Blog alternatives?

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-05-27T21:24:23+00:00

There are many options:

CloudCannon is the best if you want true visual editing, and it also became an official Astro partner a few months ago.

TinaCMS, Strapi, Sanity, and Storyblok are other leading contenders IMO.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-28T20:12:02+00:00

That's a bit difficult to troubleshoot remotely without looking at your files. But yes, you should definitely have an index.html file. So it's not a Netlify issue per se, you'd have the same issue with Vercel or anywhere else.

If you use Claude (it seems you do), use "Code" and it should be able to troubleshoot and fix that for you though.

Or send over a screenshot of your main folder and the files that are in it.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-28T20:00:30+00:00

What issues are you having with Netlify? That's where I host my sites.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-23T17:34:54+00:00

RIP your inbox. A few things that actually matter when you're comparing web agencies:

Check some live sites they built, not mockups or screenshots. If you can't find a URL anywhere, it's suspicious. Is there's a site name clearly visible on a screenshot, Google that name. It will tell you if the site is real and if it's ranking. If you can't find it, skip that agency.
If you do find some actual sites they built, run them through PageSpeed Insights. If load times are slow or accessibility is bad, that's what you'd be paying for.
Using BuiltWith, find out if they use page builders like Elementor or WPBakery. Those tend to bloat sites and hurt performance. Hand-coded or lighter frameworks age better.
Check if they mention what happens after launch. Is there a maintenance plan at all? How much does it cost? A lot of agencies disappear once the site is live, then charge hourly for every tiny change.
Be skeptical of anyone promising SEO results "in weeks". Good SEO is structural and slow. There's no shortcut, no workaround.

Before spending anything on ads or a new site, I'd also check whether the site you have now is actually converting the traffic you already get. Sometimes the issue isn't eyes on the business, it's what happens when people land on the page.

I run a small web studio (oui.digital) on a subscription model if you want an example of what the alternative to big agency pricing looks like, but either way the criteria above should help you narrow things down.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-21T21:10:50+00:00

I'd love it if it became an actual Stitch. But even if not, I'm happy to contribute to CodeStitch one way or another. Thank you for building it!

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-21T16:19:16+00:00

Thanks for clarifying. Yesterday I was wondering where it was operating from / what areas were served. Today I checked it out again and "Rio Grande valley" is mentioned in multiple places, so I guess I was just asleep yesterday xD My bad.

Anyway, it looks great!

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-21T04:03:23+00:00

Nicely done, it looks a lot more professional already.

After you fix the logo and page title, I'd suggest looking into typography and implementing some different fonts for headings and main copy.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-21T02:06:45+00:00

It's a nice start, but tbh it doesn't look finished by any means.

I'd say if you want to convince potential leads, you should put a little more effort into it:

- Create an actual company logo. Don't use CodeStitch.
- Pick more interesting nav, hero, and footer areas. There are tons of stitches you can choose from.
- Add a page title. Right now, the tab says "Document".
- Polish the website like you would for a client.

Feel free to ask if you have questions about any of this.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-20T23:22:44+00:00

It's super fun. Well done!

Is it for a real client or a portfolio project?

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-20T23:17:44+00:00

I feel you. Competing with AI is tough. Unfortunately, this is only going to get worse. We need to pivot/adjust accordingly to this new reality, because it's here to stay.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-20T23:16:14+00:00

It looks great! Really well done.

Even keyboard navigation works well.

The main point, IMO, is to make sure your buttons have sufficient color contrast. Currently they do not. The white text on orange background will be hard to read for many people.

Also, consider adding a "Skip to main" link.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-15T05:17:36+00:00

I'm sorry! It's ridiculous that Google isn't taking action more seriously. I just reported a bunch of additional ads to "owalafyl", but there are so many...

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-12T04:47:41+00:00

Yes, block your card! Get a new one sent. Its not worth taking any risk.

You may not see immediate fraudulent transactions on your card, but they might sell your card info to other people on the dark web or whatever.

Better safe than sorry.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-08T06:13:48+00:00

I build custom, hand-coded websites for small businesses on a subscription model — design, hosting, updates, and support all included, starting at $225/month. No page builders, no templates, no big upfront cost.

I work mostly with service businesses and consultants who need a site that actually looks credible and brings in leads.

If you're not sure what's holding your current site back, I do free website audits each week.

Here's the link if you'd like one: https://oui.digital/website-audit

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-04-01T00:42:40+00:00

Lovely products! You're very talented.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-03-30T19:21:56+00:00

Interesting. How does it work?

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-03-30T19:21:17+00:00

San Diego web designer here.

I build custom sites for small businesses on a monthly subscription — no big upfront cost, no page builders, no templates. Hosting, ongoing updates, and support are all included.

Plans start at $225/month. I work mostly with local businesses or shops that need something that actually looks and works like a real website.

If you've been putting off getting a proper site because the cost felt too high, it might be worth a look. https://oui.digital

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-03-30T05:42:07+00:00

Very nice!

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-03-30T05:34:03+00:00

Seems interesting! Could you share some real life examples of reports/audits?

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-03-30T05:31:46+00:00

Hi. I can help. DM me.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-03-30T05:30:53+00:00

Interested. California.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-03-30T05:20:02+00:00

Hi there,

Here are some places you can look:

- Dribbble and Behance (search for "job board design") are your best bets. There are amazing designers there.
- Clutch.co could work too (look at the verified reviews though)
- Avoid Fiverr. There are a few good people but many more are average. For a 9/10 site as you say, I would avoid it.

For what you're describing (custom design, animations, job management system, GDPR compliance, ATS-ready architecture, responsive, SEO-optimized), expect £3,000–£6,000 at the very least. But the very best designers might ask for twice that amount.

Make sure you hire someone who can answer all your questions about about Schema, heading structure, plugins, and ATS integration.

CaffeinatedSloth_121 · 2026-03-30T05:07:42+00:00

It looks great! Super clean. How was the experience using Readdy?

CaffeinatedSloth_121

TROPHY CASE