Frequently asked questions
The questions we get asked most
Straight answers about how we work, what things cost, how long they take, and what happens after your site goes live.
About Skink
What does Skink do?
Skink is a WordPress design and development studio. We design and build websites, custom themes and plugins, and online stores on WooCommerce, for Australian businesses, galleries, not-for-profits and Aboriginal art centres. You can see the full list on our services page.
Where is Skink based?
Our studio is in Erskine Park in Western Sydney, New South Wales. You can reach us on 02 9834 4119. We work with clients right across Australia, and we have dedicated pages for Sydney, Penrith and Western Sydney, Canberra and Darwin and the Northern Territory.
Are you part of a larger group?
Yes. Skink is part of the Defyn family, alongside Defyn Digital, Smart Coding and Store Auditor. Skink is the WordPress design and build studio within that group. There is more background on our about page.
Do you work with clients outside Sydney?
Yes, most of our clients are outside Sydney. We work remotely as a matter of course, including with art centres in very remote parts of the Northern Territory. Distance has never been the hard part; clear communication is, and we plan for it.
Projects, cost and timing
How much does a WordPress website cost?
It depends on how many pages you need, whether the design is custom, and whether you are selling online. A small brochure site sits at the bottom of the range and a custom online store with integrations sits well above it. We quote in writing, itemised, before any work starts, so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Our article on what a WordPress website costs in Australia breaks down what actually drives the price.
How long does it take to build a website?
A straightforward business website usually takes a few weeks; a larger custom build or an online store takes longer. The single biggest cause of delay is content, not development. We have written a full breakdown in how long does it take to build a website.
What do you need from me to get started?
A conversation about what the site needs to do, access to your existing site if you have one, and your content, or a decision about who is writing it. We can help with copy and photography if you would rather not handle that yourself.
Can you fix or take over an existing WordPress site?
Yes. A good portion of our work is inheriting sites built by someone else, whether that means fixing what is broken, speeding it up, securing it, or gradually rebuilding it. We will tell you honestly whether the existing site is worth keeping.
How we build
Will I own my website?
Yes, completely. The domain, the hosting account, the content and the code are all yours, in your business name. There is no proprietary platform and no lock-in. If you ever want to move to another developer, everything goes with you. See who actually owns your website for why this matters.
Do you use page builders like Elementor?
Generally no. Page builders are quick to start with but they add weight, slow sites down and make you dependent on the builder. We build custom themes with the native WordPress block editor instead. Our honest take is in should you use a page builder like Elementor.
Do you build online stores?
Yes, on WooCommerce. That covers products, payments, Australian shipping and GST, and integrations with whatever systems you already run. See our WooCommerce and e-commerce page.
Do you offer ongoing maintenance?
Yes. Maintenance covers WordPress and plugin updates, backups, security monitoring, uptime checks and small fixes. It is the part most people skip and then regret. Our article on what a WordPress maintenance plan includes explains what is involved.
Do you do SEO?
We build sites so they can rank: clean structure, fast pages, sensible titles and descriptions, structured data and a sitemap. We are not an SEO agency running ongoing campaigns, but we make sure the foundations are right and we will tell you where the gaps are. Our SEO articles cover the practical basics.
Art centres and galleries
Do you work with Aboriginal art centres?
Yes, extensively, and for more than 12 years. We build online galleries, artist profiles, exhibition tools and secure online stores for art centres and galleries across the Northern Territory and beyond. Our art centres and galleries page has the detail.
What is SAM, and can you connect it to a website?
SAM stands for Stories Art and Money, the management system many Aboriginal art centres use to track artists, artworks, sales and accounts. We build a connector that keeps SAM and your online store in sync both ways, so artworks, stock and orders move automatically instead of being retyped. See connect SAM to your website.
How do you handle cultural protocols?
Carefully, and led by the art centre. That covers warning notices, artist permission, sorry business, and respectful use of images and stories. We do not make those calls ourselves; we build the tools so the centre can. There is more in how to handle cultural protocols on an art centre website.
Will a website work in a remote community?
It has to, and that shapes how we build. Light pages, compressed images, forgiving forms and admin screens that work on a slow or intermittent connection. This is a normal constraint for us, not an edge case.
Still have a question?
Ask us directly. We will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.