Modern websites for businesses that are ready to grow.
South Metro Digital serves small businesses in the greater Portland area with a variety of their digital business needs. We can meet face-to-face to understand your needs and help your business grow. Never had a website before? That's perfectly fine. It's a great place to start.
Even if you're not local, we will happily take clients from across the globe.
- Big-tech experience
- GoogleYahoo!WalmartKohl's
- Phones, tablets & desktop
- Mobile-first
- No lock-in, ever
- You own it
Get a Free Digital Checkup
I'll take a friendly look at where your business is online today (even if that's nowhere yet) and send you simple, practical suggestions you can actually use.
Got a website already? I'll check how it works on phones, how easy you are to find on Google, and where you might be losing customers. Starting from scratch? I'll help you figure out the simplest way to get going. No pressure and no confusing jargon.
- Website & first impression
- Mobile experience
- Local SEO basics
- Google presence
- Contact & lead flow
- Trust signals
- Missed opportunities
A delivered site, plus what the platform can do
A real client project, plus a few example builds that show the kind of digital presence I can create for different types of businesses. The examples aren't templates you're locked into. Your site can be simpler, more custom, more conversion-focused, or expanded with booking, payments, lead capture, reviews, SEO, analytics, and AI-supported workflows.
Barnacle Bay
Dog-friendly Oregon Coast retreat, Lincoln City, OR
Visit the live site→Example builds
This South Metro Digital site runs on the same platform too.
Work directly with Marco
South Metro Digital is run by Marco van Hylckama Vlieg, a senior product designer and digital product veteran with experience at Google, Yahoo!, Walmart, and Kohl's.
You're not dealing with a faceless agency or a template reseller. You're working with a real person who'll explain things in plain English, and actually pick up the phone.
After years working on large-scale digital products, I started South Metro Digital to bring that same level of design thinking, technical skill, and practical digital strategy to small businesses here in the South Metro area, and to anyone, anywhere, who wants that same hands-on care.
Start with a website. Add what you need, when you need it.
Most businesses do best starting with a clear, friendly website. Once that's in place, we can add the tools that make sense for you, whenever you're ready. No rush, and nothing you don't need.
A website that works
Modern, mobile-friendly websites that make your business look credible, explain what you offer, and make it easy for customers to take the next step.
Turn visitors into customers
Contact forms, quote requests, booking, payments, product catalogs, and newsletters that turn visitors into real business opportunities.
Get found & build trust
Clear service pages, local SEO basics, reviews, FAQs, photos, and blog or news updates that help customers find and trust your business.
Built on a proven platform, customized to you
You get a strong foundation that keeps the build fast and costs reasonable, with a design, layout, and feel shaped around your business. A foundation, not a template, and this very site runs on it.
- Custom look & feel
- Designed phone-first
- Optional self-serve admin
- You own everything
When a website isn't enough
I can also build mobile apps for iOS and Android, custom web apps, dashboards, internal tools, customer portals, and practical AI automation, without the buzzwords. We add it only when it earns its place.
How it works
The first step isn't a sales pitch. It's a friendly look at where you are today (even if that's square one) and what would help most.
- 01
Request a free digital checkup
Send your name, business, email, website if you have one, and what you would most like help with.
- 02
I take a look
I'll look at whatever you have so far (your website, your Google listing, how you look on a phone) and where the easy wins are. No website yet? Even better, we start clean.
- 03
We define the right scope
Some businesses need a simple site. Others need booking, payments, content, lead capture, automation, or custom tools. We'll focus on what actually makes sense.
- 04
I design and build it
Your site is built on a flexible platform that gives us a strong foundation while still allowing custom design, content, layout, and features.
- 05
Launch, support, and improve
Once live, I can provide optional ongoing support, updates, SEO improvements, automation, new pages, new features, or custom tools as your business grows.
Why this matters now
No fake countdowns or pressure, just the practical reasons a stronger site usually pays for itself.
Customers judge you on their phone, in seconds
Most people check you out on a phone before they ever call. A dated or missing site quietly sends them to a competitor who looks more legitimate.
People expect to act online
Booking, quotes, prices, menus, an instant answer. Customers expect to do it on your site, not leave a voicemail and wait.
Your Google traffic is being wasted
If people find your Google listing but land on a weak page, that hard-won local visibility doesn't turn into calls, bookings, or walk-ins.
Social media isn't yours
Relying only on Instagram or Facebook means you don't own your audience. A site you control is the one digital asset that's actually yours.
You own everything, no lock-in
When I build your site, you own your domain, content, accounts, customer data, and digital presence. Stay because the work is good, not because you have no way out.
Help when you need it
Start with a focused website project, then add ongoing support, updates, SEO, content, or new features only if it makes sense for your business.
Local at heart, remote-friendly everywhere
Home base is the south Portland metro, so local SEO and Google Business Profile setup are dialed in for businesses here. But the personal, hands-on approach travels just fine. Most work happens over email and quick video calls, so wherever you are, you get the same care. Distance isn't a problem.
Common questions
Can't find your answer? The free checkup is the easiest way to get specifics for your business.
Ask in your checkup →What is a Free Digital Checkup?+
It is a practical review of your current website and digital presence. I'll look at your website, mobile experience, local SEO basics, Google presence, contact flow, trust signals, and missed opportunities to capture leads or save time with better digital tools. Then I'll send you clear recommendations.
Do I need to have a website already?+
Not at all. Plenty of the businesses I work with are starting from scratch with no website yet. If that's you, the checkup focuses on the simplest way to get you online and looking great.
Do you only build websites?+
Websites are usually the best place to start, but I can also help with booking, payments, newsletters, content, SEO, analytics, AI strategy, automation, custom web apps, internal tools, dashboards, customer portals, and mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Can you rebuild or migrate my existing site?+
Yes. You don't have to start from a blank page. I can rebuild your current site on a stronger foundation and carry over the content, pages, and images worth keeping.
Can you connect the tools I already use?+
Usually, yes: payments (Stripe, Square), booking (Cal.com, Calendly), Google Business Profile, email tools, and similar services. Tell me what you use and I'll confirm what's possible in the checkup.
Will my site look like a template?+
No. South Metro Digital uses a flexible small-business website platform to move faster and keep costs reasonable, but the design, layout, content, style, and overall experience can be customized around your business. The platform is a foundation, not a visual limitation.
Can I update the site myself?+
Yes, if that is something you want. Some sites can include an admin dashboard so you can update content, services, photos, FAQs, blog posts, products, events, and more. If you would rather have me handle updates, ongoing support is available too.
Do I own the site?+
Yes. Your business owns its domain, content, accounts, data, and digital presence. I can help set everything up and support it for as long as you want, but you are not locked in.
Can I take the site to another developer?+
Yes. Because you own your domain, content, and accounts, you can hand things to another developer or manage them yourself whenever you want. No hostage situations.
Do you show pricing on the site?+
Not right now. Every business is different, so pricing depends on what you need. Some clients need a simple professional website. Others need lead capture, booking, payments, content, automation, or custom tools. The free checkup is the best first step because it helps define the right scope.
What areas do you serve?+
South Metro Portland is home base, so local SEO and Google Business Profile setup are dialed in. But distance is no problem. A lot of the work happens over email and video, so I'm happy to work with businesses anywhere, not just the south metro.
Can you help with AI?+
Yes, but in a practical way. I can help identify where AI or automation can actually save time, improve customer communication, reduce repetitive work, or support your operations. The goal is not to chase buzzwords. The goal is to build useful tools that fit your business.
Request your Free Digital Checkup
Tell me a little about your business, even just the basics. Whether you have a website or you're starting from zero, I'll take a look and send back friendly, practical suggestions.