Marketing and SEO Verdict

  • Wix: Good for beginners with limited needs.
  • WordPress: Superior for advanced marketing strategies and professional SEO optimization.

9. Extensions and Add-ons

Wix: Limited App Market

Wix provides a curated selection of apps, which are easy to use but lack the variety and flexibility of WordPress plugins.

WordPress: Unlimited Options

WordPress offers over 60,000 plugins to add any functionality you need. Whether it’s advanced forms, analytics, or memberships, North Florida Web will implement the best solutions for your goals.

Extensions Verdict

  • Wix: Best for simplicity.
  • WordPress: Unmatched flexibility, especially when built by professionals.

10. Support Comparison

Wix: Hands-On Customer Support

Wix provides a centralized support system, ideal for those needing quick help with their DIY website.

WordPress: Backed by Experts

WordPress support is community-driven, but when you work with North Florida Web, we become your go-to experts. You’ll have direct access to professional support whenever you need it.

Support Verdict

  • Wix: Great for DIY users.
  • WordPress: Best for users with professional support on their side.

Why Choose North Florida Web for Your WordPress Website?

When you’re building a website with professionals, WordPress is the obvious choice. Here’s why partnering with us gives you the best value:

  1. Custom Design: We tailor your site to your brand and future goals.
  2. Affordable Hosting: Just $10/month for high-performance WordPress hosting.
  3. SEO and Marketing Expertise: We optimize your site to drive traffic and conversions.
  4. Professional Support: From updates to troubleshooting, we’ve got you covered.
  5. Scalability: Whether you’re a blogger, a local business, or a growing eCommerce store, your site will grow with you.

Some of Our Webby Work …

Questions?
Call or drop us a line.

(850) 368-9833

Web Design Lead Form - 11-27-24

Tell Us About Your Project:


Frequently Asked

Web Engines are website plugins that completely alter how your website operates and how it interacts with your visitors. In many cases, the Web Engine is as large or larger than the website itself. Website Addons are enhancements to your basic design structure. They do not dictate how the website operates, rather they enhance it to do the job better.

Yes, Addons can be purchased separately if you have an existing website. However the box pricing will most likely need to be changed. Depending on the website, how it was built and which platform it uses will dictate the pricing of adding the addons to an existing website.

The best way to find out about which addons, engines and direction your website needs to take is to contact us for a free personal conversation. We love talking about Webby Things! 850-368-9833

Absolutely, and in many cases our clients often do just that. We also include many of our addons in the pre-designed website packages.

Yes and No. Most addons are setup with the design and require no further maintenance or upkeep. Web Engines, on the other hand, are systems that you will need to be able to work within, like an eCommerce store. When we install Web Engines we always include one on one training to help you get acclimated on how your new website functions. Alternatively, we also offer professional website management services, which you can find here.

Hands on, local, fast and friendly help. We’re only a phone call away!

Addons, no. Web Engines typically use a plugin from another developer that will need to be updated on a regular basis. For this reason most plugins have an annual fee, and some, like restaurant menus, have a monthly subscription. We will spell out all cost and options with you before we build your website.

Simply call us, or fill out a support ticket here and we will get back with you ASAP!

We understand, things happen and priorities change. If you contact us via our support tickets or by phone withing 3 days of your purchase we can stop building and offer a full refund. After 3 days, and within 7 days we will offer a 50% refund on your deposit, after that time you will be responsible for the full cost of the website. You can see all of our policies here.

We can use your existing website as a reference but we prefer not to build onto your existing website. In rare cases we may do this at our discretion. If you wish to use your existing domain we can build your new business website on a testing server and switch it over when your new website is finished.

Absolutely! Lock-Stock & Barrel. The web design that we create for you is yours to do with however you see fit. We can host it for you, or you can ask us to put it elsewhere.

Yes! We love it when our clients take control of their website and learn to manage it on their own. We’ll provide you with a set of comprehensive video tutorials to help you learn your way around, as well provide you with a training session to help get you on your way. We also offer professional business website management services if you’d rather we manage it. We can affordably provide on-going support for all of our clients.

Once your web design is completed, great hosting is super important! That’s why we offer high-speed cloud hosting for a great price. Although you can move your website at anytime, as it belongs to you, we think you’ll be more than satisfied here with North Florida’s best hosting services.

If you are an local individual, or you’re a local Florida business that is located inside of the Emerald Coast Region, we can begin work with a 25% deposit, and the balance upon completion. If you are outside of our service area, these terms will change from job to job.