ExpressionEngine sites behind a Basingstoke enquiry tend to arrive in one of two conditions, ticking along fine but unpatched for years, or something's actually broken and the agency that built it has gone quiet.
Karl picks these up personally. He's only ever worked with ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS, running Expression 37 since 2007, no wider team, no account manager.
The first step is always the same, going through what's actually built into the site before recommending anything. From there it's usually a straightforward fix, a version upgrade, or a monthly retainer.
Where we typically come in:
- Insurance and financial services firms with content-heavy corporate sites that need reliable, ongoing editorial and technical support.
- Sites whose original marketing team has since moved on entirely, leaving current staff with no real institutional knowledge of the build.
- Corporate installs several major EE versions behind, where every add-on needs checking before an upgrade can be safely quoted.
- Businesses with Salesforce handling lead and client data fed from the website directly, needing a developer comfortable with both sides.
- Teams who want consistent, direct access to a developer rather than a rotating cast of agency account managers.
How a typical engagement starts:
Basingstoke enquiries often start with a marketing calendar deadline, a product launch or campaign that's suddenly exposed how fragile the site actually is, or a security review that's flagged an outdated install. Karl audits the real codebase before quoting anything, and corporate clients here tend to prefer a standing monthly retainer once that initial audit is done.
Common questions Basingstoke clients ask:
Is it a problem that you're not based in Basingstoke?
Not in practice. Support happens remotely from code review through to deployment, and Basingstoke is close enough for the rare case an in-person meeting genuinely adds something.
Nobody currently in the business built or fully understands our site, is that common?
Very common, particularly for corporate sites where the original team has moved on. The first step is mapping what's actually there before any change is made.
We have a major campaign or product launch coming up, does that change your approach?
It changes the priority list beforehand, load testing, form reliability, and a support arrangement with fast response time all matter more in the run-up to a launch than the rest of the year.
How far behind can our EE version be before it's a real problem?
Security is the immediate concern regardless of version. Beyond that, older installs increasingly struggle to find maintained add-ons, which is usually the bigger blocker at upgrade time.
Do you look after our Salesforce lead capture integration too?
Yes, it's usually built directly into the ExpressionEngine templates, so treating it as a separate system from the CMS tends to miss where problems actually surface.
What's the pricing model?
Fixed cost for scoped project work, monthly retainer for ongoing support. Agreed before work starts, no open-ended hourly billing.
What's a sensible first step?
A short call about the current site, its EE version, and what's prompting the enquiry now. Enough for an honest first view.
Ready to get started?
If your website is business-critical and needs a specialist who will take proper long-term ownership of it, get in touch. Karl will respond personally and give you an honest view of how we can help.
