Questions, answered

Slate's professional websites start from S$800, as a one-time payment. SEO, AEO and GEO (AI search) optimisation are included, so your site is ready for Google, Google Maps and AI assistants from day one. After launch, maintenance is S$10 a month. The final price depends on the pages and features you need, and you get a fixed quote after the free audit.

A simple site usually takes a few weeks from the moment we have your text and photos. Bigger sites with custom features take longer. The most common delay is waiting for content, so having it ready speeds things up.

Yes. Social platforms are rented space. A website is something you own. It's also where Google and AI tools go to check you're a real business, and where customers go before they contact you.

It loads fast, works on phones, says clearly what you do and who it's for, shows proof like reviews and past work, and makes the next step obvious, whether that's calling, booking or messaging.

Definitely. Most people in Singapore visit on their phones, and Google looks at the mobile version of your site first. If it's awkward on mobile, you lose rankings and customers.

The main content should show up in about two and a half seconds on a normal mobile connection. Slow sites lose visitors and rank lower. Big images, cheap hosting and unnecessary scripts are the usual culprits.

A template is quicker and cheaper but looks like a lot of other sites and has limits. A custom site is designed around your business and your goals, with exactly the features you need.

If you want to, yes. We can set it up so you can change text and images easily, or we can handle updates for you.

Yes. We set up hosting and your domain in your name so you stay in control, and we make sure HTTPS and renewals are taken care of.

They're Google's measurements of how fast your page loads, how quickly it responds and how stable it looks while loading. They count towards your ranking, and they're a good sign of how pleasant your site is to use.

Website builders are quick to start but can be slow and limiting. WordPress is flexible but needs updates and security care. A custom build is fastest and fits your business exactly. We recommend what suits your budget, goals and how much you want to edit yourself.

At minimum: a home page, a page for each main service, an about page, a contact page with your address and map if customers visit, an FAQ and a privacy policy.

If your website collects personal data, such as names, emails or phone numbers through a form, you should explain how you use and protect it, in line with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).

For most Singapore businesses, yes. Many customers prefer to message rather than call or fill in a form, and a WhatsApp button makes the first step easy.

Yes. We keep what works, such as content and pages that already rank, and rebuild the rest so it is faster, clearer and better at bringing in enquiries.

SEO means search engine optimisation. It's improving your website and online presence so Google and other search engines show you to people searching for what you offer.

Most businesses see movement within about three to six months, with stronger results after that. Competitive keywords take longer. Fixing technical problems and focusing on local searches can show results sooner.

At Slate, SEO, AEO and GEO optimisation are included in every website, which starts from S$800 as a one-time payment plus S$10 a month for maintenance. If you need ongoing SEO work beyond that, we quote it after the free audit.

Local SEO helps you show up for searches near you, like 'dentist near me' or 'aircon servicing Jurong'. It depends on a well-filled Google Business Profile, consistent business details and good reviews.

It's the free listing that appears on Google Search and Maps with your hours, reviews and contact details. For local businesses it's often the single most important thing to get right.

Publish clear content that matches what your customers search for, keep your site fast and mobile friendly, earn links and reviews from trusted places, and keep your business details the same everywhere.

Keywords are the words people type into Google. Good ones match what your customers actually search, have realistic competition for your size, and show that someone is ready to buy.

Backlinks are links to your site from other websites. Links from trusted, relevant sites help your rankings. Cheap bulk links can hurt you.

No honest provider can promise that, because Google decides. What we can do is agree a measurable target with you, like enquiries or visibility, and stand behind it with our ten-week guarantee.

It's the behind-the-scenes basics: page speed, mobile layout, secure HTTPS, a clean site structure, sitemaps and structured data, so search engines can read and trust your site.

Yes, especially for local searches. The number, quality and freshness of your Google reviews affect where you show up and whether people click on you.

SEO builds free, lasting visibility but takes time. Paid ads get you in front of customers straight away but stop the moment you stop paying. Lots of businesses use both.

Common reasons are an unverified or incomplete Google Business Profile, the wrong primary category, too few reviews, inconsistent business details across the web, or a suspended listing. An audit shows which applies to you.

Ask every happy customer soon after a good experience, make it easy with a short link or QR code, and reply to every review. Never pay for reviews or only ask happy customers, as this breaks Google's policies.

Mention the areas you serve on your website and Google profile, create pages for your main services and areas where it makes sense, and collect reviews from customers in those areas. Your physical distance to the searcher also plays a part.

Yes. A dedicated page for each main service helps search engines and AI assistants understand exactly what you offer, and lets you answer the questions specific to that service.

They keep your listing active and give customers a reason to choose you, such as offers and news. They are a small but useful part of local SEO.

Usually yes. Rankings change, and many competitors leave gaps, such as weak service pages, few reviews or no AI-ready content. An audit shows where you can realistically win.

AEO is about making your business easy for AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews to find, understand and recommend. It uses clear structured content, FAQ markup and consistent business information, on top of normal SEO.

SEO is about ranking in a list of search results. AEO is about being named or quoted inside the direct answers AI tools give. They overlap, and good SEO is a solid base for AEO.

There's no secret switch, but you can improve your chances. Keep your site clear and factual, add structured data and FAQ content, keep your business details consistent across the web, and earn mentions and reviews on trusted sites.

It's a standard bit of code that tells search engines and AI tools exactly what your content is, such as a business, a service, a review or a set of questions and answers.

It marks up your questions and answers so machines can read them directly. That helps your answers show up in search features and get used by AI tools.

A plain text file at the root of a website that gives AI tools a short summary of who you are and what matters. It's a new convention and it costs almost nothing to add.

Not completely, but more people now ask AI tools for recommendations. The safest move is to be visible in both normal search and AI answers.

Yes. Ask the major AI tools the questions your customers would ask and see if you come up. Our free audit includes a quick check of how visible you are.

Usually it's thin or unclear website content, missing structured data, inconsistent business details around the web, or too few trusted mentions and reviews.

GEO is the practice of making your content easy for generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, Claude and Google AI Overviews, to find, understand and cite. It overlaps heavily with AEO and good SEO.

Each tool works differently and none publish the full details. In general they draw on web sources and search indexes, and favour businesses whose facts are clear, consistent and backed up by other sources such as reviews and mentions.

Yes. Many AI tools rely on search indexes and web pages to build their answers, so strong SEO is the foundation for showing up in AI answers too.

If you want AI assistants to recommend you, it usually makes sense to let reputable AI and search crawlers read your public pages. You can still keep private areas private.

It varies. Some tools update quickly from live search, others more slowly. Clear, consistent information and steady mentions across the web build visibility over weeks to months.

Short, direct answers to specific questions, clear facts about who you are and what you do, lists and steps, and pages that are well structured with headings and FAQs.

Start with a budget you can keep up long enough to learn what works, then increase it once you know your cost per enquiry. The right number depends on your margins and how many customers you need.

Ads can bring in traffic within days, but the first few weeks are about testing audiences, messages and landing pages. Results usually get better as data builds up.

Google Ads reach people who are actively searching for what you sell. Meta ads, on Facebook and Instagram, reach people based on their interests before they search. Many businesses do well with both.

It depends on your margins. A good target is one where each enquiry or sale earns you more than it cost to get, after your own costs. We agree that target with you before launch.

Yes. Your ad accounts are in your name and you can see all spend and results at any time.

Usually the landing page, the offer or the targeting is the problem, and sometimes tracking is broken. Fixing the page and the message often does more than raising the budget.

A lot of it can be. We set up proper conversion tracking for calls, forms and messages first, so every dollar can be measured.

Boosting is quick but limited. Proper campaigns in Meta Ads Manager let you choose the goal, audience, placements and tracking, which usually gives better results for the same budget.

Ads on Facebook and Instagram that open a WhatsApp chat with your business when tapped. They suit Singapore customers who prefer messaging, and the enquiries can be tracked.

Yes. Both Google and Meta let you target by location, so you can focus on the neighbourhoods and areas you serve.

Tracking that records valuable actions, such as calls, WhatsApp taps, form submissions and purchases, and ties them back to the ad that produced them. Without it, you cannot tell which ads make money.

It depends on your industry, offer, budget, competition and how quickly you respond. We look at your situation in the free audit and agree a realistic target in writing.

It depends where your customers spend time. Instagram and TikTok suit visual and lifestyle businesses, Facebook reaches broader local audiences, and LinkedIn suits B2B. We pick based on where your buyers actually are.

Consistency beats volume. A few good posts a week that you can keep up for months is better than daily posting that fizzles out.

Branding is how your business looks, sounds and feels, including your logo, colours and tone. A clear brand makes you look trustworthy and memorable, which helps every other channel work harder.

Not usually. Followers are a vanity number unless they turn into customers. We focus on content that brings in messages, bookings and sales.

Yes. We plan, create and post content, including posts and reels, or we can coach you if you'd rather run it yourself.

For many consumer businesses, such as food, beauty, retail and home services, it can reach a lot of local people cheaply through short videos. It suits businesses that can show something visual regularly.

A mix of what you do, who you are, proof such as results and reviews, answers to common questions and timely offers. Each post should lead to a clear next step.

It helps. A logo, colours and tone of voice set first make the website more consistent and faster to build.

There is no fixed rule. A refresh makes sense when the brand looks dated, no longer fits who you serve, or looks inconsistent across channels.

Small sites get targeted a lot because they're often unprotected. A hacked site can cost you customer trust, leak data, and get flagged or blocked by Google.

HTTPS encrypts the connection between your visitor and your site. Browsers warn people away from sites without it, and it's a small ranking signal, so yes, you need it.

They're settings your server sends that tell browsers how to handle your site safely, which helps block common attacks like clickjacking and script injection.

Warning signs include strange pages or redirects, a browser or Google security warning, a sudden drop in traffic, unknown admin users, and spam emails coming from your domain.

Take it offline or put it in maintenance mode, change all your passwords, restore a clean backup, fix what let the attacker in, and check for hidden backdoors. Contact us and we'll help.

Yes. Regular backups stored away from your website are the quickest way to recover from hacks, mistakes or failed updates.

It adds a second step, like a code on your phone, when you log in. It stops most account takeovers even if a password gets stolen, so turn it on for your website, email and ad accounts.

They are email authentication records on your domain. Together they help prove your emails are genuine, protect against people pretending to be you, and help your emails reach inboxes instead of spam.

Indirectly, yes. HTTPS is expected, and a hacked site can be flagged or lose rankings. A secure, healthy site protects the visibility you have built.

Yes. Under the PDPA, organisations must make reasonable security arrangements to protect the personal data they hold. This is general information, not legal advice.

Nope. No lock-in, no minimum term and no exit fees. If you want to pause or stop, just tell us. And you own your website, domain and ad accounts from day one, so you walk away with everything we built.

Ads can bring enquiries within days. Google Maps and listing fixes often show within weeks. SEO and AI search build over months. We agree a target with you in writing before we start.

Yes. Tell us your budget and we will build a plan around it, starting with what will bring in customers fastest. You can start with one service, such as a website or fixing your Google listing, and add more as it pays off.

Before a campaign goes live, we agree on a target with you in writing. That could be enquiries, traffic, rankings or cost per lead. If we haven't beaten it ten weeks after launch, we keep working for free until we do.

Slate is a digital growth studio in Singapore. We build websites and handle SEO, AI search, ads, social media, branding and website security, all under one roof so everything works toward the same goal.

You work directly with the founder and the people doing the work. There's no account manager passing your brief down a chain, and no junior quietly running your ad spend while you pay senior rates.

Singapore, and we work with Singapore businesses. You can reach us on WhatsApp at +65 8954 7914 or email foyshal@slate.sg.

Our prices start from S$800 one-time for a professional website (SEO, AEO and GEO included, then S$10 a month maintenance), S$600 a month for Google and Meta ads, S$700 a month for social media content and S$100 for graphic design. After the free audit you get a fixed quote with no hidden fees, and there is no lock-in.

A short, plain-English review of your business online: your website speed, SEO, how visible you are to AI tools, and basic security. You get the top fixes in priority order by email, and you owe us nothing afterwards.

Yes, always. Everything is set up in your name. If you ever leave, you keep it all.

Fill in the free audit form on our home page or message us on WhatsApp. We'll look at your business, agree on a goal and a target, then build and launch.

Mostly small and growing Singapore businesses, such as clinics, service businesses, retail, F&B, trades and startups. If you want more customers from the internet, we can probably help.

Of course. Message us on WhatsApp or send an email. No pressure and no hard sell.

A team of specialists in Singapore. You deal directly with the people doing the work, not a chain of account managers.

We focus on Singapore SMEs, because we know how customers here search and buy. If you are elsewhere, message us and we will tell you honestly whether we are a good fit.

Two examples: Anew Dental in Sin Ming now gets about 17 extra appointments, 30 WhatsApp conversations, 15 calls and 28 direction requests every month on top of its usual patients, from a modest Google Ads budget. Spartans Boxing Club Jurong West, our client for three years, gets about 30 free trial bookings a month, and ChatGPT names both businesses first in their area. Results depend on budget and starting point, and we agree targets in writing.

Ask who will do the work, how they measure results, what they report and how often, whether accounts are in your name, what the contract and exit terms are, and for examples or references from similar businesses.

Good agencies explain their plan in plain language, set measurable targets, track real outcomes such as enquiries and sales, put accounts in your name and are open about what they can and cannot promise.

In-house works if you have the time and skills across many areas. An agency gives you a team of specialists without hiring each one. Many SMEs start with an agency and bring parts in-house later.

What was spent, what it produced (enquiries, bookings, sales), the cost per result, what changed and why, and what happens next. It should be readable in a few minutes.

Guaranteed number one rankings, vague reporting, ad or website accounts owned by the agency instead of you, long lock-in contracts and results measured only in likes or impressions.

It varies widely with scope, from one-off projects to monthly retainers. At Slate, websites start from S$800 one-time, Google and Meta ads management from S$600 a month, social media content from S$700 a month and graphic design from S$100. The useful question is what each dollar brings back, so we agree a target with you in writing first.

One team for website, search, ads and content keeps everything consistent and makes results easier to track, as long as that team has real specialists in each area.

Most people decide where to eat on their phone, often minutes before they go. We make sure your stall, restaurant or catering business is the one they find, trust and pick. See how we help food and beverage.

Patients choose a clinic they can trust, close to them, that is easy to book. We help dental clinics, chiropractors, physiotherapists and spas get found, look credible and turn searches into appointments. See how we help clinics and wellness.

Buyers, sellers and landlords look you up before they call. We help property agents and agencies build a credible personal brand, generate genuine enquiries and stay within CEA advertising guidelines. See how we help real estate.

Homeowners spend weeks looking at portfolios before they call anyone. We help interior designers, painters and renovation contractors show their best work, reach the right homeowners and filter out enquiries that are not a fit. See how we help interior design and renovation.

Neighbourhood businesses live on walk-ins and regulars. We make sure people nearby can find you, see what makes you special and know exactly when to come in. See how we help cafes and local shops.

When a roof leaks or pests appear, people call the first trustworthy business they find. We help roofers, pool installers, landscapers and pest control companies be that business. See how we help home services.

Clients choose professional firms they trust. We help accountants, law firms and consultants show expertise clearly, rank for the questions clients ask and be named by AI assistants. See how we help accountants and law firms.

Car owners love seeing the result before they book. We help detailers, groomers and workshops show their work, get found nearby and fill their booking calendar. See how we help car care.

Solar is a considered purchase, and people research it carefully. We help solar and energy companies explain the value clearly and reach property owners who are ready to talk. See how we help solar and energy.

Online businesses live and die by traffic and conversion. We help stores and software companies get found in search and AI answers, run profitable ads and turn visitors into customers. See how we help e-commerce and saas.

Business buyers research quietly and compare carefully. We help companies that sell to other businesses look credible, explain what they do clearly and generate qualified enquiries. See how we help offices and b2b.

Our prices start from S$800 one-time for a professional website (SEO, AEO and GEO included, then S$10 a month maintenance), S$600 a month for Google and Meta ads, S$700 a month for social media content and S$100 for graphic design. After the free audit you get a fixed quote with no hidden fees, and there is no lock-in.

At Slate, Google and Meta ads management starts from S$600 a month. That covers two Google campaigns and two Meta (Facebook and Instagram) campaigns, with conversion tracking and weekly tuning. Your ad spend is paid directly to Google and Meta from accounts in your own name.

At Slate, social media content starts from S$700 a month. You get at least 15 posts and 4 to 8 reels a month depending on demand, a monthly content plan, captions and hashtags, a posting schedule and a monthly results report.

At Slate, graphic design starts from S$100, for things like flyers, menus, social media graphics and banners. Larger brand identity work is quoted after a short chat.

S$10 a month at Slate, after a one-time website build that starts from S$800. SEO, AEO and GEO optimisation are included in the build.