Why is choosing so hard?
Jordan and Saudi Arabia have hundreds of agencies and freelancers building websites, and quotes vary widely. The difference does not show in the mock-ups; it shows after launch. Does the site appear on Google? Is it fast on a phone? Does anyone answer when you need a change?
Here are ten questions we suggest asking any company, including us.
10 questions to ask before you pay
- Where are your live sites? Ask for links to real sites live today under their owners' names, not screenshots. Open them on your phone. Here is our work.
- Whose name is the domain registered in? It should be yours, or in an account you own.
- Is the site ready for Google from day one? Titles and descriptions per page, sitemap.xml, Schema, Google Search Console. More in our guide to ranking on Google.
- Can AI assistants read it? Does robots.txt allow AI crawlers? Is there an llms.txt? See our guide to appearing in ChatGPT.
- How fast is it on mobile? Ask for PageSpeed Insights results on their past sites.
- Is Arabic done properly? Correct right-to-left layout, clear Arabic fonts, copy written in Arabic rather than machine-translated, and a properly linked English version if you need one.
- How does a visitor reach me? A visible WhatsApp button, a form that lands in your inbox, a tap-to-call number.
- What exactly does the price include? Pages, languages, who writes the copy, photos, first-year domain and hosting, rounds of edits. In writing.
- What does monthly support include? Hosting, SSL, edits, backups, articles if any, and a monthly report with numbers.
- What about security? HTTPS, spam protection on forms, updates. Neglected sites get hacked.
Warning signs
| Sign | Why it is a problem |
|---|---|
| "We guarantee #1 on Google" | Nobody can guarantee a position |
| No links to live sites | Screenshots are easy; live sites are proof |
| Domain in the agency's name | You can lose your address if things end |
| Very low price with no detail | Usually a template with no SEO and no support |
| No written quote | Nothing to refer to in a dispute |
How we work at Hook Marketing
At Hook Marketing in Amman, our dedicated web team builds websites for businesses in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Every site is built in Arabic and English where needed and set up for Google and AI search from the start: Schema, sitemap, llms.txt, IndexNow and Search Console, with a WhatsApp button and a form that reaches your inbox. Details on our web design page.
Want an honest opinion on your current site or a quote you received? Message us.
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Want this done for your business?
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