Compare
Choosing who builds
There is more than one good way to get a website. These comparisons are written to help you choose well, including when the right answer isn't us.
See our servicesComparisons
Pick the option you're weighing
- HockWorks vs a traditional agencyWhere the work starts, who you work with, and what the website is measured by. Plus when an agency is the better choice.Read the comparison
- HockWorks vs a freelancerA freelancer builds what you ask for. The question is who works out what to ask for, and who writes the words.Read the comparison
- HockWorks vs Wix, Squarespace, and AI buildersWhen doing it yourself is fine, and when the time and the missed enquiries cost more than the subscription saves.Read the comparison
Side by side
How the four options compare
All four can put a good-looking website online. They differ in who does the thinking, who writes the words, and what happens once it is live.
| Where they differ | An agency | A freelancer | A DIY builder | HockWorks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who works out what the website should say | Usually you, through a brief. Strategy is a separate line item. | You. The brief is yours to write before any work starts. | You, as you go, one page at a time. | We do, in Discovery, before anything is designed. |
| Who writes the words | A copywriter, when it is in scope. | Often you. Some freelancers write; most design and build. | You, or the template's placeholder text. | We do. You review and correct, never start from a blank page. |
| Search and AI visibility at launch | Depends on the package you buy. | Depends on the person you hire. | The platform's basic settings, if you set them. | Technical SEO is part of every build. SEO & AEO continues as a service. |
| After launch | A retainer, or a ticket queue. | Ad hoc, when they are available. | You, with the platform's support desk. | Managed Website: one person to message, S$600/year. |
| What it costs | The highest of the four: a team and its overhead. | The lowest to mid range, depending on experience. | A subscription, plus your own hours. | Website Development From S$1,800, scoped on the Clarity Call. |
The HockWorks column reflects how we work; the other three describe the usual arrangement, and good providers of every kind exist.
Which one fits you
Four situations, four honest answers
You know exactly what every page should say
You have the positioning, the structure and the words, and you need someone to design and build to that brief at a fair price.
A freelancer, usuallyYou want to test the idea before spending
The business is new, the offer may change, and a page that exists today matters more than a page that converts. Build it yourself, then come back.
A DIY builder, for nowYou need a large team on it
A multi-market site, a brand programme, a campaign across channels, or a procurement process that asks for a company of a certain size.
An agencyYou want the thinking done, and one person to call
Clients choose you on trust, your website does not show why, and you would rather answer questions about your clients than write web copy.
HockWorks
Whichever you choose
Three questions to ask anyone who builds your website
Agencies, freelancers, builders, and HockWorks can all put a good-looking website online. What differs is who does the thinking about what it says, and what happens once it's live. These three questions find that out quickly.
01
Who decides what the website says?
If the answer is "you send us the content", the most important part of the job is still yours.
02
What will the website be measured by?
A launch date and a nice design are not the same as better enquiries.
03
What happens after launch?
Who keeps it secure and current, and who helps people find it?
For a longer checklist, read how to choose a web design company.
Questions about choosing
No. HockWorks is a one-person consultancy run by Thiam Hock Ng in Singapore. You work with the same person from the Clarity Call to launch, and the work covers the strategy, copywriting, design, build and technical SEO that is usually spread across a team or left to you.
Yes. Many clients come to us with a website they built themselves. A Homepage Restructure keeps the site you have and rewrites the homepage around what your clients need to believe before they enquire. Website Development replaces it. We tell you which fits on the Clarity Call.
Nothing. It is a free 15-minute call on WhatsApp. You describe what you need, and we tell you plainly whether HockWorks is the right fit. If it isn't, we say which of the other options is.
Not sure where to start? Start with a call.
Tell us what your website needs to do. In 15 minutes you'll know what we'd fix first, and whether we're the right people to do it.
A free 15-minute call. No pressure, no sales script.We reply within a few hours to arrange the call.