Websites for the Future of the Web

Portland Website Design Company

Get a free proposal
Garrett Handley, founder of Spearlance

A 30 minute call with founder Garrett Handley. We review your site, your Google profiles and who outranks you in each market, then send a proposal with the first three fixes we would make, in writing. Yours to keep, whether you hire us or not.

Our Work

For Portland companies that aren't falling behind the AI race

Bay State Group Builders website on desktop
Bay State Group Builders
Trophy Electric website on desktop
Trophy Electric
Tell My Story website on desktop
Tell My Story
Progressive Pediatric Therapy website on desktop
Progressive Pediatric Therapy
MyHomeVineyard.com website on desktop
MyHomeVineyard.com
Irish Coffee Pub website on desktop
Irish Coffee Pub
Invictus Northwest Group website on desktop
Invictus Northwest Group
EmpireWorks Reconstruction website on desktop
EmpireWorks Reconstruction
Data Sources

Real-time performance data for Portland businesses

We work from Google Search Console, Google Analytics, your Google Business Profiles, DataForSEO and your CRM. If we suggest a change, you will see the number behind it.

SpearlanceAI
Google Analytics
Search Console
Bing Webmaster
Microsoft Clarity
Lighthouse
OpenAI
Perplexity
Reddit
Google AnalyticsGoogle AnalyticsTraffic, sessions, bounce rate, conversions
Search ConsoleSearch ConsoleRankings, impressions, CTR, indexing
Bing WebmasterBing WebmasterBing rankings, crawl data, search queries
Microsoft ClarityMicrosoft ClarityHeatmaps, session recordings, rage clicks
LighthouseLighthousePage speed, accessibility, SEO scores
OpenAIOpenAIAI content analysis and optimization
PerplexityPerplexityAI search visibility, brand mentions
RedditRedditBrand sentiment, community discussions
local insight

Portland's economy thrives on a unique blend of maritime industry, tourism, and growing tech presence. From the working waterfront to the Arts District, local businesses face intense competition for customers who increasingly start their search online. Whether you're a lobster distributor competing with national suppliers or a heating contractor trying to stand out among dozens of local options, your website isn't just a business card—it's your most important sales tool. The challenge for Portland service businesses isn't just having a website; it's having one that actually drives phone calls and quote requests. Most local companies either rely on outdated sites built years ago or get trapped in DIY platforms that look decent but fail to convert visitors into customers. Meanwhile, consumer behavior has shifted dramatically—71% of local service searches now happen on mobile devices, and customers make split-second decisions about which contractor to call based on site speed, professional design, and local credibility signals.

Local context

What Makes Portland Unique

Portland Head Light

Maine's most photographed lighthouse draws millions of visitors annually to Cape Elizabeth.

Tourism-dependent businesses need websites that capture both local and seasonal traffic spikes

Old Port Exchange

Historic cobblestone district housing Portland's densest concentration of restaurants, shops, and professional services.

High-competition area where strong local SEO determines which businesses get found first

Eastern Waterfront

Working waterfront supporting lobster dealers, fish processors, and maritime services.

Industrial businesses need B2B-focused sites that establish credibility with wholesale buyers

Mercy Hospital

Major regional medical center anchoring Portland's healthcare corridor.

Medical practices and healthcare services need compliant, professional sites that build patient trust

Portland Jetport

Maine's busiest airport connecting the region to major business hubs.

Transportation and logistics companies require sites optimized for both local and regional search terms

the real problem

Why DIY Website Builders Don't Work for Portland Businesses

Wix and Squarespace look appealing for Portland service businesses—templates are cheap, and setup seems straightforward. But these platforms fail where it matters most: local competition and ongoing optimization. That beautiful template won't help you outrank the established HVAC contractor who's dominated 'furnace repair Portland' searches for years. DIY builders can't adapt to Portland's seasonal search patterns or respond when competitors change strategies. When your rankings drop, you're alone with generic help articles instead of AI agents that know your market. Portland businesses that choose DIY often find themselves rebuilding from scratch within two years—paying twice for what an intelligent system would have handled continuously from day one.

Generic templates

Wix and Squarespace templates look identical to your competitors. Zero differentiation.

No local SEO

DIY builders don't understand local search signals. You won't rank for searches in Portland.

Slow load times

Template bloat tanks your Core Web Vitals. Google penalizes slow sites in rankings.

You're on your own

When something breaks, it's your problem. No developer standing behind the work.

How it works

We build your Portland website.
AI keeps it growing.
You stay in control.

01We Build It For You

Tell us about your business and what you offer. We build a website designed to show up when people in your area search for your services. Most sites launch within two weeks.

Example: a plumbing company's account channel
Live preview
02AI Finds What Needs Fixing

Once your site is live, SpearlanceAI watches how people find you and what they do on your site. When something slips or there's an opportunity, it acts. You don't have to ask.

Example: a plumbing company's account channel
Live preview
03You Stay In Control

Every change gets sent to you for approval before it goes live. Approve it, reject it, or ask for tweaks. It's your site, we just make it effortless to improve.

Example: a plumbing company's account channel
Live preview
04More Leads, Less Effort

Every week your site gets a little better at bringing in the right people. You get a plain-English summary of what changed and the results it drove. That's it.

Example: a plumbing company's account channel
Live preview
What clients say

What Portland businesses are saying

5.0
26 verified client reviewsRead them all
Ed W. - Perry Construction Management
Verified review

Garrett and Spearlance have exceeded my expectations for website development and maintenance. Garrett and the Spearlance team are extremely responsive and efficient. I will continue to work with Spearlance and would recommend them without hesitation.

Ed W. - Perry Construction Management
Verified review

Garrett and Spearlance Media have done so well for me and my business here in Southern California. I am very much looking forward to the next year utilizing their services. I had no idea how incredibly effective they would be. It has been nothing short of a gift to work with Garrett. I highly recommend all that he and his company have to offer.

Clayton W. - MyHomeVineyard.com
Janelle S. - Game Gen
Verified review

Spearlance is a pleasant company to work with! They offer creative and simple solutions to common problems. Through meetings and brainstorming they listen to your ideas and implement them in ways that positively impact your business. Our customer base grew because of Spearlance.

Janelle S. - Game Gen
Shane M. - Fairs.com
Verified review

Spearlance is the best agency we've worked with, and it isn't close. Garrett and his team bring a level of quality and attention to detail that's in a different league. They're truly collaborative, they take our ideas and elevate them, and just as often they suggest and build things we hadn't even thought to ask for.

Shane M. - Fairs.com
Todd W. - CLE Remodeling Co.
Verified review

We've been with Garrett and Spearlance for exactly 2 years now and I could not be happier. His redesign of our website and the SEO he provides has helped us immensely. We consistently rank in the top 5 in our market in all industry searches, including ChatGPT. Highly recommend Spearlance Media.

Todd W. - CLE Remodeling Co.
Michael T. - NY Times Best Selling Author
Verified review

I've worked with Garrett for five years, and his service has been exceptional! — Michael Tougias, NY Times Bestselling Author

Michael T. - NY Times Best Selling Author
Victor R. - Baystate Group Builders
Verified review

Very creative in designs, and attentive to what's needed to improve designs or marketing.

Victor R. - Baystate Group Builders
Verified review

Working with Spearlance has been a game changer for our business. Garrett and his team are nothing short of excellence!

Nelson V.
Verified review

Garrett and his team are very knowledgeable. In developing our new website, improving our SEO and Google standings, and managing our Google Ads, Garrett takes our feedback and runs with them to create a solid marketing strategy that shows results.

Teresa H. - Progressive Pediatric Therapy
Feb 24, 2025
Verenice H. - WishWell
Verified review

Working with Garrett from Spearlance was an incredible experience! His expertise was instrumental in scaling Wishwell and developing a strategic marketing plan. Garrett's ability to understand our needs, tailor a clear strategy, and deliver actionable solutions made a huge difference. Highly recommend!

Verenice H. - WishWell
Feb 17, 2025
Todd W. - CLE Remodeling Co.
Verified review

I met Garrett through his IG ad for Spearlance and I was extremely skeptical. After a lot of back and forth verifying his abilities, I could not be any happier. Our site visits and engagements have increased over 200% from last month and last year. We enthusiastically recommend Spearlance!

Todd W. - CLE Remodeling Co.
Jan 30, 2025
Gary H. - LeadFirst
Verified review

Garrett jumped into the middle of a very fast paced new product roll-out. He took existing direction and suggested impactful improvements in marketing and especially website design. The service levels of he and his team are great! — Gary Harpst, Founder, LeadFirst

Gary H. - LeadFirst
Jul 27, 2024
Patrick M. - Indispensable Marketing
Verified review

Spearlance Media has been an instrumental partner for our web design projects. Their ability to problem-solve, be responsive, and combine design elements that enhance visitor engagement and conversions is impressive. Their dedication and support are invaluable. I highly recommend Spearlance Media.

Patrick M. - Indispensable Marketing
Jul 17, 2024
Verified review

Working with Garrett was always a pleasure. He is a wealth of knowledge and has great insights and feedback. He was always organized, prepared and had a plan.

Jaclyn L. - Seashore Academy
Jul 17, 2024
Verified review

Very professional! Listens to your needs and delivers. I've worked with Garrett and his communication and feedback has been fantastic, would absolutely recommend!

Jamie J. - Game Gen
Jul 17, 2024
Verified review

Great job on our website. We definitely recommend his services.

American F.
Jeff K. - AssetLab
Verified review

Great communicator. Flexible, delivers on time, and was quick to let me know if there was ever uncertainty or a problem that we needed to address in a project.

Jeff K. - AssetLab
Jun 1, 2023
Zach W. - Zero To Microblading
Verified review

Garrett and Spearlance Media are game changers when it comes to marketing, web development, and project management. Projects are always done with expertise and detail, and he really cares about the final product. I recommend Spearlance Media without hesitation!

Zach W. - Zero To Microblading
Verified review

I started a new landscaping business and asked Garrett to build me a website. I would give him a 10 out of 10 for the whole experience. He was very professional and even after the website was built he answered any follow up questions I had. I highly recommend Spearlance Media.

Joseph K. - Premier Landscaping & Plowing
Feb 23, 2023
Verified review

Spearlance Media and Garrett Handley have been invaluable partners. Garrett has provided timely feedback and has always delivered ahead of schedule. His designs are cutting edge and have a clean professional look. We look forward to working with him in the future!

Paul B. - Baseline Web Design
Feb 21, 2023
Ashish S. - GajRaj Acquisitions
Verified review

It's an absolute pleasure working with Garrett. He is an extremely professional individual with full command of his craft. He created a fully functional first draft of the website within days. We have already retained him for our next project.

Ashish S. - GajRaj Acquisitions
Feb 13, 2023
Michael T. - NY Times Best Selling Author
Verified review

Garrett was great to work with. When my earlier web designer left me in the lurch I was desperate for quick and creative assistance. Garrett did all that and more. He is just the kind of partner you need to help your business grow. — Michael Tougias, NY Times Bestselling Author

Michael T. - NY Times Best Selling Author
Jan 13, 2023
Tabor L. - EmpireWorks Reconstruction
Verified review

Working with Spearlance has been a great experience. As Marketing Director for a large construction company, I have multiple markets to consider. Garrett has taken each project in stride and given great recommendations on digital solutions. I look forward to a long working partnership.

Tabor L. - EmpireWorks Reconstruction
Nov 2, 2022
Verified review

Five stars for Spearlance Media! I highly recommend Garrett at Spearlance. When I needed a website for my children's book, he listened carefully, supported my vision, and was extremely patient with my lack of technical knowledge. I am sharing this because I asked many questions about the process. Garrett not only shared his knowledge via Zoom but went one step further by emailing personalized videos to help me understand and navigate the website on my end. Beyond his patience and support, Garrett's technical expertise is unmatched. He designed my website exactly how I envisioned it. He listened to my funky ideas, asked clarifying questions, and crafted a functional, colorful site that appeals to children, families, and educators. That's what I needed, and I'm thrilled with the results. I should also mention that I changed the purpose of my website several times within my first year. Garrett responded to my emails, set up Zoom calls, and repeatedly took my vision and delivered a beautiful site without hesitation. Finally, because he is connected with many individuals and businesses, he has introduced me to others who have similar interests. With this, I firmly believe that his technical expertise, wide-ranging connections, willingness to share knowledge, and ability to listen & relate make him the best option when you are ready to launch your site.

Deb Prudhomme - Author
July 22, 2026
C.C. Evans-Puglise - Author
Verified review

Garrett and his team are phenomenal. Their excellence, responsiveness, and meticulous eye for web-design are unparalleled. I would not think of using anyone else.

C.C. Evans-Puglise - Author
July 21, 2026
Verified review

I couldn't be happier with the experience of working with Garrett and Spearlance on my Duda website. From the very first conversation, they listened carefully to every idea I brought to the table, and I had a lot of them! No matter how tricky or unconventional a request was, they found a thoughtful way to bring it to life without ever making me feel like I was asking for too much. Communication was excellent throughout the whole process - responsive, clear, and genuinely collaborative. It was obvious they cared about getting the details right, not just checking boxes. Their technical know-how and creative eye came together to solve problems I honestly wasn't sure had a solution. If you're looking for a designer who will actually listen to your vision and help you build something you're proud of, I can't recommend Spearlance enough.

Kateryna Reshetilo - Neologic
July 17, 2026
local market

The Portland Web Design Landscape

Portland's web design market splits between established agencies charging premium rates for basic builds and freelancers who disappear after launch. Most local agencies still operate like it's 2015—they build a site, hand over the keys, and hope it performs. When rankings drop or competitors outmaneuver you, you're left scrambling to find help or starting over entirely. The DIY route looks tempting, but Squarespace and Wix templates can't compete with local contractors who understand Portland's seasonal search patterns and competitive landscape. What's missing from both approaches is ongoing optimization based on real performance data. Your heating contractor website needs different strategies in October than in March. Your restaurant site requires different optimization during tourist season versus winter months. Traditional agencies don't monitor this continuously, and DIY platforms certainly can't adapt automatically to these local market shifts. Meanwhile, your competitors who invest in data-driven web presence steadily gain ground in local search results.

Our Portland Web Design Services

We can build your website from the ground up, ensuring that it stands apart from the rest with unique, brand-specific designs. Our focus on user experience (UX) optimization can ensure that, at every click, your customers get a better impression of your brand. And with mobile-responsive design, we ensure this is true for users of all platforms.

We build online stores that are easy to manage and optimized for sales. Product pages, checkout flows, inventory management, and payment processing, all integrated into a design that matches your brand.

Your team should be able to update your website without calling a developer. We build on platforms like Duda and WordPress so you can edit content, add blog posts, and manage pages on your own.

If your current site looks outdated, loads slowly, or doesn't bring in business, a redesign fixes that. We audit what's wrong, keep what works, and rebuild the rest with modern standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our AI agents automatically adjust your site's optimization based on seasonal search patterns. For example, if you're an HVAC contractor, our system knows to push furnace repair content in fall and AC installation content in spring, without you having to remember or manually update anything.

Most agencies build your site and disappear. We provide an integrated system that continuously monitors and optimizes performance. While they're building the next client's site, our AI agents are making sure yours keeps generating leads 24/7.

Absolutely. Our local SEO strategies emphasize your Portland presence, community connections, and personalized service—advantages that national chains can't replicate. We optimize for hyper-local searches where you have the competitive edge.

We understand Portland's dual market dynamics—serving locals year-round while capturing seasonal tourist traffic. Our sites adapt content and optimization strategies based on tourist season patterns and local search behaviors.
nearby areas

We Also Serve Areas Near Portland

Looking for web design in a nearby city? We build sites across the entire region.

Let's talk about your Portland business

Book a time below and we will look at your site, your Google profile and who outranks you in Portland. You leave with the three fixes we would make first, in writing.