Open Tree Creative

05/18/2026

At some point every small business owner asks the same question: "How much does a website actually cost?" The answer is somewhat frustrating: it depends. 🙃

Here's what it depends on: who builds it, what's included, and how much of the work they handle for you. The range is wider than most people expect, and a lot of quotes leave out the things that matter most:

+ SEO copywriting
+ Search engine optimization
+ Brand styling
+ Ongoing website support

If your website doesn't have these, you end up with a site that looks okay but isn't set up to be found on Google and doesn't convert visitors into leads.

I broke it all down in a new post, including what a complete build should include and why the cheapest option isn't always the best deal.

👉

A plain-English breakdown of small business website costs in 2026 — from DIY to custom design. Find out what's usually included, what gets left out, and what to expect from a professional build.

05/15/2026

I've designed websites for a lot of different industries, from residential construction and landscaping businesses to musicians, churches, and nonprofits. I honestly love the variety because it keeps developing not just my creativity, but my understanding of what each industry actually needs.

While some things vary from industry to industry, a lot stays the same. That's why I put together this website checklist. It covers 30 checkpoints across design, SEO, mobile experience, and lead generation. These are the foundational basics every website needs to make a good first impression, show up on Google, and turn visitors into leads.

Grab it here →

Download the free website checklist from Open Tree Creative. 30 checkpoints covering design, mobile, SEO, and lead generation. See exactly what your site is missing.

05/04/2026

I put together a free website checklist for home builders and remodelers.

30 things worth checking on your website — SEO, mobile, lead generation, and trust signals. It takes about five minutes to go through.

If you find a few gaps, that's what I do. One person, start to finish.

You can grab the checklist here →
https://opentreecreative.com/free-website-checklist

04/23/2026

🎉Just launched: a full website redesign for Moose Mountain Construction — a custom home builder and renovation company in New Brunswick.

Jesse has been building quality homes for 10+ years. Their old site hadn't kept up with where the business had grown. I rebuilt it from the ground up — new platform, refreshed brand, SEO foundation, and a structure that actually reflects what they do today.

Take a look → moosemountainconstruction.ca

04/17/2026

A new website for Moose Mountain Construction is launching soon! Stay tuned.

04/02/2026

My first Squarespace template is live! 🎉 Meet Harborview.

Built for health and wellness practitioners, integrative medicine providers, and service-based businesses that want a professional online presence, but without the custom website price tag.

What you get:
✔ 10 professionally designed pages
✔ Pre-Launch checklist + access to Load to Launch course
✔ 30 days of support after delivery
✔ 3-month Squarespace trial before going live (instead of the standard 14 days)
✔ 10% off your first year of Squarespace hosting

$249 → on sale for $199 until April 10.

View the demo and grab it here:
👉 https://opentreecreative.com/shop/p/harborview-squarespace-template

If you know a therapist, naturopath, wellness coach, concierge care provider or any health-focused service provider, send this their way.

Harborview is a Squarespace 7.1 template for health and wellness practitioners, integrative medicine providers, and service-based businesses. 9 pre-built pages, launch checklist, and the Load to Launch course included.

03/26/2026

A recent YouTube thumbnail I designed for a client’s podcast.

I built it in Canva so they can update episode titles, adjust colors, and reuse it going forward.

While my main focus is Squarespace websites, strong visual hierarchy and clarity matter in any design, whether it’s a full site or a single thumbnail.

03/04/2026

Hi, I'm Rachel!

I’ve been designing websites since the AOL days. So, uh… it’s been a while.

Over the years, I wove web and graphic design into every role I had (ballet teacher, office assistant, school registrar) until I finally decided to launch Open Tree Creative in 2009.

I design websites with one goal in mind: that they look beautiful and actually work. Not just something you love on launch day (although I DO want that), but a site that's still bringing in clients six months later.

I take on a limited number of projects at a time. Every client gets my full attention. Every website gets built to do something when people land on it.

If you’re a small business ready to show up properly online, I’d love to hear from you.

👉 https://opentreecreative.com

03/03/2026

Something I've been working on for a while is finally live...

Open Tree Creative is officially relaunched! New brand, new focus. I design Squarespace websites for service-based small businesses that are excellent at what they do, but don’t always reflect that online. I’m here to close that gap.

If you know a business that's ready to elevate their online presence, send them my way.

👉 https://opentreecreative.com

04/11/2025

We’re working on something special… but in the meantime, you can now visit Iris Lee-Anna Lloyd’s temporary website!

This simple landing page features her bio and social links, so you can stay connected and follow along as her musical journey unfolds. The full site is in progress and coming soon — stay tuned!

🔗 Check it out here:

Experience the heartfelt voice of Iris Lee-Anna Lloyd, an 11-year-old singer, pianist, and award-winning performer inspiring audiences across Canada.