Questions We Hear a Lot (and Straight Answers)
Here’s what nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations usually ask before, during, and after working with us. Don’t see your question? Ask us. We like talking about this stuff.
Working with Relish
Who do you work with?
We work with nonprofits and purpose-driven organizations: groups whose mission and culture are geared to producing more than just profits. That includes B Corps, companies working toward certification, and other triple-bottom-line businesses focused on profit, people, and the planet. If your organization exists to make the world a better place, we’re probably a good fit. Let’s find out. Schedule a call.
Do you only work with nonprofits?
No. Most of our clients are nonprofits, but we also work with mission-driven businesses, social enterprises, foundations, and the agencies that serve them. What they have in common is a purpose beyond the bottom line, and a website that has to work for donors, customers, clients, volunteers, and staff all at once. Sometimes the organization is one person with a big mission: strategy and naming work helped a Boulder therapist go from open appointments to a waiting list within a year of launch.
Where are you located, and do you work outside Colorado?
We’ve been based in the Boulder area since 2008, and most of our clients are along the Front Range, from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. We also work with organizations across the country. We meet over video, so being in the Denver area is a perk, not a requirement.
How much does it cost to work with you?
It depends on what you need, but here are real ranges. Strategy starts at $399 for a nonprofit AEC Assessment ($699 for for-profit businesses). Most website projects run $5,000–$30,000. WordPress Health & Security plans are $200–$1,000 a month. We offer special pricing for nonprofits, and we’ll give you a fixed quote that matches your needs before any work starts.
Can you work within a nonprofit budget or grant timeline?
Yes. Most of our clients are nonprofits, so we understand tight budgets, board approvals, and funding that arrives on someone else’s schedule. We can phase a project to match your grant cycle, and we’ll write a scope your board can actually read.
How do we get started?
Book a free call. We’ll ask about your goals, your audiences, and what’s not working. If we’re a good fit, most clients start with an AEC Assessment or a Relish GPS, so the first thing you get from us is a plan, not an invoice for a website you might not need.
Have more questions? We have answers.
Strategy
Why do you start with strategy?
Because a website built without a plan is just an expensive brochure. Before we design anything, we map how your audiences find you, get to know you, and decide to give, buy, or volunteer. Then every page has a job. It costs less up front than a redesign that misses the mark.
What is the Audience Engagement Cycle?
The Audience Engagement Cycle (AEC) is our framework for turning strangers into committed supporters. It has four stages: Attract, Connect, Bond, and Inspire. It’s our take on the Marketing Hourglass, adapted for mission-driven organizations, and it’s the backbone of our book, Mission Uncomfortable.
What's the difference between an AEC Assessment, a Relish GPS, and Strategy FIRST?
They’re three sizes of the same thinking:
- AEC Assessment ($399–$699): A quick read on where your marketing is strong and where supporters fall through the cracks. You’ll get actionable opportunities to tackle and fuel your growth.
- Relish GPS, our Growth and Purpose Strategy ($1,250/$1,750): A focused plan with priorities you can act on. The fee is credited toward Strategy FIRST, if you choose to upgrade within 60 days after seeing our GPS recommendations.
- Strategy FIRST ($7,500/$9,500): The full engagement. It starts with the GPS and ends with a complete marketing plan.
What's the difference between marketing strategy and marketing tactics?
Strategy is the plan: who you’re trying to reach, what you want them to do, and why they should care. Tactics are the tools you use to get there (like your website, emails, social posts, and events) and the actions that move you toward your goals. Deploying tactics without a strategy is how organizations end up busy but not growing.
Do you manage ongoing marketing or paid ads?
Not right now. We focus on strategy, websites, search visibility, and keeping WordPress sites healthy. If you need ongoing ad management, we’re happy to recommend partners and make sure your site is ready to convert the traffic they send.
Have more questions? We have answers.
Websites
How much does a website cost?
Most of our website projects fall between $5,000 and $30,000. Where you land depends on the number of pages, custom features like donation or event integrations, and how much content we write or migrate. Nonprofits get special pricing, and every project gets a fixed quote after a short discovery call.
How long does it take to launch a new website?
Most websites take 4 to 16 weeks from kickoff to launch:
- Simple sites: 4–6 weeks
- Mid-size sites: 8–12 weeks
- Complex or custom sites: 12–16 weeks or more
The biggest variable is usually content and feedback on you and your team, so we’ll build a schedule around your stakeholders’ real availability.
What platforms do you build on?
Our go-to platforms are WordPress and Duda. WordPress is flexible, widely supported, and easy for your team to update. Duda is our favorite hassle-free option for organizations that need a lighter lift and less customization. We also work with other systems and static sites when they’re a better fit, because we’d rather recommend the right tool than force every project into the same one.
Can you improve our existing website, or do you only build new ones?
We do both. Sometimes a full rebuild is the right call. Often, fixing the structure, messaging, speed, and calls to action on your current site gets you most of the way there for a fraction of the cost. We’ll tell you honestly which one you need.
How do you help us get found on Google and AI search?
We build search visibility into every site from day one: a clear site structure, fast load times, strong titles and descriptions, and schema markup that tells Google and AI tools like ChatGPT exactly who you are and what you do. After launch, our care plans keep it that way.
Will we be able to update the website ourselves?
Yes. We build sites your team can edit without calling us for every wording change, photo update, or new post you would like to add, and we train your staff on its use before launch. For bigger changes, or when you’d rather hand it off, we’re a quick email away.
Have more questions? We have answers.
WordPress Health & Security
What's included in a WordPress Health & Security plan?
Plans run $200–$1,000 a month and keep your site secure, backed up, and up to date. Every plan includes plugin and core updates, security monitoring, and backups. Higher tiers add performance tuning and time for content updates and small design changes. Compare plans here.
How does onboarding work?
It’s quick. We need two things: access to your hosting account, and for you to add us as a WordPress user with Administrator privileges. Once we have those, we set up monitoring and backups, and your routine care starts right away. (Providing domain registrar access is also recommended, but we can get to work without it.)
What are your hours and response times?
We’re available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time. We respond as soon as possible and aim to fix issues within one to two business days. If you need 24/7 support or guaranteed uptime, we’ll recommend hosting that provides it.
Can we cancel anytime?
Yes. Plans are month-to-month with no minimum term. If you cancel mid-month, you’re billed for the full month, and we don’t offer refunds, so give us a heads-up before your next billing date. Email [email protected] to cancel or change plans.
How do you handle urgent security updates?
We don’t wait for the monthly cycle. When a serious vulnerability is announced in WordPress or one of your plugins, we patch it as soon as a fix is available.
Have more questions? We have answers.
Your Website Should Be Your Hardest-Working Team Member
Not the one who shows up late and forgets what they were supposed to do. Let’s turn your site into something that brings in donors, customers, and supporters while you’re busy doing the actual work.