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"Honesty is the
best Policy"

We value honesty and transparency and do not hold back on exposing those who are not. 

Exposing the truth about website design and hosting

Most website development companies don’t create their own website management platforms because it would take thousands of hours and £££'s to do so. Instead, they use well-established, free platforms that are already available (for example WordPress or Joomla). Unfortunately, many web development companies do not tell you this.

Most website development companies don’t build websites from scratch. Instead, they use advanced frameworks, often with drag-and-drop tools, similar to WIX and SquareSpace, to design pages and customise content. However, many companies don’t disclose this either.

We believe businesses are beginning to realise what has been true for years - with content and structure decided, creating a professional-looking website can take just a few hours, without having to code. As a result, paying over £1,500 to a web developer is becoming harder to justify.

Many website developers aren’t upfront about hosting. A fast hosting server is crucial for improving your Google ranking, but many design agencies charge £150+ per year while using cheap reseller hosting. For example, a reseller can pay just £40 per month to host thousands of websites on a shared server (SiteGround), then charge each client £150+ per year—making a significant profit.

However, these overloaded servers—like those used by WIX and SquareSpace—can slow down your website, hurting its search ranking. At Cloud9, we use dedicated servers, ensuring better performance and a higher chance of ranking well on Google. After all, a website isn’t useful if people can’t find it.

You have full control of your website.

What we use to build and support your website

Joomla

We use Joomla rather than WordPress to manage your website because it offers better built-in security and cleaner code, which helps improve search rankings. Unlike WordPress, Joomla is less widely used, making it a less common target for hackers.

YooTheme Pro

We use YooTheme Pro as our framework for building your website. This is because the framework is well-supported, produces code that is very search engine friendly, and comes with hundreds of pre-built elements, making it easy and flexible to use. There are also over 400 base designs to choose from, with each providing the flexibility to make your own unique website at speed and with ease.

Quality Hosting

Reliable, high-speed hosting is the foundation of your website. It plays a crucial role in search rankings and overall performance, making quality hosting essential for success.

At Cloud9, we offer premium hosting on a server exclusively for our customers. Unlike shared reseller hosting used by many web design companies -or platforms like WIX and SquareSpace - our approach provides more resources for your website and significantly reduces security risks.

We partner with IONOS, a leader in high-performance servers and top-tier security, ensuring your website is both fast and secure.

3rd Party Add-Ons

Joomla allows you to enhance your website’s functionality by installing Add-Ons. These can include eCommerce shopping systems, online booking tools, or SEO optimization features. Whatever you need, there’s likely an Add-On available - and if not, Cloud9 can create one for you. While WIX and SquareSpace also offer Add-Ons, their selection is far more limited in comparison.

Project Management

At Cloud9, we use an online project management system to ensure a smooth and efficient website development process. This system keeps you informed every step of the way and streamlines communication. You can easily upload logos, images, and videos for your website, ask questions, and provide feedback. By using this system, we enhance efficiency and keep costs low while delivering a high-quality website.

Helpdesk

Once your website is live, we encourage you to take control by adding or editing content yourself. We believe it’s important for our clients to have direct access to their websites, allowing you to make changes - big or small - without the extra time and cost of relying on Cloud9.

But don’t worry - we’ve got your back! We’re always available for updates and modifications if needed. If you’re comfortable with basic word processing, you’ll find it easy to manage your site. And if you ever need assistance, our online HelpDesk is here to support you.