Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about working with Platform21.
General Questions
Platform21 is a digital marketing agency based in Logan, Queensland. We help South East Queensland businesses grow through web development, SEO, Google Ads, conversion rate optimisation, and UX design.
Platform21 is run by Matthew Sweet, who has 25+ years of experience in digital marketing. Unlike larger agencies, you work directly with Matthew on every project, not with account managers or junior staff.
We primarily serve businesses in South East Queensland, including Logan, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Ipswich. Most work is conducted remotely, so we can work with clients anywhere, but our local focus gives us deep understanding of the SEQ market.
Three main things: 1) Direct access - you work directly with a senior specialist, not account managers or juniors. 2) Project-based pricing - clear scope, clear deliverables, no endless retainers. 3) Results focus - we measure success by leads and revenue, not vanity metrics.
Pricing and Engagement
Pricing depends on the scope of work. We provide detailed proposals with clear pricing before any work begins. General ranges: Web development from $5,000 for simple sites to $15,000+ for complex projects. SEO monthly retainers from $1,500. Google Ads management is a monthly fee plus ad spend.
No. Most work is project-based with clear scope and deliverables. For ongoing services like hosting, terms are flexible with no lock-in.
For project work (like web development): 50% deposit to begin, 50% on completion. For ongoing work (like SEO or Google Ads): Monthly invoicing at the start of each month.
Web Development
We build on Astro, a modern static site generator. This produces lightning-fast websites that score 95+ on PageSpeed. We do not use WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix for new projects because of their performance and security limitations.
Yes. We can audit, improve, or migrate existing websites regardless of platform. If you are happy with your current platform, we can make improvements. If it is time to upgrade, we can migrate you to something better.
Yes. We can integrate a headless CMS that lets you update content without touching code. We provide training on how to use it.
Most websites take 4-8 weeks from discovery to launch. The timeline depends on complexity, content readiness, and feedback turnaround times.
SEO
No. Anyone who guarantees specific rankings is either lying or using tactics that will eventually get your site penalised. We guarantee our process and our effort. If rankings are not improving, we will tell you why and adjust our approach.
SEO is a medium to long-term strategy. Most businesses see initial improvements in 3-6 months, with more significant results at 6-12 months. Local SEO can show results faster, often within 2-3 months.
Technical SEO focuses on your website's infrastructure: speed, security, crawlability, and mobile usability. Local SEO focuses on ranking for location-based searches in your service area. Most businesses need both.
Google Ads
No. We charge a flat monthly management fee. Your ad spend goes directly to Google with no markup. This aligns our incentives: we focus on making your budget work harder, not encouraging you to spend more.
We recommend a minimum of $1,500/month in ad spend to generate meaningful data and results. Smaller budgets can work in some cases.
Google Ads can generate leads quickly, often within days of launch. However, it takes 2-3 months of data and optimisation to reach optimal performance.
CRO and UX
For formal A/B testing, yes. You need enough traffic to reach statistical significance. For lower-traffic sites, we focus on user research, usability improvements, and before/after analysis.
Google Analytics 4 for data, Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity for user behaviour, and Google Optimize for A/B testing. We work with whatever tools you have or recommend appropriate options.
Working Together
Access to existing accounts (Google Analytics, Google Ads, hosting, etc.), content and imagery if you have it, and time for a discovery conversation. We will guide you through everything needed.
It depends on the project. During active web development, typically weekly check-ins. For ongoing services like SEO, monthly reporting plus ad-hoc communication as needed. We are always available for questions.
We respond to all enquiries within 4 hours during business hours (9am-5pm AEST, Monday-Friday). Emergency enquiries are prioritised.
Still Have Questions?
Get in touch and we will give you a straight answer.